Re: The Duchess Project: 1940 Super 8 Convertible Sedan

Posted by Joe Santana On 2015/12/23 11:58:10

Thanks. It's good to know those handles are available, of course I found 3 different ones, all for "1940."

I'm torn, Dave, because 1940 is a crossover year. It had the all new power plant, but the styling of the main series is 30s, unlike the new Clipper look of the 40s.

Trippe lights, especially senior Trippes, look more 30s. I have a pair but replaced them on the car with fog lights which look proportionally better to me, but I think that fog lights are more of a 40s thing.

Also I bought a spotlight, which I think is also a 40s type accessory (possibly), but Jim Hollingsworth advised me that sometimes on a senior car a spotlight is too much, so I haven't installed it. But again, on a trip it might come in handy, though GPS makes reading street signs unnecessary and playing 'chase the spot' at the drive-in movie is a lost opportunity.

Fender skirts are another accessory. On earlier 30s models they look fantastic. On the first post war models, they look modern, more "airflow" Part of the smoothing of the body.

The trunk rack makes the car look grander and older (especially that license light fixture pulls it toward a 30s look). Is it appropriate for a convertible? Did more convertibles have trunk racks. I wonder?

I don't know what I did wrong, but when I had the rack on the car and put it down, it hit against the top of the bumper. I used to stick a couple of rubber pieces in between, but I suspect it entire apparatus wasn't adjusted correctly.

I'm interested in opinions here.