What was the top speed of the 1940 Ford DeLuxe?
The top speed of the 1940 Ford DeLuxe was typically around 90 miles per hour (about 145 kilometers per hour) in stock condition, with real-world results often landing in the high 80s range depending on tires, load, and tuning. This figure sits within a broad band reported by contemporary road tests and reflects the era’s emphasis on reliability and highway cruising rather than outright sport performance.
Engineering snapshot
The 1940 DeLuxe used Ford’s 239 cubic inch flathead V8 engine, commonly rated at roughly 95 horsepower. Paired with a three-speed manual transmission, the DeLuxe balanced modest acceleration with comfortable highway cruising. Curb weights varied by body style, but most configurations landed in the late 2,800s to around 3,000 pounds, giving the car a stable, if unremarkable, performance envelope for the period.
Powertrain and gearing
Standard equipment across most DeLuxe models was a three-speed manual transmission with conventional gearing for the early 1940s. The combination of modest horsepower and the era’s axle ratios produced respectable highway performance without the sport-oriented tuning seen in some later classics.
Test records and historical context
To illustrate how top speeds were reported in the era, the following summarizes typical numbers cited by period automotive outlets. The figures reflect stock, unmodified cars under standard testing conditions of the time.
- Road & Track and similar magazines commonly cited top speeds in the high 80s to around 90 mph (roughly 137–145 km/h) for stock DeLuxe models when tested under favorable conditions.
- In heavier body styles or with less optimal testing conditions, figures in the mid-80s to low-90s mph range (approximately 137–148 km/h) were occasionally reported, illustrating the impact of load, tires, and aerodynamics.
- Some tests under ideal conditions and with lighter configurations reported slightly higher figures, around 92–93 mph (about 148–150 km/h), though those results were not typical for most production units.
Overall, the consensus places the stock 1940 DeLuxe top speed in a narrow band around the high 80s to about 90 mph, with occasional outliers depending on equipment and conditions.
Historical context and legacy
The 1940 DeLuxe is remembered for its styling refresh and V8 reliability as much as its speed. In the context of 1940s American road travel, reaching around 90 mph on the open highway represented solid performance for a mid-range sedan, aligning with the era’s priorities of durability, comfort, and practical highway capability rather than straight-line speed.
Summary
Bottom line: The top speed of the stock 1940 Ford DeLuxe typically hovered around 90 mph (about 145 km/h), with most tests landing in the high 80s. The exact figure depended on body style, tires, weight, and testing conditions. The DeLuxe balanced reliable V8 power with typical mid-century gearing to deliver solid highway performance rather than sporty acceleration.
