I'll go for the 39. Only because it was the first car (4 door sedan) I remember travelling in at the age of 6 or 7 back in the early 1950s. Oh yes and I live in the UK.
The '40 front end @ 22:20 gives the appearance of thrust with the appearance of forward aggression to mean that business is being taken care of, getting out right now, whereas the '39 has a laid back look, just cruisin'... That gives the '40 my vote. Great video!
A local farmer had a '40 Merc convertible. He hated that it was a convertible but that's what his wife wanted. They kept it garaged & cleaned. As they got older the care wasn't as great. They bought it new right off the showroom floor & had it till 1 of 'em died. This was in the '60s. What ever happened to it was a mystery.
I was able to get a chance to drive a 39 coop deluxe ford . My brother bought it before he went to Vietnam it had an Oldsmobile rocket 88 engine, three deuces on to, and a b&m for the kicker in the back,😮 it was a dream to drive!!! yeehaw!!!
Interesting. I learnt to drive with a column shift, but since then they have all been on the floor (or dash!). Bench seat without a gearlever on the floor is much nicer when driving with your partner, but your hand cannot slip when changing gear onto a leg. Thank you for showing, I would vote for the '40 with column shift.
no Matt i do agree styling of the 39 is a sexier look the hood vents ,headlights ,grill way more pleasing to the eye . the 40 bumper ,40 dash , 40 side windows with the smoker window ,40 tail light , the one question is what would a Lincoln Zephyr waterfall look like in the 40 mercury Matt. and a floor shift is a must .
I like the 39. When I was a kid in the early 50's, we used to put our legs through the steering wheel and rock side-to-side. You wouldn't be able to do that with a column shift. (It was Mom's car. She didn't like us to do that.)
My personal preference is I lean towards the '39. Even though I really like the wing windows. The newer cars, I think the cars with the wing windows were designed to be driven with the windows down. The cars without the wing windows were designed to be driven with the windows up. I could give you lots of reasons for my thinking on that, but I'm sure no one wants to hear me rambling. Both are beautiful cars. New car designs all look the same. Back then, each car company had their own unique personality.
I have heard that Ford was slow to get vent panes because GM and Chrysler introduced them, so Ford instead touted their larger opening area, and their availability of wind-wings - "Not invented here, so must not be any good".
I agree. In the 50's, cars all looked different. You could tell a Ford from a Chevy from a distance. Nowadays, they all look the same. You have to read the badges, if you can figure them out. Tesla is the worst. Looks like a seagull.
Hey Matt, there are things I like about both cars. I like the 3 in the tree on the '40 and my first car had that feature, but the '39 dash is a lot prettier in my opinion. I like the 40 hood, headlamps, taillights and grille, with the dropped center bumper. But I'm a fan of original upholstery. It's a tough, almost impossible decision to make. If I had to choose 1 car, it would be the '40, with the '39 dash and skirts.
For what it's worth, I'm leaning towards the 1940 model. I like the idea that it has vent windows whereas the '39 doesn't have them. I never liked how car manufacturers started to eliminate them after 1968. Nicer-looking dash, too.
I too prefer the '39. Same with the '49 and '50. Basically the same cars, both beautiful, but I like the earlier front-ends and dashes. Usually the first run of a new body idea is the best.
The hoods as put it are different at the nose , I work in automotive die shop and I would say the hoods are the same except they probably change the steel insert on the die of the nose to be different instead making a hole new hood die
I believe that most of the automobile manufacturers went to a column shift in the passenger cars in 1940. I believe that the 39 Chevrolet was the last year for floor shift on the passenger cars. I know the. 40 Chevrolet went to column shift as my Granddaddy had one. It sure made it easier to slide across the front seat as most people entered their automobiles from the passenger side of the car as most vehicles were parked along the curb. The new decade even back then introduced new improvements to cars.
The rear of the 40 is very similar to my South African built 41 Ford deluxe coupe so I'd assume the styling was a filtered down thing. The 40 is cool.... but I like my 41.
It has to be my eyes. Looking at them side by side the whole roof greenhouse looks lower on the 40. Maybe it's the garnish around the side windows that does it. In the first few seconds of the video, I could swear the 40 had a smaller windshield but I think it may be the paint colors that made me think that.
I am definitely in favour of the 39 over the 40. Maybe because I own a 39. The main thing I love is that uncluttered side view with no vent window when the windows are open. I was just wondering, though? Does a 39 come standard with internal windows garnish mold for the rear window? as mine has none.
The '39 had the traditional light switch at the horn from the looks of the two small tabs. The '40 does not appear to have that. My '40 Ford had the headlight switch in the dash, so I guess the Merc was the same. Qustion: Did the '39 still have mechanical brakes?
re: steering column bat wing - my 53 Packard 2dr hardtop has one. I guess it's just for looks? I do prefer the 40. Sleeker and refined and like Matt said, more art deco. I'd still hop it up tho.
@@michaelbenardo5695 Yes, in keeping with the theme of Matt's channel. My Packard's 4bbl straight 8 is frozen and I'm still going to do my damnedest to resurrect it.
"Spelt" is the correct British spelling as "Colour" is to "Color" but, I appreciate your taking the risk to correct someone's errors but, sometimes we are also wrong but, keep helping people learn in what ever manor you might. Cheers. @@tomkrisel4493
The top of the forty hood is more aggressive. It seems to jut further forward, although that may be just the trim. The thirty-nine slopes backward. Headlights on both cars support the aggressive, or sloped back look. I like the forty's styling much better, especially the tailights! The forty dash is better, too. Floor shift is cooler, but as a little boy it made for a crowded ride in the middle of the front seat. Good thing my legs didn't reach the floor... I do like the bulkier thirty nine bumpers. Color doesn't count, obviously, but blue is better!
There seems to be a slightly different slope to the nose of the '40 hood above the latch. Maybe it's just the trim, as you say. The '39 taillights look like something off an arcade machine.
Either car, honestly. It wouldn't matter to me, except for the floor shifter, dang it. Ok, the 39...... but I could be a hack and put a floor shifter transmission in the 40. As always, the Mercury's will have much better chrome and trim just because they present them as an upitty automobile for those with taste and style 🙄 and their nose in the air. Ha Haa 😂😅 Great show, Matt and Mike. Thank you. I leave you now, a better knowledgeable human😮😂😅😊❤
I wonder if '41 to '45 Fords had less trim and options (due to the war) or whether they just made fewer cars. Both of these are great looking machines, by the way. Build an Iron Trap museum so you can keep the '40 as one of the display cars.
@@richardstanyer5199 I have a 1942 Ford staff car so I studied this issue. Some Fords were hand built after 19:42 model year, using 1942 parts. And those cars were going to generals and other high up officials. It's bizarre, but there is a listing of the cars and where they want. Extremely rare
While there were 1942 cars - they went on sale in the fall of 41, and we didn't get into the war until December 7th, 1941, with civilian auto production ending February 3rd, 1942, there were no 43, 44, or 1945 cars produced for the civilian market. Not in this country.
I personally like the ‘39 better. Not a lover of the tail lights. I always thought the 39 and 40 mercs were hardtop’s no post. Still think chopping the 39 would be badass. Once it’s chopped there’s no going back. Do you still have that 40 Ford coupe roof section I think the back window section flows better than the Mercury.
I like 39 dash better but i like 40 gear shift lever more. I also like 40 grill and lines and bumper. Im on par about headlights. And id prolly use totally different taillights maybe from 40 ford or something else
I'm a 72yr old Hot Rodder & Bonneville racer so to hear Matt refer to "some punk kid" cracked me up!🤓
He was talking about himself! 😂
Thank you Matt and Mike for the lesson on the differences between 39 and 40 Mercury's !
Both are really nice coupes. The 40 is going to make someone a wonderful driver
I agree
I'll go for the 39. Only because it was the first car (4 door sedan) I remember travelling in at the age of 6 or 7 back in the early 1950s. Oh yes and I live in the UK.
😊
I'll take the 39 also just for the shifter. I heard trap garage proves once again why I love this UA-cam channel
Yes! three on the floor rules; like my mother's 1961 Corvair 900 Monza, and my $75 1960 Valiant base model.
Thanks for this one. For me the 40 headlight rim is the coolest of the two AND almost any other car as well, lol, I just love them!
Ever time I see your cars and videos you put a smile on my face and my sons thank you man!!!!
Keep both !!!
Matt, is a 40 Merc hood and grill interchangeable with a 40 standard???
One thing I would love to see the same is my name on both pink slips!
No room anymore, sadly.
Thanks for the side by side comparison, Matt.
Such a hard choice, They are both beautiful! But after Matt going over the different aspects of both. I’m going 39!👌🏻
These cars are amazingly beautiful.
The '40 front end @ 22:20 gives the appearance of thrust with the appearance of forward aggression to mean that business is being taken care of, getting out right now, whereas the '39 has a laid back look, just cruisin'... That gives the '40 my vote. Great video!
Of your Sage Advice
What most spoke to me is
"Listen to what the Car tells you "
Another great tutorial; thanks fellas!
Best Automotive site on UA-cam!!!!
A local farmer had a '40 Merc convertible. He hated that it was a convertible but that's what his wife wanted. They kept it garaged & cleaned. As they got older the care wasn't as great. They bought it new right off the showroom floor & had it till 1 of 'em died. This was in the '60s. What ever happened to it was a mystery.
39' all day. Matt! Thanks for a very informative video.
For me, it’s the 39, just the subtle differences that I like the looks of, the headlights and the lack of the vent windows.
Brings back memories of my first car a 41 ford that was 60 years ago
Ditto, but a "'40 Ford and 66 years ago for me. Some memories really stick, don't they!
Love the 40, I grew up with our 50 and 60 cars being column shifts. Yours looks like a nice daily local driver.
🗿 I'm not an expert, but I did stay at holiday inn last nite😂 You guys really dun a good job pointing out the changes, imo. Thanks for sharing 👍👍
39 for me , just sleeker lines and not a huge fan of the headlights in the 40. Great to see the walk arounds , I always enjoy to content. Thankyou.
I thought I knew a lot about '39s and '40s, but clearly it was only the Fords. Thanks for the Mercury lesson! Good tour and analysis.
I agree. First thing I notice in comparing the front ends are the different headlight bezels. Both of those cars are very nice Mercury flatheads.
I've heard them called Wind Wings, or Quarter Lights, but never Smoker's Windows. I really like having them on my 1959 designed Triumph Convertible
Beautiful cars-it's a shame that Edsel didn't live to see these-he would have been pleased!
I was able to get a chance to drive a 39 coop deluxe ford . My brother bought it before he went to Vietnam it had an Oldsmobile rocket 88 engine, three deuces on to, and a b&m for the kicker in the back,😮 it was a dream to drive!!! yeehaw!!!
Interesting. I learnt to drive with a column shift, but since then they have all been on the floor (or dash!).
Bench seat without a gearlever on the floor is much nicer when driving with your partner, but your hand cannot slip when changing gear onto a leg.
Thank you for showing, I would vote for the '40 with column shift.
That 40 is nice 😎
Thanks for this much needed video for me incl. All feedback. The 40 is a hair nicer to me... It is probably bevat of the colour. Dream cars for sure!!
Like them both 😊
no Matt i do agree styling of the 39 is a sexier look the hood vents ,headlights ,grill way more pleasing to the eye . the 40 bumper ,40 dash , 40 side windows with the smoker window ,40 tail light , the one question is what would a Lincoln Zephyr waterfall look like in the 40 mercury Matt.
and a floor shift is a must .
Both of them are beautiful Good video Matt and Mike
Rear fenders on the 39 have a oddly small sized wheel. Opening versus the 40 which has a more traditional sized wheel opening.
Love these 30's 40's rides !!!!!!
I would have to go for the 40. I got a 50 Ford in February and I feel like I've already been totally spoiled by column shift. It's just so effortless.
I like the 39. When I was a kid in the early 50's, we used to put our legs through the steering wheel and rock side-to-side. You wouldn't be able to do that with a column shift.
(It was Mom's car. She didn't like us to do that.)
My personal preference is I lean towards the '39. Even though I really like the wing windows. The newer cars, I think the cars with the wing windows were designed to be driven with the windows down. The cars without the wing windows were designed to be driven with the windows up. I could give you lots of reasons for my thinking on that, but I'm sure no one wants to hear me rambling. Both are beautiful cars. New car designs all look the same. Back then, each car company had their own unique personality.
I have heard that Ford was slow to get vent panes because GM and Chrysler introduced them, so Ford instead touted their larger opening area, and their availability of wind-wings - "Not invented here, so must not be any good".
I agree. In the 50's, cars all looked different. You could tell a Ford from a Chevy from a distance. Nowadays, they all look the same. You have to read the badges, if you can figure them out. Tesla is the worst. Looks like a seagull.
I Love Art Deco design on cars!
Good stuff. Thanks for sharing 😊
I have a 40 Merc but never knew the difference…….thanks for the info 👍
Thanks for watching!
Morning Matt & Mike, wow, now I'm a 39-40 Merc expert(Lol)! I do like the 39 better... it's more cleaner, don't care for the 40 vent windows...
I always love the 39 Tudor my all time favorite pre war car
Excellent comparison. One of the better recent installments 😎
I like the swoopiness of the 40 grill. Love the 39 headlights. I like floor shifters as well.
It seems like the '40 is edging closer to modernity, inside and out.
Hey Matt, there are things I like about both cars. I like the 3 in the tree on the '40 and my first car had that feature, but the '39 dash is a lot prettier in my opinion. I like the 40 hood, headlamps, taillights and grille, with the dropped center bumper. But I'm a fan of original upholstery. It's a tough, almost impossible decision to make. If I had to choose 1 car, it would be the '40, with the '39 dash and skirts.
39 because of the floor shift and headlights but They’re close enough where I would take either
Your next challenge is to compare the 40 Ford to the 40 Mercury. It is a long list.
I'd like to see those differences 😮
Cool video thanks for sharing
Great video , will take the 39 .
Dude!! Those hot rod punks!!! Need to soap-up!!! The 40 Merc!!!✌️
Nice comparison . The 39 Ford Woody & Convertible sedan Have wipers mounted below the windshield.
Cool lesson on 39 40 ford s not seen much in Australia i like the 39 front
I was hoping you would show the vent feature on the 39 windows that crank back before they go down. That was purportedly done for the smokers.
For what it's worth, I'm leaning towards the 1940 model. I like the idea that it has vent windows whereas the '39 doesn't have them. I never liked how car manufacturers started to eliminate them after 1968. Nicer-looking dash, too.
Love both
A very strange thing about the 40 is that all of them had the blue dash.
I too prefer the '39. Same with the '49 and '50. Basically the same cars, both beautiful, but I like the earlier front-ends and dashes. Usually the first run of a new body idea is the best.
Oh my mistake-he lived until 1943-so he was the designer-awesome!
The hoods as put it are different at the nose , I work in automotive die shop and I would say the hoods are the same except they probably change the steel insert on the die of the nose to be different instead making a hole new hood die
G'day Matt. I noticed when you showed the 8 on the 39 is that a v with the red on both side of the 8
Both nice cars, but I like the '39. I don't care for a column shift. I do like the vent windows though on the 40.
I like some of the features on both. It'd be very tempting to not combine the best features of both into one car.
I believe that most of the automobile manufacturers went to a column shift in the passenger cars in 1940. I believe that the 39 Chevrolet was the last year for floor shift on the passenger cars. I know the. 40 Chevrolet went to column shift as my Granddaddy had one. It sure made it easier to slide across the front seat as most people entered their automobiles from the passenger side of the car as most vehicles were parked along the curb. The new decade even back then introduced new improvements to cars.
39 has self winding clock. really interesting mechanism. 40 merc and ford hubcaps mount differently
I believe your thinking Lincoln. Merc and ford had nubs, Lincoln had clips
@@IronTrapGarage maybe I'm wrong but i thought you couldn't mount Merc caps to Ford wheels but may confuse it with Lincoln
On this episode of Mercury geek out with Mike and Matt...
One mechanical difference is the clutch cross-shaft. On one, it is attached to the bell housing, the other to the frame. I forget which is which.
It seems to me that the current Lincoln grills are a nod to the 39-40 grills on your cars. It looks great and distinctive on the new Lincolns.
I agree: the grill and lamps on the 39 are more decent and clean. If I could chose I waould take the 39.
Great vid!!!! 🤜🤛
The rear of the 40 is very similar to my South African built 41 Ford deluxe coupe so I'd assume the styling was a filtered down thing.
The 40 is cool.... but I like my 41.
Every market has their own version. Even Canada which shares a border with the US.
I prefer a column shift, so the 40 wins for me, but I like the 39 almost as much.
I like the '39 best!
It has to be my eyes. Looking at them side by side the whole roof greenhouse looks lower on the 40. Maybe it's the garnish around the side windows that does it. In the first few seconds of the video, I could swear the 40 had a smaller windshield but I think it may be the paint colors that made me think that.
Yeah Boy
I am definitely in favour of the 39 over the 40. Maybe because I own a 39. The main thing I love is that uncluttered side view with no vent window when the windows are open.
I was just wondering, though? Does a 39 come standard with internal windows garnish mold for the rear window? as mine has none.
Hoods are different.
Those vent panes are for "No-draft ventilation", they were never referred to as "smoker's windows".
The inner fenders and the yoke that mounts the fenders to the chassis are different.
I like 39 because of the floor shift but the 40 dash and steering
My grandfathers first car was a 39 mercury coupe
I love to take the 40 to the emission place and watch a 16 teen year old try drive it !
that is funny to watch!
Try town fair tire even better
Ha ha! Most of the younger people do not know how to drive a car with a standard transmission!
@@michaelbenardo5695 yes but not just standard but a 3 on the tree!
they think it is a automatic transmission?
Ha ha!
The '39 had the traditional light switch at the horn from the looks of the two small tabs. The '40 does not appear to have that. My '40 Ford had the headlight switch in the dash, so I guess the Merc was the same. Qustion: Did the '39 still have mechanical brakes?
What year is the hip roof toolbox in your 39 trunk? I have one like it from my 90 year old dad.
re: steering column bat wing - my 53 Packard 2dr hardtop has one. I guess it's just for looks?
I do prefer the 40. Sleeker and refined and like Matt said, more art deco. I'd still hop it up tho.
I hope "hop it up" means souping the stock-style engine, not putting a Chevy engine in it.
@@michaelbenardo5695 Yes, in keeping with the theme of Matt's channel. My Packard's 4bbl straight 8 is frozen and I'm still going to do my damnedest to resurrect it.
The back fenders on a 39 the wheel wells are smaller than a 40. I learned this after 3 different pair of skirts
When using the adverb "acrosst" in conversation - the "t" is silent but, when used in written form it is spelt "across".
Spelled
"Spelt" is the correct British spelling as "Colour" is to "Color" but, I appreciate your taking the risk to correct someone's errors but, sometimes we are also wrong but, keep helping people learn in what ever manor you might. Cheers. @@tomkrisel4493
The top of the forty hood is more aggressive. It seems to jut further forward, although that may be just the trim. The thirty-nine slopes backward. Headlights on both cars support the aggressive, or sloped back look. I like the forty's styling much better, especially the tailights! The forty dash is better, too. Floor shift is cooler, but as a little boy it made for a crowded ride in the middle of the front seat. Good thing my legs didn't reach the floor...
I do like the bulkier thirty nine bumpers. Color doesn't count, obviously, but blue is better!
There seems to be a slightly different slope to the nose of the '40 hood above the latch. Maybe it's just the trim, as you say. The '39 taillights look like something off an arcade machine.
Either car, honestly.
It wouldn't matter to me, except for the floor shifter, dang it.
Ok, the 39...... but I could be a hack and put a floor shifter transmission in the 40.
As always, the Mercury's will have much better chrome and trim just because they present them as an upitty automobile for those with taste and style 🙄 and their nose in the air.
Ha Haa 😂😅
Great show, Matt and Mike.
Thank you. I leave you now, a better knowledgeable human😮😂😅😊❤
Matt, Is the 40 Mercury hood and grill interchangeable? With a 40 standard Ford hood and grill?? Both very beautiful design cars.
No. The Merc is a bigger car for one thing.
Love them both, but I'm partial to the 40.
To me, the black looks better, but I do prefer the 39, as a complete package
I like the 39 better, just because of front end. The 39 is similar, cleaner grill and headlight trim
I wonder if '41 to '45 Fords had less trim and options (due to the war) or whether they just made fewer cars. Both of these are great looking machines, by the way. Build an Iron Trap museum so you can keep the '40 as one of the display cars.
Just so you know, they didn't make hardly any cars After February, 12th of 42.
I thought in cnd usa cars were not made in war years
@@richardstanyer5199 I have a 1942 Ford staff car so I studied this issue. Some Fords were hand built after 19:42 model year, using 1942 parts. And those cars were going to generals and other high up officials. It's bizarre, but there is a listing of the cars and where they want. Extremely rare
While there were 1942 cars - they went on sale in the fall of 41, and we didn't get into the war until December 7th, 1941, with civilian auto production ending February 3rd, 1942, there were no 43, 44, or 1945 cars produced for the civilian market. Not in this country.
I had a 39 Mercury years ago. It had a manifold heater. Does yours have the same?
I personally like the ‘39 better. Not a lover of the tail lights. I always thought the 39 and 40 mercs were hardtop’s no post. Still think chopping the 39 would be badass. Once it’s chopped there’s no going back. Do you still have that 40 Ford coupe roof section I think the back window section flows better than the Mercury.
I like 39 dash better but i like 40 gear shift lever more. I also like 40 grill and lines and bumper. Im on par about headlights. And id prolly use totally different taillights maybe from 40 ford or something else
They went to sealed beam in 40, and now they stopped using sealed beam and went to a bulb of course the bulbs are much smaller and much more brighter.
A 7" H4 headlight is a vast improvement and goes straight in. Though prehistoric electrics are the next issue
I love the 40's styling over the 39 not a fan of the column shirt definitely the 40
39' 👍