Early 60’s Style 1940 Ford Sedan A/Gas

[Dennis Lacy]

This project came about to participate in an AMT Trophy Series build-off on the niche forum, Traditional Rod and Kustom In-Scale. It wasn’t necessary to use an original Trophy issue, reissues were welcome as long as the original release was in the Trophy series. 

I started with the most recent retro reissue of AMT’s 1940 Sedan and set out to make a generally period correct Gas class competitor focused on about 1961. To achieve that the following changes were made

- AMT 36 Ford optional Pontiac engine block/trans.  AMT parts pack Pontiac engine heads, valve covers, front cover and Spalding Flamethrower dual coil distributor. AMT 32 Vicky 2x6 log intake. Revell 40 Ford Stromberg carbs. Replicas & Miniatures scoops. AMT 40 Willys Lehman cam-driven water pump. Revell 32 Roadster headers. 

- Kit stock front wheels. AMT 49 Ford tires, special narrow slicks and rear wheels. 

- Kit roll bar, auxiliary gauge panel and tachometer. AMT 49 Ford steering wheel. 

- Kit optional solid grill panel. Shaved trim and running boards. Revell 40 Ford door handles, trunk handle and fuel cap. AMT 40 Coupe tubular rear bumper. Front bumper and brackets shaved with drilled stubs to mount a tow bar.

- Kit optional red tinted glass. 

- AMT 40 Ford Coupe add-on left side exhaust pipes with rearmost tailpipe sections and tips from Revell 40 Fords. 

- Various AMT retro decals.

- Tamiya rattle cans, Pearl Light Blue and Racing White. 

Thanks for looking and comments welcome!

Edited Tuesday at 07:31 AM by Dennis Lacy

[bigdrag1]

Cool build !

 

[tim boyd]

Big, big congrats on bringing this one home.  

Era correct mods, creative kitbashing parts and sourcing, super-clean assembly, added detail without getting carried away on months-long modifications, and a really sharp result?  This is exactly the type of modeling project that I so enjoy reading about and looking at, and that I try to encourage others to try.  Judging from the followers on Dennis' work thread elsewhere on this forum, many others also share that view. 

If I was still writing the old Modeler's Corner in the now-moribund Street Rodder magazine, this is exactly the type of project that would have justified a coverage in a full-featured, standalone column.  

Thanks, Dennis, for the inspiration and for sharing with us...TIM 

[TarheelRick]

1 hour ago, Dennis Lacy said:

special narrow slicks and rear wheels. 

Those rear wheels appear to be true "reversed" rims the way they were done in the 50's and 60's. Which kit did you source them from?

[Quiet Eric]

I saw it on the 'gram earlier but love seeing big pictures on the computer. Really cool build Dennis!

[Calb56]

Again, such craftsmanship; simple, clean build which you made look easy.

You bleeping inspire! Perfect.

[larman]

Another outstanding job! Love to watch you piece these together! Thanks for taking the time to show all the work you do to get the details just right!

[bondo bill]

beautifully executed- great color

[Mike 1017]

Most Excellent

[Charger Funny Car]

Super clean machine!! Well done!

[Ulf]

Super clean, this must be the finest AMT 39-40 Ford ever, sharp.

[bill-e-boy]

An outstanding build. Very clean and with just the right amount of added detail and terrific colour. And period perfect too.

This is the type of build that gets the juices flowing and providing inspiration for future builds - love it.

The buildup is such that what is presented looks like it was in the kit all along (oob)  and that is the clincher when those that don't know see a model like this and are stunned at the extra work put in to get such a result.

The above plaudits are well deserved

 

Edited Tuesday at 06:35 PM by bill-e-boy

[echo]

Nice fit & finish

[Ace-Garageguy]

Clean, clean, clean. What they used to call "sanitary", and just real pretty.  

[carrucha]

Super cool build!

[M W Elky]

Such a nice basic build .This is molding building at its best not over detailed and you didn’t spend a month matching a brake drum . It was neat to follow your progress it really held my interest .  This looks just like something my dad would have built circa 1962 as he would always mix part from several kits . Your engine details are amazing it all looks just right for the era . You got me inspired to start a 40 ford coupe early gasser

[Phildaupho]

Turned out fabulous. Great looking period drag sedan. 

[Dennis Lacy]

On 9/15/2025 at 1:34 PM, tim boyd said:

Big, big congrats on bringing this one home.  

Era correct mods, creative kitbashing parts and sourcing, super-clean assembly, added detail without getting carried away on months-long modifications, and a really sharp result?  This is exactly the type of modeling project that I so enjoy reading about and looking at, and that I try to encourage others to try.  Judging from the followers on Dennis' work thread elsewhere on this forum, many others also share that view. 

If I was still writing the old Modeler's Corner in the now-moribund Street Rodder magazine, this is exactly the type of project that would have justified a coverage in a full-featured, standalone column.  

Thanks, Dennis, for the inspiration and for sharing with us...TIM 

Thanks, Tim. All those nice sentiments mean a lot coming from you! This is a much simpler model than I tend to build (in terms of modification and fabrication) and I had a laid-back, fun time with it. I’m stoked with how it turned out and it reminded me that just because I’m capable of building heavily modified models, they don’t all have to be. 

On 9/15/2025 at 2:12 PM, TarheelRick said:

Those rear wheels appear to be true "reversed" rims the way they were done in the 50's and 60's. Which kit did you source them from?

The rear wheels are from AMT’s 49 Ford. I don’t know if they’ve been in there since the original issue but at least since the 90’s.

On 9/15/2025 at 5:13 PM, Calb56 said:

Again, such craftsmanship; simple, clean build which you made look easy.

You bleeping inspire! Perfect.

Thank you and so cool of you to say. I hope so!

On 9/16/2025 at 11:31 AM, bill-e-boy said:

An outstanding build. Very clean and with just the right amount of added detail and terrific colour. And period perfect too.

This is the type of build that gets the juices flowing and providing inspiration for future builds - love it.

The buildup is such that what is presented looks like it was in the kit all along (oob)  and that is the clincher when those that don't know see a model like this and are stunned at the extra work put in to get such a result.

The above plaudits are well deserved

 

Thank you so much for all of that. I try to make my kit-bashing look as cohesive as possible. 

On 9/16/2025 at 4:38 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

Clean, clean, clean. What they used to call "sanitary", and just real pretty.  

Thanks! I think “sanitary” is a great compliment. 

On 9/17/2025 at 3:22 PM, M W Elky said:

Such a nice basic build .This is molding building at its best not over detailed and you didn’t spend a month matching a brake drum . It was neat to follow your progress it really held my interest .  This looks just like something my dad would have built circa 1962 as he would always mix part from several kits . Your engine details are amazing it all looks just right for the era . You got me inspired to start a 40 ford coupe early gasser

Thank you! My Dad built models back in the 60’s when these kits were originally issued. He still has a handful and this is how he did them, albeit with brush painted bodies. 🤣 

[PappyD340]

Very nice!