Dennis Murphy's 1939 Ford Convertible Sedan

A photo of Dennis with the '39 taken the day he bought it in Ohio in 1960. He has no idea of the history of the '39 before he bought it, "but as can be seen, it had already been substantially modified. Besides a 1949 Mercury flathead, along with the 15' wheels and juice brakes from the same Mercury, it had been nosed and decked, running boards removed, and fitted with a full white Naugahyde interior," he recalled. Photo courtesy of Dennis Murphy.

A photo of the '39 taken on the Pennsylvania Turnpike on the way home to Northern New Jersey. Dennis drove the car all through high school in Northern New Jersey, "then parked it when I bought a 1956 Ford 2dr Victoria and then a 1957 Oldsmobile Super 88." These are the only two photos Dennis has of the car. Photo courtesy of Dennis Murphy.

A 1957 Ford belonging to Murphy's friend Kort. The car was dressed up with fender skirts and a continental kit. Dennis recalled that they were called hoods back then as they spent their time cruising the drive-ins in Northern New Jersey. The photo was taken in Northern New Jersey in 1965 or 1966. Photo courtesy of Dennis Murphy.

Dennis' little brother Tim, with his first car, a 1953 Chevrolet. Unfortunately, Tim passed away in 1982, when he was 32. Dennis believes the photo was taken early spring of 1966. Photo courtesy of Dennis Murphy.

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Featured Story - 1939 Ford

1939 Ford Convertible Sedan owned by Dennis Murphy of Wyckoff, New Jersey. Murphy acquired the car in Ohio in 1960. A photograph from that day shows the condition of the car when he bought it.

Spotted in Ohio

In July of 2023, Murphy told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama that he was 15 years old in the summer of 1960 when he started looking for a car in anticipation of getting his driver's license the following spring. "I had saved up $300 earned mowing lawns in our suburban neighborhood." Dennis had borrowed money and purchased a lawn mower when he was 12. "I had my eye on a stock 1938 Buick Century coupe that was for sale for $150. My dad suggested I wait until we returned from our summer vacation. Probably the longest trip we had ever taken. We drove from New Jersey to Houston, Texas; Kansas City, Kansas; and Akron, Ohio visiting three of my Dad's old army buddies from WWII. The trip was in the 1959 Cadillac convertible in the pic on the PA Turnpike. In Ohio, I saw the Ford by the side of the road with a for sale sign. Wonder of wonders, it was a hot rod, and it was $300!! After satisfying myself on the condition of the car, I bought it, and my Dad drove it the 400 + miles back to our home in New Jersey. My little brother, Tim, and I took turns riding in the Ford or with my Mom in her Cadillac."

Custom Modifications

Dennis has no idea of the history of the '39 before he bought it, "but as can be seen, it had already been substantially modified. Besides a 1949 Mercury flathead, along with the 15' wheels and juice brakes from the same Mercury, it had been nosed and decked, running boards removed, and fitted with a full white Naugahyde interior, and of course, dual spotlights and 1940 Ford headlight rims with sealed beams," he recalled.

High School Custom

Dennis drove the car all through high school in Northern New Jersey, "then parked it when I bought a 1956 Ford 2dr Victoria and then a 1957 Oldsmobile Super 88."

Sold Back to Ohio

After it was off the road, the car went from Northern New Jersey to Pittsburgh on a moving van. "Then to Northern Indiana on an open trailer; then to St. Louis, Missouri, on a moving van; to Atlanta, Georgia on a moving van; and finally, to St. Charles, Illinois, on Passport Transport in 1976! My employer paid for all these moves, and while I was building my career, I worked on the old Ford sporadically." In 1985, he sent it to a restoration shop where the estimate was way more than the restored car would be worth at the time! "I put it up for sale and sold it for $3,000 to a collector from - wait for it - Ohio! Back where I had found it 25 years before!" The man who bought it had a small car collection, and his shop manager came to look at the car. "I had a single-car driveway with a detached garage, and I recall that he backed his trailer down the narrow driveway beside my house before he even looked at the car! He said his boss had been looking for a '39 conv. Sedan to restore." Dennis has no idea what happened to it after that. "We didn't have the internet then!" He used the proceeds as part payment for a 1952 Jaguar XK120, "which I enjoyed for another 20 years!"