Ford Debuts 1934 Model 40 Special Speedster at Pebble Beach

This year’s Pebble Beach event witnessed the unveiling of an important piece of automotive history, as Edsel Ford’s restored 1934 Model 40 Special Speedster was presented to the public. The vehicle’s restoration was performed by RM Auto Restoration in Ontario, Canada, who have taken it back to the 1940 design and engine.

The vehicle provides a glimpse into the early years of Edsel Ford’s design and automotive styling as President of Ford Motor Company and its luxury Lincoln line.

The Speedster was painted Pearl Essence Gunmetal Dark; the interior upholstered in complementary gray leather. The flat, engine-tuned instrument panel incorporated period Lincoln instruments. The 2,100-pound Speedster was powered by a stock 75-bhp, Ford Model 40 flathead, with straight exhausts that were enclosed by the bodywork with only the tips protruding.

It also had low-mounted faired-in headlights, an enclosed radiator with a concealed cap, a starter button on the instrument panel, minimal chrome trim and no running boards – features that didn’t appear on production Fords for years.

"My grandfather was an early believer that everyday objects - including automobiles - could be seen as works of art,” said Edsel Ford II, who unveiled the Speedster. “While he wasn't a designer in the traditional sense, his eye for styling and influence was apparent as he initiated and built the design department at Ford Motor Company.”

“The Model 40 Special Speedster was only enjoyed by Edsel for a few short years before his death in 1943, but its journey was just beginning,” said Ford House President Kathleen Mullins. “Ford House is proud to give life to Edsel’s original vision for a unique, continental roadster.”