On Valentine's Day, love is never outdated

John Hemmings has won a lot of awards with his mint 1940 Ford, but the best prize he ever won with that vintage car was his pretty wife Betsy.

See, John bought the old Ford when he was a teenager. It was his first car and the one he drove when he and Betsy were dating in high school. She didn’t marry him because of the car, but it’s always been part of their lives.

Their 50th anniversary is coming soon, and the Ford is still making wonderful memories for the pair.

John bought the car in 1960 for $200. In 1962, he and Betsy were married, and they drove off into the sunset on their honeymoon in the old coupe.

“He really liked that car,” Betsy said. “He didn’t show off or speed. He took care of that car.”

When they were married, they lived in Mt Airy. After John was accepted at Appalachian State University (it was App State Teachers College then), he and Betsy would drive the coupe to Boone.

All cars of the Ford’s vintage had vacuum-powered windshield wipers. They operated off pressure from the engine. Everything was fine as long and they were driving on a level stretch or down hill. But go up a hill, and the wipers would slow down or stop. That always happened when the engine was revved to make altitude.

“If it was raining and we were driving up the mountain, the wipers would stop,” John said. “Betsy would roll down her window, reach around and move the wipers herself.”

That’s a sign of true love. With a hint of self-preservation.

The narrow car, though, was made for togetherness. It was a mean machine in its day, with its flathead V-8, longitudinal springs and aerodynamic design. It also meant you sat shoulder-to-shoulder, just right for love birds who were dating or starting out on the great adventure called marriage.

It was the beginning of a family tradition. When daughter Annette married Kent Walker, the car was in the wedding. The Ford was on hand when John Hemmings Jr. married Carrie.

“In 2010, having owned the ‘40 Ford for 50 years, Betsy and I decided to have the car restored to a show car,” John said.

So he got in touch with the most knowledgeable car guys he knew, and the sleek black coupe was rebuilt, piece by piece, bolt by bolt. John took the car apart himself, but needed expert help getting it back together and in all-original condition.

The shows he and Betsy go to are sticklers for authenticity. There are no aftermarket parts on the Ford. If it wasn’t standard or optional for that model car in the year it was built, it can’t be used.

At one show, points were deducted because two bolts that fasten the top of the magneto housing were the wrong shade of black.

The only thing that isn’t to 1940 specifications is the paint. Back when the car was new, everybody used lead paint. That’s taboo nowadays, so the judges allow for modern paint. Otherwise, even though many parts had to be obtained elsewhere to restore the car, it’s all-original 1940 Ford – exactly like it was when it rolled off the assembly line.

“He takes care that everything is just right,” Betsy said. Like finding a set of real 1940 spark plugs. Before the car is rolled onto the concourse for a show, the new plugs are replaced with the vintage set. After the show, the old plugs go back in the case. They’re rare and expensive.

The underside of the car is as shiny as the body work.

Betsy smiles a lot at her husband’s enthusiasm for the car and car shows. “He loves it,” she said. And she loves going to the shows with John. The couple’s adventure together continues.

A lot has changed in the years between their time in Mt. Airy and the home they now enjoy at Rock Barn Golf and Spa. But not the happy times.

John and Betsy were inseparable in that car in high school, and that closeness has never changed, even though the coupe travels on a hauler these days.

But they’ll probably take the Ford masterpiece for a spin today. After all, it is Valentine’s Day.

About the car:

1940 Ford standard coupe
V-8 flathead engine
3-speed manual transmission
AM radio, tube-type
Split rear window
Original-style Firestone wide whitewall tires
Original wood interior trim
Original-style leather upholstery and headliner
Running boards
Exterior chrome trim (lots of it)

Shows in 2011:

Saratoga, NY – first place
Hershey, PA – first place (400 of 400 possible points)
Auburn, IN – Early Ford V-8 meet, first place (984 of 1,000 possible points)Bristol, VA – first place