1940 Ford - This pristine automobile looks pretty close to stock, but it will fool you

The chrome reverse rims with the baby moon hubcaps and twin tail pipes are two of the subtle hints. And if you look close the trunk is shaved. That's it. Mike Panccia is a true dyed in the wool car guy. He's also got a mint dark red 1950 Ford convert that's totally detailed in and out.

I found Mike's featured "Hot Rod Ford" resting at the exciting Fraternal Order Of Police car show in Trail Creek. It was just one of the many fine quality Nice Rides that were gathered for this event. Mike told me he has liked 1939-'40 Fords ever since he was a kid.

About 22 years ago, after seriously searching, he spotted this one at the "Nats North" as the guys at the NSRA know them. Yep. In good old Kalamazoo, Mich., the deal was made. Mike says his '40 was real nice even then. But he also has since been updating a bunch of things to make it his own. When he picked it up in Dayton, Ohio, it was running a little 305 V8 and had a nice four-bars front-end setup. Mike removed that mill and purchased a new GM 350 Crate V8 with a four-barrel and duals. He also redid the front end with a Mustang II rack and pinion set up. Next up, he removed the eight-inch rear end in favor of a nine-inch posi unit with 3:50 gears.

In addition and with hopes of keeping our OPEC friends at bay, he fitted his '40 with a 700R4 OD automatic transmission. As the years and miles rolled over Mike has basically replaced worn parts and pieces with the best of everything that's available to street rodders. He hasn't let any grass grow under his running boards either. He's an active member of the National Street Rod Association as well as the Good Guys.

He has been to events in Minnesota, Kalamazoo, Louisville, Columbus and Des Moines, literally dozens of times. Plus, Mike is out cruising all over northwest Indiana every chance he gets.

His far out Ford has one of the most intense red paint jobs I've seen. It's a seldom remembered and far out 1980s Ford pick-up color.

Those sweet wide whites are radials, and with the help of the disc brakes Mike's got at all four wheels, it will stop on a dime and give change. And you as you would expect with such a fine machine, its running power steering, a Pioneer stereo, extra nice gray cloth, and ice cold air conditioning.

And to top off Mike's regal ride, every piece of stainless and chrome has been plated and polished to the max