Hull Numbers

Engine and model data

Hull

The hull of the 1940 model year was unchanged from the 1939 two piece covering board version. With regards to styling much was changed and many experiments were tried in 1940 for a number of models.

Features unique to 1940 Models

One of the biggest changes was the dash configuration. Gone was the glove box on the left and the raised center section for the instruments. The new dash would be flat with stylish instruments and chrome dividers running the horizontal length. The dash was a fixed-frame and a structural part of the boat until hull #48669 at which time it became removable. (Engineering Change #602 10-09-39).

1940 original dash and wheel unrestored

The new gauge style that appeared in the 1940 model are the best looking gauges that Chris ever put in a boat in my opinion. This instrument cluster consisted of a large 5" diameter tach with the “Bulls Eye” pointer, special 270-degree sweep oil and temp, a fuel and an amp gauge. What is so beautiful about these gauges is the color. A deep blue and cream made them really stand out. Finding original gauges these days is very tough. This 5" tach and 270 degree oil and temp were not used after the war and are very difficult to duplicate. My hat is off to instrument restoration guru Mark Clawson of Clawson Classic Instruments for being one of the best in the country at refurbishing and reproducing these beauties.

As we stay in the front cockpit we will notice that steering column and bracket are now chromed as standard equipment. (Shop Memo #649 8-23-39). The Banjo wheel has remained the same color and style except for one difference. There are now only four wires per spoke instead of five as on the 1939 model. According to noted wheel restorer Dennis Crooks, this 1940 Chris-Craft wheel is actually a 1938 Chevrolet auto wheel.

The predominate color of upholstery for the 1940 models was Pigskin leather. As always with Chris-Craft there were exceptions. We do know of one hull that was special ordered with brown leather. The Pigskin color is not seen that often because not many people know what it is exactly. Keith Ward in Ohio solved that problem several years ago. He was doing an exacting restoration on his 1940 and found original pieces of Pigskin under his seats. He called Steve Northuis at Macatawa Bay Boat Works and they had the original tannery that Chris-Craft used remake the hides to match the Pigskin. I recently received a sample of the hide from Keith and I think it looks awesome and has a great texture. Other than the color of the interior the installation is identical to the ’39 model.

STYLing

At this point in Chris-Craft’s history they were really stepping out in the style department. I’m not sure of the reasons or market forces at the time but you can really see some interesting color combinations on many models starting in 1940.

Shop Memo #622 dated 7-12-39 orders the production line as follows, “Effective with Hull #48644 (19' Runabout), and Hull #71529 (17' Runabout) all “1940” models 17' and 19' Runabouts to have orange deck seam stripe.”

Now you have to wonder what was going on in the style department at the time. The 19' Custom was not the only model to get colored. The 23' Custom, 25' Sportsman and 27' Runabout all had green deck seams and boot-top. I had never heard of the orange stuff until I started this research and it must have gone over with the customers really well seeing as they dropped the colored deck seams in 1941 and went back to white. I have not been able to find any documentation that says, “stop the orange”. The story I have heard is that when the boats were shown at the New York boat show it caused quite a commotion. Not sure if this is true or not but the fact remains that they changed back to white in 1941 for sure. Keith Ward’s boat had faithfully reproduced the orange deck with Pigskin leather and I thought it looked great.

For all you people out there with a ’40 model that are now panicking over the prospect of having to go orange don’t worry. As we have seen countless times, Chris-Craft would let you special order a model just about any way you wanted it. Hull #48692 was ordered with white deck seams. I know that will come as a great relief to many. Don’t give up on the orange and Pigskin until you see the correct example, it is really a beautiful combination.

Hardware

There were no changes to the position or style of the following hardware: Fairleader, bow light, deck horn, fender cleats, cutwater, step pads, “bear claw” vents, hatch handles, stern pole base and pole, gas cap, rear chocks, and deck flag.

There were a couple of changes to note. The lifting rings for 1940 are of the “single wing” variety with the wing on the back of the eye.

The Bugatti windshield was not always used. In fact we know of three hulls ordered without the Art-Deco item. Instead the boats were fitted with the same windshield as the Sportsman model.

Engines for 1940

The standard “K” and “M” Chris-Craft engines were used, 33 and 76 respectively. There were two special order boats that are worth mentioning. Hull #’s 48692 and 48693 were special ordered from a dealer in Wilmington, CA with Gray Marine Fireball 6-150 HP engines. These two were ordered with Sportsman windshields as well. #48692 had white deck seams and #48693 had a standard horn mounted under the deck. This is a perfect example how Chris-Craft would let the dealer order what the customer wanted. Two boats were delivered without an engine, hull #48668 and #48755.

Wiring

This is just as important as any thing else in your restoration. The proper wire should be the cloth-covered version. There are several sources for this wire today. It is a modern insulated wire that has a cloth cover to look authentic. I will be doing more research on the diagrams and gauge of wire used but in the mean time here are a couple of pictures of Tahoe winning boats.

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