We just drove hwy1 from LA to San Fran last week but it was in a small BMW. It was a beautiful scenic drive that I really enjoyed. The twists and curves were a riot. It was a rental so I drove it like I stole it. We don’t have roads like that around here. The wife and kids weren’t as enthusiastic.
There are some sharp curves and steep climbs/descents. I imagine a 40’er with a toad would be a handful. Traffic was light and there were a few big rigs along the way so it is doable. There are several pull out lanes along the way if you are holding up traffic. I would do it with an RV but it won’t be as relaxing or as enjoyable as in a car.
PM me with your email address and I’ll send you some pics and video to get an idea of what it looks like.