1946 Ford Super Deluxe

Description

This 1946 Ford Super Deluxe convertible coupe is the total package. It's got a smart-running flathead, which is one of our all-time favorite engines, an awesome color combination, and it's loaded with accessories for a fully-dressed look. If you want an old car that can do it all, it's hard to go wrong with a V8 Ford.

Cars of the 1940s seem to wear black better than anything else, and the lovely fat-fendered Ford bodywork looks sporty, even dressed in formalwear like this. The look should be familiar to us all, as it was one of the most popular cars of the immediate post-war period, continuing the face lifted 1942 model look. Restored several years ago, there are a few signs of use here and there, but there's no denying the appeal of this car. A professional polish would probably bring it up a few points and with the values on these cars steadily ratcheting up, that's a worthy investment. But even as it sits, it's a fantastic-looking machine with a dashing profile and great fit to the bodywork, suggesting that the restoration was of a uniformly high quality when it was completed. Accessories include a front grille guard, fog lamps, twin spotlights, and fender skirts, which were all quite popular back in the '40s. Much of the trim is stainless, so it'll be easy to maintain and the chrome all looks bright and clear, including the grille with its contrasting red pinstripes.

The red interior was correctly restored with plain seating surfaces and the right grain on the leather. Ford was fond of putting rubber mats up front for the driver and carpets in back for passengers, and that's correct even in a convertible, and the door panels wear matching kick panels for protection. The woodgrained dash and window moldings are painted steel and the illusion is quite convincing, with a light color that looks great in the open Ford. The symmetrical instrument panel puts a full array of gauges ahead of the driver, plus a big speedometer and yes, those bright orange numerals are correct, if a bit unorthodox for the period. An original AM radio lives in the center, but it's just for show because there's a hidden Supertuner AM/FM/cassette unit that actually delivers the sound. The black convertible top is in good shape and trimmed with matching red piping, and the trunk is properly finished with a rubber mat and full-sized spare.

The 239 cubic inch Ford flathead V8 is a joy to drive under any conditions, with a bubbly attitude and plenty of torque to make it feel agile in traffic. This one has a set of aluminum Offenhauser heads to add a little performance and that's a correct Stromberg 97 carburetor living under the stock air cleaner. Reproduction hoses, a proper generator, and the tall radiator add to the vintage look, giving us a car that looks like it might have in the early '50s when the hot-rod craze was in high gear. The 3-speed manual transmission slips through the gears without fussing and it cruises happily at modern highway speeds without complaint. It's a little crusty underneath but that only means it's been driven like it should be and you'll never get tired of the friendly burble from the dual exhaust system. Reproduction 6.00-16 Ford-script whitewalls on steel wheels with beauty rings and hubcaps complete the period presentation.

These are simply great cars and with a few choice upgrades and a top that goes down, this '46 ragtop will make you smile every time you fire it up. Call today!