1950 Ford Deluxe

Description

The all-new 1949 Ford probably saved the company, and today they make for unusual yet handsome hot rods. This 1950 Ford 2-door sedan, for example, emphasizes all the clean lines that made the "shoebox" Fords famous but packs 454 cubic inches of thunder under the smooth hood. This is a cool custom that does just about everything well.

The bright teal paint is certainly attention-grabbing, but the good news is that it stands up to scrutiny rather well. It was finished a few years ago and has been used as intended, so it's not a trailer queen and it's not perfect, but I bet you can't remember the last time you saw one of these at the local cruise night. It's got a lot of custom touches, ranging from the nosed and decked hood, shaved door handles, and blue dot taillights, so there's a bit of 1950s custom to the build. It also has a bit of artistic pinstriping, which goes with the period-perfect look. The "bullet nose" front end has been beautifully polished and the neat color-matched side mirrors fit well and blend in almost seamlessly with the overall look. Chrome pieces like the bumpers, headlight rings, and trunk hinges are in very good condition and it appears that most of the weather-stripping is new, so it seals up well.

The interior has been thoroughly updated, featuring tan bucket seats with a custom center console. The seats appear to be from a late-model but the vertical pleats are straight out of the 1950s, so they look right. A tilt column is fitted with a wood-rimmed steering wheel and you'll note that the shifter handle, turn signal knob, and even the dashboard inserts are all made from similar-looking timber. The original round speedometer is in the center of the dash, joined by a set of auxiliary gauges discreetly tucked underneath on the driver's side. An under-dash R134a A/C system is a practical way to add comfort without spoiling the looks of the cool Ford dashboard, which also retains its original clock in the center. Right underneath, you'll find a recent AM/FM/CD stereo head unit and power windows have been installed in the doors. A full-sized back seat makes this a practical kind of hot rod and the massive trunk has been custom upholstered with hidden storage and a custom actuator to power the lid up and down.

That giant 454 cubic inch Chevrolet V8 is a tight fit in the Ford's engine bay, but they made it work and it's a blast to drive. There's power at just about any speed thanks to an Edelbrock intake manifold and 4-barrel carburetor, and the finned valve covers and color-matched details help with the custom feel. It's quite tidy and well-engineered, and much of the wiring and plumbing has been hidden out of sight to help with that clean look. A big Walker radiator with an electric pusher fan helps keep the big block from getting too warm and stock exhaust manifolds were used to tuck everything in tight to the block. The transmission is a 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive which feeds a GM 10-bolt rear end hanging on leaf springs and tube shocks. The front suspension appears to be largely stock, although disc brakes have been added up front for safety. Twin pipes with mellow-sounding mufflers give it a hot rod soundtrack that doesn't get annoying on long hauls and the chrome wheels and 235/50/18 radials are brand new.

A cool and slightly unusual rod that's packing big power, plenty of comfort and convenience features, and that icy cool '50s look. Call today!