NEW PRICE! Nicely built full custom 1949 Ford. Chopped, channeled, frenched, radiused. 1949 Cadillac fastback roof. Small block Chevy V8 power, A/C, power windows, nice interior, drives well. Cool custom at a cool price.
This 1949 Ford is easy to recognize even though there’s hardly a single square inch of sheetmetal that hasn’t been tweaked, cut, massaged, and altered to create this awesome custom you see today. From any angle, there’s no question that it’s a 1949 Ford, but you’ll also be hard-pressed to find a single component that remains stock. All the usual custom tricks are here, from the chopped top (which uses a 1949 Cadillac sedanette roof for that fastback profile) to the radiused corners to the shaved emblems and trim. Fit and finish are quite good, particularly for a custom at this price, and there’s evidence of professional workmanship everywhere you look. Check out how the grille is molded into the body, the flush fit of those doors, and the beautiful curve of the roof, which looks like it was built that way. The paint is two-stage urethane with a flattening agent in the clear, so it will be easy to repair in the future and it’s very low maintenance, unlike actual flat paint. There’s simply no part of this Ford that doesn’t look like someone spent A LOT of time thinking about it.
The bright blue interior is a bit more modern than you’d expect given the traditional exterior look, and it’s a nice change from all the half-finished customs you see at local shows. Low-back buckets from a late-model were covered in blue tweed, as was the custom center console, door panels, and even the headliner, so it has a very cohesive look. The original dash was smoothed and extensively modified to house a set of big analog gauges in frenched pods, and all the amenities are included—you just can’t see them because the switches and controls were cleverly hidden under the dash. Features include cold A/C, power windows and remote door openers, and a tilt steering column, so you’re not giving anything up to enjoy this custom cruiser. It also includes a nicely finished back seat that’s almost like another pair of buckets, complete with fold-down arm rest, plus a finished trunk with fuel tank access and the battery inside.
Built to be reliable and easy to service, the 305 cubic inch Chevy V8 is a neat fit in the Ford’s engine bay and includes a few speed parts that make it feel quick around town. You’ll note that the block itself was painted Ford Green, a nice touch, and the inner fenders and firewall have been extensively modified to give it a smooth, clean look. Supporting components include an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor and intake manifold, a giant aluminum radiator with electric fan, the A/C system hidden down low so you almost can’t see the compressor, and the ignition coil neatly recessed into the firewall. Nothing radical, but all designed to make this car as reliable as it is beautiful, which is entirely the point. And it remains completely drivable and surprisingly comfortable.
Underneath, it’s still very much a 1949 Ford, including the frame and most of the suspension. It has obviously been driven, which isn’t a crime when your car needs to go to shows like this one does, but it remains in excellent condition throughout. The front suspension is stock with lowering spindles, so it tracks straight and doesn’t have squirrely handling, while the 9-inch Ford rear end is suspended on a 4-link with adjustable coil-overs. A TH350 3-speed automatic transmission uses a custom drive shaft to send power back to the Ford rear end, which has easy-cruising 3.00 gears inside, so this car doesn’t mind modern highway speeds. There’s rack-and-pinion steering up front to add a little precision and to reduce effort and the custom exhaust system uses glasspack-type mufflers for that traditional ‘50s sound. And speaking of traditional, modern Firestone 205/75/15 radials carry good old port-a-walls and full wheel covers to match the look these cars had when they first started hitting the streets decades ago.
This is an extremely usable, ready-to-cruise custom with an astronomical amount of work invested in that awesome look. It rides well, drives straight, and should be bulletproof reliable for years to come. If you like radical work with a bit of a traditional flair, this car should appeal to you. And at this price, you’re getting a heck of a lot of professional workmanship for pennies on the dollar. This is one heck of a car. Call today!
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
