Vehicle Description
One of the things we like most about the recent "patina" and "rat
rod" phenomenon is that you never know what to expect. At a glance,
this 1946 Ford Deluxe Sedan looks like an old barn find, complete
with pre-war styling and the requisite patina exterior, but you'd
only be reading the book by its cover. Look under the hood, at the
chassis, or inside the doors and you'll find beautiful workmanship
and loads of modern components, highlighted by a new 4.6L V8 Jasper
engine, an AOD transmission, and an uber-comfortable interior that
were all designed to make this a first-rate, resto-mod cruiser that
dances to a different tune.
The look of the '46 Ford is familiar to anyone that's driven
through the American countryside, yet with that 2-inch lowered
stance, sporty suspension, and those flashy alloys, it takes on an
entirely new personality. Finished in what we'll call "Patina
Black", it's rusty and weathered in an incredibly cool, consistent
way and the clamshell hood, round fenders, and horizontal grille
are staples of the Ford's pre-war design. That's right, this is
still technically a pre-war streetrod since Ford used the 1941
design after the war until 1948, with only minor changes to the
grilles and trim on some models. The result is an old-school hauler
that demands attention but doesn't shout about it, and we
absolutely love that a new reproduction front grille, hood trim,
brightwork, and bumpers were all installed on the patina body when
it was built. Looking past the 'paint', which is part the handywork
of mother nature and another part the purposeful
'scrubbing-and-scuffing' of a bodyshop, you'll find all-original
Henry Ford steel. And yes, it has dents, dings, and a few rusty
spots, but it's still a very solid rod that's ready for the rigors
of the road, with a consistent, uniform look. Doors fit well, the
hood sits fairly flush, and the panels look straight, having
survived decades of use and open-air preservation.
Climb behind the wheel and you'll see things feel totally
different, starting with a pair of gorgeous black bench seats
wrapped in beautiful, high-end vinyl upholstery. They're all-day
comfortable and look practically untouched, while the matching door
panels, plush tan carpets and floor mats, black headliner, and
restored dash are all fresh as well and look fantastic. A
leather-rimmed, banjo-style Grant steering wheel anchors the
interior and feels wonderful in the hands of the driver, while the
Lokar shifter that manages the automatic transmission is just a
short reach away inside a custom-built center console. New Stewart
Warner gauges add a period-perfect touch and mind the upgraded
engine under the hood, highlighted by that large speedometer, and
the builders did the interior justice by retaining that beautiful,
Art Deco style clock on the right side of the dash. There's also a
ton of new chrome that decorates the painted dash, including the
accent trim around the AM radio (which was retained essentially
just for show, although could easily be implemented into an
upgraded stereo system down the road), and even the door hardware
glistens to match. The entire cabin was lined with sound-deadening
materials to control noise and heat, making this Ford very
comfortable out on the road, and there's room for three on the rear
bench, although by the looks of things no one has ventured back
there as of yet. As this is a Deluxe Sedan, it comes with a very
spacious trunk to accommodate travel plans, and it too was finished
to a high standard with plenty of insulation, black carpets, custom
black vinyl panels that match the materials inside the cabin, and a
restored vintage 'Pleasure Chest' cooler that houses the relocated
battery inside.
The big news under the hood is definitely big: a new 4.6L V8 Jasper
engine that has approximately 400 miles on the clock and still
carries a warranty from Jasper Engines & Transmissions. With modern
fuel injection and performance components, it makes this Ford very
responsive and plenty quick, yet it's also extremely streetable,
uber-reliable, and easy to service. Computer-controlled
fuel-injected power and torque means this resto-mod can get up and
go with lightning-quick urgency, breathing easy through cold-air
intake and attached Spectre cone air filter, and the whole show
stays nice and cool thanks to the giant Champion aluminum radiator
and electric fan up front. The blacked-out intake cover matches the
valve covers, and the big motor is a tight fit inside the painted
and detailed engine bay, yet there's still plenty of room for
service access. With that being said, don't expect to need any
service anytime soon, with less than 400 miles logged on the
drivetrain and all-new components including a full Ron Francis
wiring harness, a fresh ECM/ECU mounted under the dash (comes with
an OBD port), and every sensor, line, gasket, belt, that you can
think of. Jet-coated headers feed into a stainless-steel dual
exhaust system with Magnaflow mufflers that sounds downright
erotic. Underneath is the aforementioned 4L60E 4-speed AOD
transmission, rebuilt at the same time the motor was installed, and
it spins a balanced driveshaft that feeds a new 9-inch rear end, so
it's an easy cruiser on the highway - something most rat rods
cannot brag about. The chassis was cleaned up and painted and we
could see no signs of rust to report, while this Ford's road
manners are greatly improved with an upgraded suspension featuring
newer shocks and springs, a 2-inch lowered stance, a modern power
steering system, and 4-wheel power disc brakes. Bright Vision
chrome wheels finish off the 'resto-patina-mod' look and are
wrapped in 225/70/15 Cooper rubber.
'Old' on the outside, yet brand new on the inside and underneath.
'Patina' rods are all the rage these days, and few are as dialed-in
and well-sorted as this '46. Call today!
