Vehicle Description
1948 Ford Deluxe Coupe
The Ford Deluxe coupe is a favorite platform for customization, and
we've seen an array of paint schemes and designs here at the mall.
Their bulldog-like leaning front stance inspires artistic
interpretation that highlights the car's endemic features without
changing them. The interiors are cavernous and comfortable and with
a little help from modern components, can be a very nice place to
spend some time.
For consignment is one such car. Restored in the 90's and freshened
up more than twenty years later, here's a shining example of what
some creativity and ambition can do to a car from the 40's. It
showcases some quintessential hotrod elements and has an interior
that would make owners of some modern cars envious. This is a fun
and unique build using a popular car as the palette.
Exterior
Looking at the color codes for Ford, 1948 yields a list containing
some blues, greens, gray, black and the outlier, maize yellow. And
with single stage paint, gloss just wasn't a thing. Imagine this
car on the road in 1948...shiny Mint Green paint covering the car
like a vat of melted nonpareil candy. Even the grille is mint
green. It's almost as if the car is illuminated! The sea of green
is split from nose to stern with a charcoal flame on each side and
etched with an elaborate pinstripe design on the massive trunk. The
headlights are frenched while the marker lights are hidden behind
slits in the frenched bumper. The taillights get the same treatment
on the back bumper. Shaved door handles and hidden hinges render
the body smooth. Polished wheels with knockoff spinners are
staggered by two inches with 15's in the front and 17's in the
back, each tucked under the wide fenders. We note some paint
imperfections along the way including some cracks and scratches and
with some curb rash on a wheel. At 20 feet, you'd be hard pressed
to find these things.
Interior
The door opens in reverse suicide style and reveals a highly
stylized and modern door card in leather and other material with a
geometric shape surrounding a speaker. Billet handles and levers
prevail, and a nicely detailed armrest is present. Beige and black
is the color palette on the inside and the tall front buckets are
modern and well cushioned. The back bench accommodates two and
repeats the two-tone theme. The four-spoke steering wheel is
wrapped in beige leather and the stalk has a billet knob. Vintage
style gauges are mounted on a metal backer, lined in mint green and
repeated on the foot pedals for a slightly art deco feel. Under the
dash is fan, choke, and some other switches mounted on a
leather-wrapped box and the words "fan, light, and choke" are
embroidered into the leather...a nice touch we don't see often
enough. The main metal dash is painted as the exterior including a
pinstripe design under a Ford blue oval. A Sunpro tachometer is
mounted on top of the dash while a Kenwood Excelon HD AM/FM radio
is mounted in the center tower and provides a big screen display.
The raised, floor-mounted shifter has a beige leather boot while
the shifter knob is a miniature billet piston, a favorite choice of
hotrodders. A thin gray material covers the floor and is protected
by matching mats. The headliner is beige suede and appears in good
condition. The trunk is finished, lined with yet more beige leather
and covered by the gray interior floor material. Our consignor
states the entire interior was redone in 2021 and it does indeed
look fresh.
Drivetrain
The tried-and-true Chevy 350ci V8 sits under the big hood, topped
by a Holley 4-barrel carburetor. The transmission is a 700R4
4-speed automatic sending the spin back to a Ford 9" rear. Power
brakes, front discs and rear drum that join power steering and
power windows in the "power" department. The car has air
conditioning which emanates from a polished, belt-driven pump just
behind an aluminum radiator. The valve covers are finned as is the
air intake scoop. Various shades of polished metal under the hood
add to the car's appeal.
Undercarriage
As we peer skyward, we're not seeing anything of overt concern.
Some minor surface rust on bits here and there, most notably on the
inside of the back fenders. The exhaust starts at headers and flows
through the X frame and into Flowmaster mufflers, exiting out back
through some chrome tips. Pretty dry under here too with just a
spot of oil on the flexplate cover and oil pan. Coil sprung
independent suspension up front and leaf springs in back.
Drive-Ability
The modern interior is so inviting it's like the adult version of a
tree fort, a place you just want to hang out away from the world
for a while. But we only had a few minutes so we pumped the gas and
cranked the pistons into action and off we went. A tall ride with
smooth acceleration with a great sound, this version has been
spared a chop so visibility is great although the small back window
takes a bit of getting used to but with side mirrors on both sides,
all is well. Mind that front end, it's big, and the turn-ins
accomplished with ease "look at where you want the car to go" my
race instructor once told me. The rear tires are two inches fatter
than the front but they're about the same height and handling is
not encumbered in any way by the staggered width.
Okay, it's time. You've been saying it for years and now it's time
to pull the trigger and get that hobby car you've always wanted. A
hotrod with enough modern conveniences to make it feel comfortable
and safe and a color that's NOT red or black. French, shaved, and
air conditioned! Flamed, pinstriped and embroidered! An iconic 40's
body style and one of the best engines ever milled in a U.S.
factory. It's all here in our Hallowed Halls, we'll wait for your
call.
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in
person.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
