Vehicle Description
1948 Ford Super Deluxe Coupe
"All body styles carried over into 1947 and 1948, including the
novel Sportsman. The shorter 1947 model year saw output reach
429,674 cars, while output inched up to 430,198 units for the even
shorter 1948 model run, (the 1949s came out early). The 1948s were
virtually identical to the 1947s, though it should be noted that
early 1947s were really 1946s, while the freshened "1947-1/2"
models went on to become 1948s." thx to auto.howstuffworks.com
For consignment, a 1948 Ford Super Deluxe Coupe with 2,909 non
verifiable miles as the title reads exempt, painted in one of three
shades of gray available in 1948. It's in very nice condition and
show worthy as is, but also has room for a bit of restoration on
some elements that have patina.
Exterior
Rotunda Gray just looks the part on this post war coupe and is a
medium gray when compared to the lighter Feather Gray one could
select in that year. Like the country itself, the car has a leaning
forward stance from the pointed fenders and hood to the sloping
C-pillar, it conjures up cartoon renditions of the car in
children's books with streaking lines behind to show motion on a
static page. There's a wonderful trim piece that glides down the
shoulder line of the car and the design is enhanced by smaller trim
spears on each fender. Up front, robust rails line the grille,
topped with one with a more artistic bend and melding nicely with
the large bumper and polished rings around the single headlights.
Yellow fog lights pop some color in front and a translucent blue
cap flows over the hood ornament. The graceful rain gutters run off
the cabin and line up with the trunk seam in a fantastic bit of
design detail. Imperfections include two scratches and an area of
bubbling.
Interior
Cloth, vinyl, and carpet are stacked on the door panels to create a
unique combination of colors and materials while the window frame
carries the exterior color paint. A period striped cloth covers the
split bench which shows some compression but is overall nice with
the exception of two holes which look suspiciously like the work of
a rodent. The back bench is unharmed and enjoys the simplicity of
armrests and ashtray as the only accessories. In front, the white
plastic steering wheel shows cracking throughout but remains intact
and behind it, the stunning design of the Ford instrument panel; a
circular speedometer to the right of the steering column and a row
of square gauges to the left, topped by a tan painted panel within
the body gray dashboard. The retro radio plays AM and FM and a
modern clock has been affixed to the face of the classic clock's
glass housing. Gray loop carpet is loosely strewn over the floor
and the ivory cloth headliner shows quite a bit of staining but the
windlace appears to be in good condition. The trunk is lined with
gray panels and its floor wears a rubber mat while a spare is
mounted on the back wall.
Drivetrain
Under the hood, a clean 239ci flathead V8 with a 2-barrel
carburetor puts out 100 horsepower, not too shabby for 1948. A
3-speed manual transmission sends power to the rear wheels and 3.78
gears. Drum brakes are found on all four wheels.
Undercarriage
Refreshingly clean and dry underneath with just hints of surface
rust and no errant fluids anywhere. The big X-frame takes center
stage and a single exhaust carries a stock style muffler before
heading out back with a decorative exhaust deflector attached.
Suspension consists of transverse leaf springs on the front and
back.
Drive-Ability
Driving this car seems to warrant wearing a coat and tie, but a
polo shirt and khakis will have to do. It's three on the tree for
thee, and off we go onto the flat surface of our test loop where
the provides a pleasant ride that, other than the lack of power, is
perfectly comfortable in 2024 and a testament to a car well built.
The V-style windshield is wide and bright, but man, they made some
small rear windows in this era and relied on the good faith of
others to watch your blind spot behind the massive C-pillars. We
note the wipers are not working, nor is the heater blower, but all
other functions operated as they should. While Classic Auto Mall
represents that these functions were working at the time of our
test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at
the time of your purchase.
Here's a clean, straight, rust free example of basic transportation
from post war America, 1948. We'd love to see Rotunda Gray make a
comeback as a great color that would look good one some modern
cars, maybe even a Ford Mach-E! Meanwhile, this is a fantastic
Super Deluxe and worth your consideration if you're in the market
for one, or entered the market after viewing the pictures!
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.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
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!
