Vehicle Description
1946 Ford Super Deluxe 2 Door Sedan
The pent up market created an unprecedented demand for new cars.
Ford's advertising agency, J. Walter Thompson, created a brilliant
teaser campaign: "There's a Ford in your future". Until July, it
showed only parts of the "new" Ford in a crystal ball; then there
was a publicity blitz culminating in "V8 Day" on October 26, 1945.
More than a million Americans flocked into showrooms for the public
introduction, and nearly half a million promptly placed their
orders.
For consignment, a 1946 Ford Super Deluxe 2 door sedan showing
71,044 miles, but the true miles are unknown. This car was
subjected to a frame off restoration about 15 years ago that
included paint, chrome, interior, and engine. The markedly upbeat
sales brochure touted the Tudor Sedan as "a favorite among families
with small children" and the DeLuxe version was more upscale, using
broadcloth or mohair on the inside along with simulated
leather.
Exterior
Two stage Feather Gray paint adorns this classic, one of 11 colors
offered by Ford in 1946. It's a stunning look, especially when
mated with chrome and stainless features and especially the red
accents that line the grille, picked up as pinstripes on the color
keyed wheels and hubcaps. A drip rail defines the slope of the
roofline and meets a substantial visor in front which provides the
sedan with a forward looking profile on an otherwise upright cabin.
Big fenders prevail in 1946 and are just about equal in size and
shape, front and back, with the symmetrical balance interrupted by
stately black gravel guards on the rear. Tiny blue dot rear tail
lights are augmented by a third brake light in the rear window,
itself a minor part of the sizable tail of the car. Inboard marker
lights on the front fall under an enormous flat fender section, one
of the many visual treats on the exterior. The metal and paint are
very nice with one small spot of bubbling registering as the only
exterior imperfection.
Interior
The palette of choice on the inside is black and white, done here
with vinyl that begins with white bands sandwiched by black on the
door panels with a black armrest and metal hardware, all in great
shape. Front there, we turn to the split bench, the topside being
white surrounded by a black base and this restoration has held up
very nicely. The patterns in the door and front seat continue to
the back bench and sidewalls and while black covers the floor, a
white headliner keeps things light. A black steering wheel has
minor ornate features including a horn ring and leads to a chrome
covered dash and instrument cluster where the gauges have black
faces with red numbering and lettering, a unique configuration that
is fantastically clean and the highlight of this clean interior.
Our consignor states the speedometer was recently rebuilt.
Drivetrain
The detailed engine gleams with blue paint and is a fine
representation of a 239ci flathead V8, rated at 100 horsepower and
fueled by a 2-barrel carburetor. It's mated to a 3-speed manual
sending power to the rear axle and 3.54 gears. Drum brakes are
supplied to all four wheels and were serviced recently. Like
everything we've reviewed so far, the bay is show worthy!
Undercarriage
A new gas tank starts off the clean underside where some detailing
has taken place! Very minimal surface rust and a few drops of oil
do not detract from the otherwise showroom condition underneath.
Dual exhaust snakes through the X-frame, then runs through
glasspack style mufflers before exiting past the bumper and dressed
with chrome deflectors. Suspension consists of transverse leaf
springs on front and back and that's where most of the minimal
surface rust is centered.
Drive-Ability
It would be a shame if a car this clean didn't run right. But
that's not the case as the flathead delivers in spades and the very
comfortable, couch-like existence in the cabin provides a stately
perch with lots of head and leg room throughout. Our consignor
disconnected the clock to avoid parasitic battery draw and beyond
that, all functions work 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.
"Smart, swift, sturdy, and more fun to drive than any car you've
owned!" promises the 1946 brochure, and after a thorough
restoration, this might still ring true for this car 79 years
later! Especially if this is the kind of American classic you
enjoy. 1946 represented the beginning of a new era in American
history and this car is a stunning ambassador of those times.
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!
