For Sale at Auction: 1947 Ford Super Deluxe in Monterey, California

Chassis No. 799A173781

The Ford Sportsman Convertible is widely regarded as the pinnacle of Ford's classic wood-bodied cars. Designed by E.T. "Bob" Gregorie, it featured hand-crafted maple framing and mahogany panels and naturally, as part of Ford's top-of-the-line range, all Sportsmans were built in Super DeLuxe trim that included leather seats, color-matched carpets, a power folding convertible top, and power windows, all of which were seldom seen from cars of the era. The Sportsman's handcrafted quality and high level of standard features increased its cost of production, contributing to its rarity. Just 3,692 were produced by 1948, ensuring surviving examples of this striking wood-bodied Ford remain as rare as they are sought-after today.

Well-known Sportsman aficionado Art Knapp located this Sportsman in Southern California in 1989 with the aim to return the Ford to its former glory. The detailed restoration began with a full disassembly. The steel bodywork was stripped and refinished in regal Pheasant Red to perfectly complement the outstanding refinished wood bodywork. The top-of-the-line Super DeLuxe interior trim was appropriately refinished with Red leather seats. The engine and transmission were overhauled along with the optional Columbia two-speed overdrive. This option remains prized by enthusiasts today for increased comfort when touring at high speeds.

After eight years of meticulous work, the car was shown at the Early Ford V-8 Club's Western National Meet in Rohnert Park, California, in 1997, where it won its first Dearborn Award with a perfect score! Renowned Southern California based collector Bill Kling then purchased the car in 1999 showing the car at the 2001 Western National Meet in Pismo Beach Meet earning the car's second Dearborn Award with a remarkable 991 points out of 1,000. In 2003, the car was brought to Dearborn, Michigan, and shown at the club's 40th Anniversary Meet capturing its third Dearborn Award with a score of 990 points. With three Dearborn Awards, the car became eligible for the club's highest honor-Dearborn Emeritus. The long-awaited prize was earned four years later at the 2007 Western National Meet in Temecula, California Meet, the culmination of years of comprehensive research, restoration work, and intensive preparation. In 2014 the car passed to another Southern California enthusiast who maintained the rare Sportsman within their climate-controlled collection

As perhaps the most coveted Ford produced in the immediate post-war era, the Sportsman exudes charm, style, and a near endless appeal. An exacting restoration, numerous awards, and years of careful storage by enthusiastic owners elevates this example to a level seen in few other Sportsmans. As a result, the car would be a welcome sight at future Early Ford V-8 Club meetings just as it would on a relaxed summer outing in relaxed classic comfort.