Vehicle Description
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.
