NEW PRICE! Incredible frame-off
restoration all out of proportion to the car’s value. Full-race
59AB flathead, Edelbrock heads, dual Strombergs, Isky cam, factory
overdrive. Incredible vintage sleeper that’s 100% operational from
top to bottom.
At first glance, this humble 4-door sedan presents as a handsomely
restored 1949 Ford. Starting with a super solid car form out west,
they brought it home, disassembled it down to bare shell, and set
about rebuilding it from there. We have restoration photos showing
the whole process and they also show that there’s not a single
patch, hole, or rough spot on the car and it was all refinished to
a very high level. The doors fit so well that they close with just
your fingertips, the hood opens and closes without a slam, and when
you’re inside, it feels so tight that you’re afraid you might run
out of oxygen. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, restores a 4-door sedan
to this level, yet here it is. You’ll be shocked and amazed by the
level of workmanship that’s obvious the first moment you see the
car. There’s also plenty of bright trim that was likewise fully
restored. All the stainless was polished and buffed until it
matched the fresh chrome on the bumpers. There’s no pitting, no
waviness, no discoloration on any of the chrome pieces and the
bullet in the middle of the grille is beautifully detailed and
crisp. New weather seals, new glass with a soft tint, and fresh
lenses in the taillights make it look at least as good as it did
when it was new. This is an extremely impressive car.
Inside, there’s a completely stock and very accurately restored
interior. No modifications, no shortcuts, just factory-style gray
striped cloth upholstery with matching broadcloth trim and door
panels. Correct carpets with bound edges were installed throughout
and the original sweeping chrome trim on the door panels was
refinished as well as the knobs and handles. The big steering wheel
looks new and probably cost a fortune to restore all by itself, and
all the factory gauges were rebuilt and are fully operational
today, including the clock. This car does have several options,
including an original AM radio (it works, of course), “Magic Aire”
heater and defroster, and a very desirable factory overdrive for
the three-speed manual transmission, making this a legitimate 70
MPH cruiser. Seat belts and floor mats were added, because this was
a car that was going to be driven, and the trunk was outfitted with
a matching fifth wheel and radial tire, so it’s actually usable as
a spare.
Under this staid, conservative Royal Maroon exterior, however,
you’ll find a full-race flathead V8 built by noted expert Tony
Gullatta. It’s a 59AB block topped by Edelbrock finned aluminum
heads, a matching intake with a pair of Strombergs on top, and a
lopey mechanical cam inside, so it has that hot rod idle you’ve
always admired. Fully balanced and tuned to run right, it’s quite
streetable and starts easily with just a little choke and one or
two pumps on the accelerator. A few chrome dress-up items like the
traditional air cleaner, generator, and oil filter housing really
add some sparkle and the red MSD ignition system components are
just the right touch. It’s still six volts, so everything works
properly, and it’s detailed with things like Ford script coolant
hoses and correct hose clamps, factory cloth-covered wiring, and
even period-correct fittings on the fuel lines. Someone really
cared about getting this one right, and it looks like it might have
in, say, 1950 when hot-rodding was really taking off. Talk about a
sleeper!
Underneath, it was likewise detailed for show. Body-colored floors
are a great background for the satin black chassis, which is pretty
stock. Overdrive means 4.11 gears out back, so the car feels
extremely punchy around town, with great torque and instant
throttle response at almost any speed, but it’s happy to cruise at
70 MPH with a soft burble from the dual exhaust. The suspension and
brakes have been fully rebuilt, the fuel system is all new,
including a back-up electric fuel pump back by the fuel tank, and
the exhaust system was painted satin black to help it blend in. The
perfect finishing touch are color-matched steel wheels with simple
hubcaps and 205/75/15 General blackwall radials that look low-key
and ride great.
So yes, this might seem like a lot of money for a plain old 4-door
sedan. But now that you’ve seen what it is, suddenly the price is a
lot more reasonable. You will never find a better 1949 Ford of any
kind, and with the built motor and exceptional attention to detail,
you’ll never regret owing this one. Keep things in perspective and
you’ll realize that buying the best is always the smart choice.
Call today!
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
