1950 Ford Custom Deluxe 2 Door Landau Hardtop
World War II put automobile production on hold. Production ceased on February 10, 1942 and resumed in 1946. When production began, most vehicles offered by marques were basically carried over from pre-war development. It was not until 1949 when Ford began offering new designs. They featured simple lines that were clean and well-integrated into the body. In the front was a dramatic and artful bullet nosed grille.
The era of pontoon fenders and high-riding automobiles was over, and Ford broke out of the gate with a smaller, stunningly stylish car that blended militaristic themes with slab-sided functionality. This Custom Deluxe Sedan offered for consignment is a fine cruiser that will need some TLC in the body department as it is showing some overspray areas, a few dents and some slight dulling. A new interior is one of its assets, along with the new Ford design of a more integrated body, and rounded design. It borders on a street rod, as it does have a bigger mill but is in need of some serious TLC on the mechanical front and some snappy interior upgrades.
NO TITLE-SOLD ON A BILL OF SALE ONLY
Exterior
All steel with attached chrome upfront sporting a center bullet style ring and building on this design to complete the entire grille. We see chrome in fair condition showing some dulling and may have been sprayed with silver paint up front. The headlight bezels for the single lights on the corners of each front quarter are shiny and bright. Rounded sleek integrated panels abound on this car and all are rust free and bathed in dark red metallic. A side view shows off the bulbous "early aero" design, and on the back it looks like the tail end of a rocket ship with its small streaking bump outs for the oval tail lights. A bulbous trunk pulls down to another silver sprayed rear bumper which wraps around the back of the car. The top is a bit like non alcoholic beer as it is on a canvas covering but is actually a hard top. It does not move up and down but gives one the appearance of a convertible top. I'd have to ask why??? but I digress! The top is in good condition with just a slight tear on one edge. Thin white wall edged 205/70R15's are wrapping black painted steel wheels that sport trim rings on their edges and dog dish flat moon caps with Ford badging on their centers. These wheels have some spotty rust on the chrome. Glass is all clear and trimming for said glass is all good! Meanwhile the badging and all ornamentation has been long since shaved off.
Interior
A total redux inside here now showing off in smooth black door panels with the original cranks and actuators. Inside, gray leather, late model power high backed bucket seats are installed in front. These buckets have just slight corner damage on the seats but it's minimal. In back, an overstuffed gray leather seat is installed and looks virtually like new. A shining example of the original metal dash with exterior matching curved design painted in a satin black, houses a large centered speedo with additional gauges within this circle. A few billet styled toggles and switches are below this large central circle, all now fronted by a Grant GT rally steering wheel. In the center is a more round bulbuls looking design with an upper large round clock and below a trio of aftermarket gauges with shiny bezels and white faces showing the status of the volts, oil pressure, and water temp. Black carpet is below in good condition, and above is a charcoal gray headliner which shows on the underside of the upper canvas hard top fabric. In the center is a fashioned from aluminum console to house the shifter.
Drivetrain
302 cubes of Ford pushrod V8 is now residing under the hood. It is topped by a simple 2-barrel carburetor and miniature circular open side air cleaner in chrome. A 3-speed manual transmission is mounted to the back of the V8. Way back sports a Ford 9 inch rear axle.
Undercarriage
The underside has been restored to the extent where it now has new black sprayed undercoating on the framing and rockers as well as inner fenders. The floor pans have a light coating of surface rust but remain solid. The suspension, rear axle, fuel tank and front brakes are like new in appearance. These are drum brakes all around, and for the front suspension we note independent coil springs, and for the back leaf springs. Dual side exit exhaust is on with a pair of Turbo mufflers.
Drive-Ability
This car fired right up, ran smoothly, and drove very nicely. It is a great cruiser, with a very comfortable interior. No power steering makes getting in and out of tight places a little strenuous, but once the car is rolling it steers surprisingly easy. Good brakes, and functional exterior lighting was a plus. The engine has a distinct knock, so I hesitated to push it any harder than I dared. It's very clear that some serious work is needed under the hood.
The work is all done in this car, most of it top notch, some could use improvement, but not any emergencies save for the engine knock. It is a nice cruiser, and in the red a head turner. I don't understand the top concept but who am I to argue with success?
NO TITLE-SOLD ON A BILL OF SALE ONLY
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
