1947 Ford Deluxe

Description

Fat-fendered Fords like this 1947 Ford tudor sedan make for some great hot rods. With room for a potent V8 under the hood, lots of creature comforts inside, and a cool stance that stands out in a crowd, this cool coupe is a street rod that is polished enough to be a daily driver.

This rod provides a cool mix of old and new, starting with a monochromatic paint job that still looks great. The handsome lines were a pre-war design with a face-lifted nose, and you can't argue with the results, especially with that fastback profile. Handsome purple paint was borrowed from a late-model Ford color pallet and actually works quite well on the vintage shape, especially with the airbrushed graphics along the belt line. There are clearly a lot of hours invested in the bodywork and you can see in our photos how nicely it reflects its surroundings, an effect that only comes from hours of tedious blocking and sanding. Not a single panel was modified, chopped, or shaved, so it has an ornate '40s look that will always look right, although much of the brightwork has been painted to match the body, so it looks sleek. It's a few years old so it's no longer perfect, but perfection isn't why you build a fat fendered Ford. You build it to drive!

These Fords work so well because they're downright HUGE inside. The wide split bench wears handsome cloth upholstery that's vaguely similar to the original pattern, so it has an appropriate '40s look. The Cadillac steering wheel and steering column add a splash of upscale luxury, while the dash was filled and fitted with a set of Stewart Warner gauges. Door panels were specially created to match the seats and use original-style hardware to keep the '40s feel alive. The grille in the center of the dash was filled and replaced with the radio and controls for the A/C system, and there's now a tachometer living where the clock used to be. The carpets are showing their age, but they're easy and inexpensive to replace if that's your thing. The back seat is spacious enough for real-sized adults and the trunk is big enough for a week's worth of gear for the whole family.

The Ford offers a lot of comfort and a lot of room, so moving it around is a strong-running 390 cubic inch Ford V8. With factory Tri-Power up top, a reasonably-sized cam, and a pair of block-hugger headers, it is a fantastic choice to power a street rod like this. A few chrome dress-up parts, a polished aluminum firewall, and clean plumbing and wiring make the engine bay look professional and you can't argue with how it works. A C6 3-speed automatic and a GM 10-bolt rear end are reliable additions to the menu, and the front suspension is a late-model setup with power steering and front disc brakes. The dual exhaust system is recent and sounds great and the stance is exactly right, both key elements for a hot rod like this. Handsome American Racing wheels look right and carry 205/60/15 front and 215/60/15 rear blackwall radials.

A handsome, powerful car that runs and drives like it should, this Ford lives up to its billing and delivers a great ride at a reasonable price. Call today!