1949 Ford Custom Deluxe

1949 Ford Custom Deluxe 4-Door Sedan 1949 Ford Custom Deluxe 4-Door Sedan

This 1949 Ford Custom Deluxe sedan is a car that probably shouldn't exist. at least. not in its current form. It's had a frame-off restoration to an exceptionally high standard and is filled with a beautifully built full race flathead. all sorted and ready to rock. The cost was probably six figures and it's probably one of the very best in the whole world. yet here it is at a rock-bottom price. Experts might look at a “mere” 4-door sedan and scoff at even this very reasonable price tag. but please take a very close look at this car and imagine what you're getting for your money. If you demand quality (and everyone does). you will find no better 1949 Ford than this. regardless of body style. And if you like the sleeper aspect. well. this car is a heck of a lot of fun to own and drive.

At first glance. this humble 4-door sedan presents as a handsomely restored 1949 Ford. They were ground-breaking machines that kept Ford out of bankruptcy after the war. and nobody will argue that this isn't a great-looking car. The famous “bullet nose” to the modern fenders that seamlessly sweep into the body and the traditional three-box design all set the standard for every car that would follow. And on this one. it has all been restored to show standards. The owner and the guy supervising the restoration is the former owner of the biggest body shop in the state. so he knows a thing or two about getting bodywork to fit right. He found a super solid car out west and 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. The hood ornament retains its original Plexiglas crown. so there's some spalling in the plastic. but that will also give you some indication of just how nice this car was before the restoration. 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.

And it doesn't stop when you open the door. either. 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 a number of 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. The dash wears proper charcoal gray paint and bright chrome details. and the lettering on all the knobs and handles is laser-sharp and crisply defined. Even all the courtesy lights work properly! 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. Dressed in Ford Blue paint. it presents a nice contrast to the satin black inner fenders and maroon firewall. and all that aluminum sure looks great. 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. The 3-speed manual transmission has a fresh clutch and pressure plate ahead of it and the overdrive works properly. dropping into high range at about 30 MPH for nearly transparent operation. Overdrive also 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. It doesn't run like a stock flathead. so don't expect it to be silent and smooth. but it works so well I wouldn't change a thing—that's the feeling of horsepower. 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. You'll note the floors are immaculate. the rockers are solid and untouched. and even the spare tire well is completely intact and has no patches or filler in it. Cars just don't get much cleaner than this. 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.

With this car you'll get restoration photos and invoices so you can see the astronomical amounts of money and time that went into the build. The receipts alone add up to more than $50. 00 and that's not counting the time and effort to put it together.

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!

ABOUT HARWOOD MOTORS

Harwood Motors offers enthusiasts an effortless way to buy and sell collector vehicles. It's important to note that while the name "Harwood Motors" is new. the people behind it have years of experience buying. selling. and collecting vintage automobiles. It's also a family business with close ties to the hobby itself and we like to think of ourselves as matchmakers rather than a mere car dealership. There's a right car for you out there. and we can help you find it. even if you don't particularly know where to start. What Harwood Motors does isn't new. but the way we do it will make you a client for life. whether you're a buyer or a seller. Call us any time to talk cars. trucks. or even just about the hobby in general; you'll be surprised to find you already have a friend.

If you have a special car that you would like to market. Harwood Motors can put it in front of real buyers. We have an extensive network of clients who are always looking for their next special vehicle. We also accept interesting. high-quality trades and can help with financing. Please contact us for more information on any of our programs.

Feel free to contact us at any time using WeLoveGreatCars@HarwoodMotors. com or by phone at 440-565-5335.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

All vehicles are sold as-is. where-is unless otherwise specified in the description. All sales are binding and final. and winning this auction does not entitle you to inspect the car and then decide not to buy it. but obligates you to complete the transaction. We are always available by phone or email to answer questions. and all our cars may be personally inspected with 24 hours' notice. All non-paying high bidders will be reported to eBay.

In an effort to honor the intent of the auction and maintain fairness to all bidders. we do not release our reserve prices. Please do not ask.

Note that all vehicles listed by Harwood Motors are also for sale in other media at all times. so we reserve the right to end this auction at any time without prior notice. Note that we list many of our cars on eBay. but only a small number of cars are actually sold through the eBay auction process. What that means is that if you see a car you like. don't hesitate! Contact us or hit the Buy It Now! button.

PAYMENT AND SHIPPING

A non-refundable $500 PayPal deposit is required within 24 hours of the auction's end. or immediately for those buyers using the "Buy It Now" feature. For final payment. we accept certified bank checks. and bank to bank wire transfer of funds. We will also accept your credit union or bank auto financing check from any reputable institution. Please contact us for financing options. Note that no vehicle ships without payment in full clearing our bank.

The Buyer is responsible for pickup and/or shipping of the vehicle. If you wish to have it shipped we will gladly assist you in making arrangements and work with several large shipping companies to deliver cars all over the world. Please contact us for details.

FEES AND TAXES

The buyer is responsible for all local state. county. and city tax fees. as well as title and registration fees and any other costs that may apply. and Harwood Motors charges a $150 document preparation fee on each transaction.

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