I don’t know what it is, but I doubt there’s an old car more wholesome and authentic than a 1946 Ford Tudor Sedan. It’s simple, rugged, and handsome without being ostentatious, and I have a vague notion that after we’re all gone there will be some ’46 Fords ready to take over. This one may need a little TLC to achieve that level of responsibility, but it apparently survived under a barn for a while, so who knows.
Eighteen years under a barn, to be exact (that’s what the ad says anyway). This old Ford has obviously seen some better days, but we can hope that it has better days ahead. The Flathead spins freely and the car is complete, so at least there’s a good start for anyone who wants a winter project to pass the time. Since the car is located in Maine, those winters can be long.
Please notice that the seller doesn’t mention that the car runs currently. If I were to take on this Ford, the first thing I’d probably do is fill the cooling system and do a pressure test to see if I’m dealing with any serious cracks, as a cold climate and long-stored engines don’t always mix. If the engine is original, it’s a 239 cubic-inch version of the old Flathead, which produces 100 horsepower (when it’s new and running).
The Ford has certainly seen some modifications over the years, but considering that few of us will be performing a full restoration on a car that saw a production run of 163,370 (assuming it’s a Super Deluxe model, which is just my assumption based on the trim), it may be wise to clean it up and repair what you can within a strict budget.
The seller doesn’t mention anything about rust, so you can assume that it’s there. You can see some of it, but you’ll probably have to make an appointment to see how bad it really is. Once again, this might be a nice car to get running and safe before having a little fun.
The 1946 Ford was, like most American makes, a virtual carryover of the 1942 model, but that’s OK. It’s a reminder of an interesting time in our history, and if you get it running, it will have one of the best exhaust notes you’ll ever hear. It’s currently for sale on Marketplace in Maine with an asking price of $3200. The owner might even trade for a snowmobile, ATV, or dirt bike, so if you have an unwanted toy taking up space in the garage, you might be able to replace it with a real piece of Americana. Let us know how it turns out if you do. Thanks to T.J. for the tip!
Strange headlight treatment.
I think somebody made those eyebrows!
Those “eyebrows” were very popular aftermarket add-ons.
Now, unless PO added the bright “splash” across the deck lid, this isn’t a ’46. That chrome (stainless?) bar appeared in eigher ’47 or ’48. Petty, I know, but a point to ponder if looking for authenticity (?)
Right out of the J. C. Whitney catalog.
Probably when repairing rust…
While they may have been warmed over pre-war models, some poor GI slogging through the trenches of France( or so it was told) dreamed of coming home and buying a new Ford Tudor V8. This car, however, was some kids hot rod in the 50s, after GI Joe wore it out. When the all new ’49s came out, these became back row beaters, waiting for that kid with $50 grass cutting money to come along. And they did. Today, sadly, I see less than zero interest.
I’d be interested in it if it wasn’t so far away. These are awesome family haulers when built right.
I drove a 1946 Ford Super Deluxe Tudor for many years. This one is a ’47 or ’48: the only thing ’46 on it are the parking lamps. I can’t see the door-locks, so I can’t tell if this is a ’47 or a ’48. It lacks the Super Deluxe badge under the left headlamp, so my guess is, this one is the base “Deluxe” version. Other than the badge, “Deluxe” and “Super Deluxe” iterations of this car are virtually identical on the exterior: the main differences are with the interiors of the two models. This one has the much cheaper looking 1947-’48 gauges, and an after-market steering wheel. The upholstery, here, is nothing like the grey mohair and faux leather trim which mine had. The stainless trim, grille, hub-caps, and “Ford” trunk-spear, all are ’47-’48; the ’46 has a hood ornament which this one lacks. How it got the ”46 parking lamps is anybody’s conjecture. The engine looks quite different to what I had, and lacks the prominent oil-bath air-cleaner on the top. These cars are wonderful to drive, but noted for over-heating in sultry weather, if at idle for very long. For Interstate driving over long distances, you NEED Columbia Overdrive: cruising speed without it, is about 50-55 m.p.h., only. Remember those periodic drops of oil in the generator and fan, to avoid seised bearings! (having the owner’s manual is wise). WATCH for RUST in the cowl at the door-hinges, and in the trunk: these cars are prone to the sorts of rust that attacks the very integrity of its structure and tends not to show until damage is severe. Watch for “rot” where the running-boards attach. At this price, you might be better-off paying more for an all-original low-mileage survivor from a dry and snow-free climate, one that is entirely complete and original, with no rodent-invasions! And WATCH for freyed (or worse!) wiring. Unlike the Mercury version, the clock in the Ford has no noise-damping spacers — so, if you have a working clock, be prepared for an amusing “time-bomb” prominent “ticking” effect! (smile) These cars have their unique charms. I richly enjoyed mine!
The kid should have mowed a couple more lawns so he could afford the Blue Dots for the tail lights. By the mid-50s, it seemed like half of the 46-48 Fords had them. I kept bugging my Dad to get them for our ’41 Chrysler to no avail.
Typical of these era of Fords people often get the year wrong. This is either a 47 or 48 ,definitely not a 46. The only 46 part, I see are the parking lights. It is very difficult to tell the difference between 47’s and 48’s but the 46 is totally alone when you compare the differences. What stands out when you do, you realize every change was done to save money and keep price down and profits up. Don’t really know how that worked out for Henry? It was post WWll and the car industry was experiencing massive change and everything was crazy!
I just went with the ad on this one – it seems like a bit of a hodge-podge of parts. When you open the Marketplace listing it does say 1946 1947 at the top (but not in the text itself), so maybe it’s a little of both!
Didn’t they move the parking lights sometime during MY1947? Besides the cost savings of the round ones with simpler bezels, they likely were better suited for the increasingly popular but still optional turn signals being pushed out as close to the sides of the car as possible.
Not as smooth looking as the ‘39-‘40’s. Bulbous.
The motor in the car is the later 8BA Flathead, which is from ‘49-‘52
The 8BA was used through 1953 in the USA and through 1954 in Canada.
The engine is an 8BA from a ‘49-52 Ford
This would be a great project for someone with the time, the money, and the room. I now have two of the three.
I drove a 1946 Ford Super Deluxe Tudor for many years. This one is a ’47 or ’48: the only thing ’46 on it are the parking lamps. I can’t see the door-locks, so I can’t tell if this is a ’47 or a ’48. It lacks the Super Deluxe badge under the left headlamp, so my guess is, this one is the base “Deluxe” version. Other than the badge, “Deluxe” and “Super Deluxe” iterations of this car are virtually identical on the exterior: the main differences are with the interiors of the two models. This one has the much cheaper looking 1947-’48 gauges, and an after-market steering wheel. The upholstery, here, is nothing like the grey mohair and faux leather trim which mine had. The stainless trim, grille, hub-caps, and “Ford” trunk-spear, all are ’47-’48; the ’46 has a hood ornament which this one lacks. How it got the ”46 parking lamps is anybody’s conjecture. The engine looks quite different to what I had, and lacks the prominent oil-bath air-cleaner on the top. These cars are wonderful to drive, but noted for over-heating in sultry weather, if at idle for very long. For Interstate driving over long distances, you NEED Columbia Overdrive: cruising speed without it, is about 50-55 m.p.h., only. Remember those periodic drops of oil in the generator and fan, to avoid seised bearings! (having the owner’s manual is wise). WATCH for RUST in the cowl at the door-hinges, and in the trunk: these cars are prone to the sorts of rust that attacks the very integrity of its structure and tends not to show until damage is severe. Watch for “rot” where the running-boards attach. At this price, you might be better-off paying more for an all-original low-mileage survivor from a dry and snow-free climate, one that is entirely complete and original, with no rodent-invasions! And WATCH for freyed (or worse!) wiring. Unlike the Mercury version, the clock in the Ford has no noise-damping spacers — so, if you have a working clock, be prepared for an amusing “time-bomb” prominent “ticking” effect! (smile) These cars have their unique charms. I richly enjoyed mine!
Harrison, You definitely know your 46 to 48 Fords, there are so many subtle differences, I am not sure I know them all. Then to make it more confusing Ford would just sell last year’s model and correct the year on the title. It seems the title was always the year it was sold, however my dad and uncle bought their new Fords on the same day and same dealership, one a 46 the other a 47. Seen this many times on 47’s that were actually 46’s, seemed to happen a lot on convertibles or Woodies. If you think about it it makes sense. Can’t say this without adding the 42 was also different and it stands out, much like the 46 does with the 47’s and 48’s. Also in those years after the war the quality control was not very good, they were putting them together as fast as possible, and supposedly losing money. If you look at all the changes it was all done to save money. Well hey that’s enough of that, class is over.
To Joe Haska: the 1942 was a nice automobile, and the 1946 was essentially a 1942 with the Mercury version of the V-8 flathead — 100 h.p. in place of the pre-war 90 h.p.. The ’42 had an earth tone interior with wood-grained dashboard; whereas, the ’46 Super Deluxe was grey and blue inside, with metallic grey accents. But the Deluxe was pre-war brown and tan, without the woodgraining or fancy interior door trim. I preferred the ’42 grille-treatment. The ’46 had red accents in the recessed places in the stainless of the grille, and red accents on the hub-caps and bumper-script; on the ’42, the accents were blue. The changes from 1946 to 1947 were actually quite significant; they did not change the ’48 much, because the ’49s were due out in June of ’48 — and at the time, they were like something from “outer space”! I won’t forget the shock upon first seeing them! As for buying two cars of separate model years on the same day: NO DOUBT!!! Demand was sky-high and supplies were limited — and dealers knew you’d gladly take whatever you could get. If you were some kind of V.I.P., or you had “inside connexions”, you might be able to make choices — but for most in 1946 or 1947, it was first come — first served — on whatever the dealer might have on hand. If you were too particular for that, then the next guy behind you would gratefully buy the one you had qualms about. As for rust: I don’t know if it was so much quality-control, as it was that they did not know as much as has been learned since about building cars that endure winter salt better.
Dontcha just love how the mower looks like the FORD & not the other way around ?
Harrison,
Not being a smart ass I know that! Something else I know, you and I might be the only people on the planet that care. I was about 4 years old when my Dad bought his 46 2-door sedan. I stood in the middle of the front seat when we drove anywhere and fell in love with that car. I have had 3 or 4 of them and I would probably have another one, if I got the chance. It’s crazy why some of us for certain unknown reasons like a specific car. A fun fact, I can’t swear that it’s true, but over the years the 42 to 48 Fords were the most inexpensive to have of all the early V-8’s. Maybe I could even say they were the least popular.
To Joe Haska: I never assume that anyone is being a smart ass. You love the ’42-’48 Fords, which is why you know about them (smile). Did you know that the early 1946s had a tool compartment at the rear inside of the trunk, and that the “8” piece on the glove compartment was die-cast and chrome-plated, before they changed it to stamped stainless steel? We don’t care if these particular Fords seemed to be the least interesting to collectors and hence more reasonably priced to buy. I did not have anyone around me who bought or owned one (my father drove Packards). My maternal grandfather always had Fords, but he traded-in his 1929 Model A on a new 1939 Mercury. And he traded that one in on a 1946 Mercury (which was a cousin to the Ford). He traded that one in on a 1953 Mercury, which I particularly liked. And he kept that car for the rest of his life (he died in 1961 at age 87). What became of his Mercury after that, I do not know. I do remember that it had a Merc-O-Matic transmission, and it took him a while not to reach his foot for the clutch.
Harrison, I suppose we could go on forever about this era of early Fords and our general interest in them. I do want to tell you about my grandfather he was a mechanic especially on Ford V-8’s he was also an alcoholic, but of course as a young kid , I didn’t know what that was? He always drove a 40 Ford Deluxe 2 door sedan, he always had one! He wrecked them on a regular basis, but would always find another one. In the mid sixties before he passed away I gave him a ride in my new purchase ” A 1934 Ford Coupe”. We went for a ride and he explained all about problems I might encounter. I wish I had recorded that conversation. I do remember the ride like it was yesterday. The real cool thing is I still have the car today, some 60 years later. I think he would like that.
To Joe Haska: I wrote a response to you, but when I went to post it, it vanished!
Car really needs a nice 1940s era steering wheel.
The wheel looks like it was from JC Whitney.
Harrison,
That has only happened to me about a 100 times!
To Joe Kaska: And I thought I was the only one! Sometimes, when I go to post, a big “FORBIDDEN” sign pops up, and I wonder, “What did I do to anybody?”