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Garaged For 30 Years: 1946 Ford Special Deluxe

After a 30 year of slumber in a garage, this Ford Super Deluxe has escaped and is up for sale. Appearing rot free, with nice chrome and glass, the 30 year slumber did this Ford some favors. This Ford seems like a reasonable deal with the asking price of $4,650. Find it here on craigslist out of Mount Union, Iowa.

A little crusty and grimy, this flathead V8 looks complete, but with no word of its condition. The engine bay is in very nice condition, with only minor dirt and dust, and a lot of paint. Despite its 30 year sleep, hopefully this engine is not frozen, and will live to see another day.

Taking a look inside of this Ford reveals a bit a “store all, catch all” type situation with spares galore in the back seat. Although, from what can be seen, looks to be in fair condition. The dash has some mild cracking and warping, but overall isn’t too shabby. I appreciate that the owner cared enough to cover the front seat for storage when loading this car up with various parts, although that was not the case for the back seat. The door panels are mildly discolored and worn, but are there. The back seat looks to wear an original type of upholstery, but is well covered hiding the condition. Overall this interior looks reasonable, like the rest of the car, but photos of an empty interior would be appreciated.

With a matt finish, and some paint wear, this Ford looks like a solid machine. There are a few areas that have surface rust, but overall this Ford looks solid with no evidence of rot. Surface rust resides on the roof, on the tops of the front fenders and on the hood. The glass and trim work looks complete and flaw free. With plenty of potential, this reasonably priced Ford looks like it could return to the road with some good old elbow grease, and a few parts.  Would you take on this reasonably priced post war Ford?

 

Comments

  1. Avatar photo chad

    what’s lyin on the frnt floor? not an inner fender, wish I knew AND what da frnt floor looked like…
    thanks 4 da post!

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    • Avatar photo JW454

      The object on the front drivers side floor is a oil or radiator drain pan used to service engines and such. The other thing under it looks like a removable body/floor panel. Sorry but, I can’t say what condition the floors are in. This one looks like you’d have something to work with.

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    • Avatar photo Lee Hartman

      What you’re looking at IS the front floor. Look closely and you can see the transmission hump in the center. The floor was removable for access to the transmission.

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  2. Avatar photo Lee Hartman

    I found one very similar, but it’s a convertible!

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  3. Avatar photo Lee Hartman

    All the missing parts are in the car.

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    • Avatar photo Brakeservo

      1/24th scale??

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      • Avatar photo Lee Hartman

        1/25 scale Revell kit.

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  4. Avatar photo geomechs Member

    I like, I like!!!! But there is something wrong inside that engine bay. I first glanced at it and thought that someone had dropped in a ’49+ 8BA or CM engine. However a closer look shows the water pumps on the fronts of the heads and 18mm plugs. Then I saw the fan on the generator. The shot isn’t too clear but I’m sure I counted 21 studs on that cylinder head. It looks like someone stuck in something from ’36 or older to get it running. Ford dropped the water pumps to the front of the block and moved the water outlets to the centers of the heads in 1937. In ’38 they went to 14mm plugs and made a running change to 24 stud heads. The fan was last put on the front of the generator in ’39 (trucks and standard car). It was dropped to the front of the crankshaft in the ’39 deluxe cars, and stayed there through ’41. In ’42 the fan was raised and placed on a jackshaft just under the generator where it stayed until the flathead was taken out of production at the end of ’53 (continued on for a spell in Canada for the ’54 year). Don’t get me wrong; I’m not trying to tear this car apart; through the years I’ve seen lots of instances where someone had to make do. If this car came my way, one of the first things to address would be the motor; maybe I could finally use that ’53 Merc engine I’ve got in the corner of the shop….

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  5. Avatar photo Rob

    Just wax it up, ‘n put something like this ’47 in her, ‘n then DRIVE & DRIVE!!.. :)

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  6. Avatar photo S.S. McDonald

    Super Deluxe?? With no “wonderbar” radio?

    Like 0

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