In the years immediately following World War II, American-made automobiles were largely retreads of pre-war models. While Ford production resumed in 1946, its first all-new cars didn’t arrive until 1949 as design and retooling finally came through (the same was true for the other big manufacturers). The seller’s 1950 Custom convertible is said to be a true barn find, and it may have been out of circulation for 63 years. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, this rough ragtop needs a full restoration – if you’re up for it. This Ford find is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $5,000.
Before 1949, the last time Ford introduced an all-new car was in 1941. Quickly thereafter, auto production was shifted to the war effort, and there would be no new cars after 1942 and not again until 1946. The cars had the benefit of getting to market six months ahead of primary competitor, Chevrolet. Because of their layout and appearance, the 1949-51 Fords were dubbed “Shoeboxes”. But some of the hardware was pre-war, such as the 239 cubic inch “flathead” V8 in the seller’s car.
Due to pent-up demand from the war effort, the new Fords sold like the proverbial hotcakes. The 1950 models were little changed, and convertibles like this Custom convertible saw sales of more than 50,000 units in the first year of the fifth decade of the 20th Century. We don’t know the history of this Ford. We’re told it was last licensed in 1963 and may only have 4,000 original miles. It was parked for unknown reasons in some facility where Mother Nature had at least partial access.
Photos provided by the seller focus on sections of the car, so its overall condition is hard to gauge. Fair at best may be the assumption, and we can’t tell how much of a factor corrosion is. The paint and chrome are shot, as well as the canvas top and interior. So, you’re going to have to plan on a sizeable and expensive restoration project. But when was the last time you saw a Shoebox Ford that had a retractable top like this one? And thanks for another cool tip, “Pnuts”!
The seller saying this car could “possibly less than 4,000 original miles” and it’s a “pretty solid project” is ridiculous. It casts doubt on anything the sellers says. They couldn’t even be bothered to hose out or vacuum the car. It might be rare, but even rare has limits when it comes to what’s worth the effort to restore.
Steve R