1949

Bathtub Aerodynamics: 1949 Nash 600 Two Door Sedan

One of the most frequent complaints from consumers today is that all cars look alike.  Part of that is due to the SUV craze infecting the nation.  The other reason is aerodynamics.  With ever-tightening fuel economy standards forcing automakers… more»

Garage Kept for 18 Years: 1949 Mercury Sedan

A lot of credit goes to the all-new 1949 Ford for saving Ford from bankruptcy.  While still offering the venerable Flathead V-8, this pivotal car was incredibly sleek and modern compared to the 1948 Ford it replaced.  What gets… more»

Owned for 56 Years: 1949 Packard Sedan

While many of the cars we feature here at Barn Finds are advertised as a result of a family member passing on and an estate being settled, every once in a while, we see cars being sold, reluctantly, by… more»

One Owner, 54K Miles, and 1966 Tags: 1949 Ford Custom Tudor

If anyone ever tells you that good cars aren’t out there waiting to be discovered, then they are surely misinformed.  There have been many write-ups this year covering cars that haven’t seen the light of day for decades and… more»

Former Tomato Farm Truck: 1949 Chevrolet Thriftmaster

One of the problems we have in this country is that we often fail to preserve the most important parts of our history.  From the 150-year-old house downtown, that gets plowed down to put in another McMansion to the… more»

Garage Bound Since the Sixties: 1949 Buick Super Sedanet

When World War II ended, the whole world wanted to get back to living their lives.  America, however, would never go back to what it was before Pearl Harbor.  What followed the war was a period of prosperity and… more»

42 Years in a Barn! 1949 Plymouth Business Coupe

Don’t ask me why, but I’ve always been drawn to a 2-door, 3-passenger business coupe. Especially those made by the Chrysler Corporation from 1949-1952. I guess it’s the odd proportions due to the humongous trunk and how “unsporty” this… more»

Milestone American Sports Car: 1949 Crosley Hotshot

When you ask someone what was the first postwar American sportscar, the most popular answer is almost always the 1953 Chevrolet Corvette.  That answer is wrong by four years.  A 1949 Crosley Hotshot like this blue example for sale… more»

Middleman Marketed Vagabond: 1949 Kaiser Vagabond

As earlier generations pass from this Earth, their survivors must deal with their estates.  The problem for many of the ones tasked with closing things out is that few of them are car people.  This is where a middleman… more»

BF Classified: Rare 1949 Kaiser-Frazier Vagabond

Vagabond. Google it and the definition that pops up isn’t the most flattering: a person (tramp; vagrant) who wanders aimlessly from place to place without a home or job. I first heard that word as a kid watching The Three Stooges…. more»

Entombed Since 2001: 1949 Oldsmobile Fastback

Imagine the excitement and anticipation that archaeologists experienced when opening King Tut’s tomb.  Car lovers kind of experience the same feelings, both good and bad.  Picture yourself charged with the task of clearing out a relative’s estate.  You open… more»

Cowboys Then and Now: 1949 Ford 1/2 Ton Pickup

There is no denying America’s love for pickup trucks.  Pickups are kind of like cowboys.  Early trucks (before around 1990) are more John Ford cowboy, while later models are more Urban Cowboy.  If you are a fan of the… more»

Iowa Farm Survivor: 1949 Ford F-1 Panel Truck

About the only thing cooler than pickup trucks from the 1950s are their covered cousins, the panel truck, which Ford claimed would “protect your cargo in style.” Here’s a 1949 Ford F-1 panel truck survivor that’s still earning its… more»

One-Family Owned: Grandpa’s 1949 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup Truck

Check out this “Grandpa’s Daily Driver” 1949 Chevy 3100 pickup from Kansas. Based on all the patina, dings, scrapes, scratches, and other personality traits, I’m guessing it spent most of its working life on Grandpa’s farm. The seller, who bought… more»

Stately Survivor: 1949 DeSoto Club Coupe

If you’ve ever dreamed of being a conquistador, this black beauty could sort of scratch that itch. Named after the famous Spanish explorer, Hernando de Soto, the DeSoto line was a lower-priced version of the Chrysler and was originally… more»

Barn Finds