Sold 1946 Ford Super DeLuxe 201791210 Tweet

The street rod world is full of amazing cars with wild paint schemes, extreme drivetrains and custom interiors that make most luxury penthouses self-conscious. While those creations are awesome to look at, ten minute start-up procedures and blind hunts for kill switches and accessory controls wear on even the most enthusiastic rodder. Anyone who's been around customs will tell you there is truly something special about owning an authentic, well-built classic that can comfortably carry you across the country if the need arises. This 1946 Ford Super DeLuxe is just that - a completely functional vehicle wrapped in an awesome, old school shell. And, since the car is a former Dearborn Award winner, you can rest assured that it's clean and authentic. Tired of impractical parade pieces? Take a closer look as this all-steel Ford! Approaching this sweet drop-top, it's difficult not to be taken with its sleek profile. To achieve those striking good looks, the car had to be a solid starting point that benefitted from top notch metalwork. And, once that metalwork was complete, it had to be shot with some of the best Dynamic Maroon two-stage on the market. Now, I know paintwork is often questionable on wartime classics, but this Ford's shine is first rate all the way. Reflections are straight and unbroken. There are no major imperfections visible anywhere. And overall, the car has aged exceedingly well since its 2002 frame-off restoration. Essentially a carryover from Ford's pre-war days, the '46 Super Deluxe is both ergonomic and attractive. The car's classy design definitely proved its merit aiding the war effort; and today, it's a stunning example of American industrial elegance. Front and center, a red-trimmed, '46-exclusive grille anchors streamlined marker lamps between clean headlights, a sporty SUPER DELUXE emblem and a broad chrome bumper. At the sides of that grille, textured stainless spans from NOS fenders and an 8 branded hood topper past dual chrome mirrors and low-profile door handles. Above that stainless, like-new glass seats small windshield wipers beneath a burgundy-piped, power-operated roof. And behind that glass, a stainless-trimmed trunk rides between red-trimmed lighting and a Ford branded bumper. If Henry Ford perfected one aspect of his automobiles, it was the Ford V8. Introduced in 1932 as a durable, torque-rich competitor to more expensive and labor-intensive 8-cylinders, the 'flatty' has established an unmatched reputation as the go-to mill for classic and kustom car enthusiasts. And, in keeping with tradition, this stellar hot rod is powered by a 239 cubic inch 69A. Spinning smooth 6.75 to 1 compression into exactly 100 horsepower and 180 lb./ft. of torque, the throaty engine growls with the help of a roster of vintage parts. Air enters through a correctly decaled cleaner and, juiced by a small Holley carburetor, exits through correct, cast iron exhaust manifolds. Pliable belts turn a traditional generator while a beefy radiator cycles water through big hoses and tight screw clamps. Aesthetically, the block, which perches a correctly-decaled oil canister on 24-stud heads, has been painted a familiar blue hue. Cool details like metal-loomed wires, a Ford battery and a correct horn add enough shine to sit at the show. And overall, this classic's super smooth engine bay is a charming and 100% functional step back into a much simpler, and some would say better, period of American automotive history. Take a look under this roaring rag-top and you'll see just how much the automotive world has changed when it comes to ride, handling and structural integrity. The car's body-matched floors make a suitable backdrop for a Satin Black frame and factory-accurate suspension. A correct, 3-speed manual transmission sends power to a Columbia electric, 2-speed axle. In front of that drivetrain, a beam axle and transverse leaf spring remain just as they looked back in 1946. And the same holds true behind that drivet