1949 Ford Custom Convertible

-239 V8
-3 Speed Manual Transmission
-35k Miles
-Yellow Over Tan Interior
-Power Convertible Top

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1949 Ford Custom Convertible on a site other than GarageKeptMotors.com, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of this vehicle due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 135 photographs, including a short startup-and-walk-around video, please go to our main website: GarageKeptMotors.)

“1949 was a big year for the Ford Motor Company as they introduced their first new product line since the end of World War II.” -conceptcarz website

It was also a make-or-break year for Ford, which had fallen badly behind General Motors in market share and profitability. The Ford solution would be an entirely new model, a complete break from outdated designs and manufacturing processes. The conceptcarz website writers continued: “Ford offered two Series for 1949, a base and a Custom Series. The base series was the base trim level, while the Custom was the top trim level. Additions to the Custom series were additional chrome moldings, a horn ring, interior B pillars, and two sun visors. The Custom Series could also be purchased in convertible or station wagon body styles…. 51,133 examples were convertibles.”

Offered here is a a beautifully preserved 1949 Ford Custom convertible in light-yellow over tan-and-brown, under a tan fabric convertible top. The car perfectly captures the spirit of post-war optimism that swept the country and fueled an American economic boom through the Fifties and beyond. This convertible has traveled just under 35,000 miles in its 72-year life, remarkably less than 650 miles per-year on average; a special automobile that has been respectfully owned and meticulously maintained.

The exterior light-yellow paint is uniformly glossy and free of any sign of damage from the elements. The color reflects the optimism that prevailed in the country, and the flowing, curvaceous lines of the convertible body style echo that spirit. The chrome details that make these post-war models so appealing (versus later models when chrome became overpowering) is all in exceptional condition. From the model-defining grille with its “8” engine identifier, across the bumpers front and rear, delicate window trim, front-fender “3-star” protective trim, body-side accent, restrained taillight surrounds, and the exposed hinges on the trunk, all the chrome shines beautifully. The '49-only hood emblem and F-o-r-d hood lettering are perfect, as are the simple “Custom” ­fender badges and the trunk-lid handle emblem (also unique to the 1949 cars). Rear fender skirts enhance the model's horizontal lines. Standard body-color painted wheels--with Ford-embossed chrome hubcaps and trim rings--wear wide whitewall tires. The car's tan fabric top shows no flaws and fits perfectly; it is power-operated.

Inside, the pleated upholstery in tan perfectly complements the exterior color scheme. Door trim is a combination of brown-painted metal at the top, with an art deco brown-over-tan treatment. Fine chrome accents complete the look. The handsome, brown-painted dashboard features two round instruments, the driver-focused speedometer and a smaller analog clock in the center. Like the clock, the radio continues the car's art-deco-influenced design aesthetic. A Ford-badged steering wheel, itself a piece of automotive-design artwork, faces the driver, and features a period-correct “brodie knob.” The 3-speed manual transmission shifter is column-mounted, and a pair of period-correct spotlights are also mounted. Other simple controls are laid out horizontally across the dash, with the chrome parking-brake lever and heater controls below. Auburn-color carpeting covers the cabin floors. Every surface in the car's interior has been extremely well maintained. The same holds true for the car's trunk which includes the original spare wheel (in proper body-color) and tire, as well as proper rubber matting.

Under the hood is the car's original 239 cubic-inch flathead Ford V8 engine wearing its correct engine-block paint. The large oil-bath air cleaner crowns the engine, while the exposed sparkplugs direct the eye to the flathead design. (Be sure to sample the engine note in the accompanying startup-and-walkaround video.) The entire engine bay is properly clean with wiring and engine-cooling hoses properly mounted. Identifying body stampings and the original serial-number tag are in place. Viewed from below, the car's chassis is complete with no sign of rust issues. The single exhaust is directly routed, exiting in the rear. There is absolutely no sign of damage beneath the car.

While the more than 135 high-definition photographs of this perfectly presented 1949 Ford convertible, taken from every angle, including from underneath, faithfully represent its extremely well-maintained condition, a vehicle this special deserves to be inspected up-close. For that reason, we encourage in-person visits to our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. We ask only that an advance appointment be arranged by phone or email. Our showroom is not open to the public, so your appointment helps ensure you have our full attention during your visit. We are also happy to answer questions by phone or email.

Ford was indeed "back in the game" with the '49 Custom. The combination of this car's convertible top and yellow body paint is a perfect representation of Fifties optimism. Thumbs-up indications, knowing head-nods, and outright cheers routinely greet this Ford's arrival. Its next owner can expect to be the center of attention at car-enthusiast gatherings, and pretty much anywhere else the car stops.