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1946→1948 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman

1946→1948 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman

1946→1948 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman

The first wood-bodied convertible ever produced, the Ford Sportsman evolved on the whim of company president Henry Ford II. Ford asked design chief E.T. “Bob” Gregorie if he could build a one-off body on an old Model A chassis that could be used for family outings to the Southhampton beach.

Copying the wood-paneled themes of the station wagons which the company had been producing for years, Gregorie utilized expensive mahogany plywood sourced from Ford’s wartime production plant that had been used to build gliders. Gregorie’s charming creation became the envy of many upper-level Ford executives and prompted the design of a similar production convertible.

1946→1948 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman

The Sportsman Convertible proved to be the only brand-new design for Ford in 1946, as all automakers largely resumed their pre-war models to quickly meet the overwhelming demand created by the conflict’s production moratorium.

Poised atop Ford’s Super Deluxe series and minimally produced with a mere 2,274 examples, the Sportsman was adorned with a host of standard luxury amenities that served to further bolster its desirability. Accordingly, it was the first Ford to retail for more than $2,000 since the 1908 Model K.

Largely acknowledged to be the finest of the Ford woodies, today the Sportsman is classified as a Certified Milestone Car by the Milestone Car Society, a benchmark of the most distinctive and desirable post-war automobiles.

 

In Detail

type Series Production Car
production years 1946 – 1948
built at USA
price $ $ 1,982
engine V8 w/L-Head
position Front, Longitudinal
displacement 3917 cc / 239 in³
power 74.599998 kw / 100 bhp @ 3600 rpm
specific output 25.53 bhp per litre
body / frame Steel
front brakes Drums
rear brakes Drums
f suspension Solid Axle
r suspension Live Axle w/Transverse Semi-Elliptical Leaf Springs
transmission 3-Speed Manual Gearbo w/Overdrive

Auction Sales History

1946→1948 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman

1946 Ford Super DeLuxe Sportsman Convertible – sold for $170,000 One of 1,209 for the model year. Meticulous, correct restoration. Recipient of the coveted Early Ford V-8 Club’s Dearborn Award. Auction Source: 2014 Arizona by RM Auctions

1946→1948 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman
1947 Ford Super DeLuxe Sportsman – did not sell for $205,000 Formerly the property of John Woodhead. Extremely rare Tiger Maple body. Desirable Columbia overdrive. Double Dearborn winner. Auction Source: 2013 Monterey Auction by RM Auctions

1946→1948 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman
1947 Ford Sportsman Super Deluxe – sold for $170,500 Comprehensive Restoration Completed in 1992. Two Owners over the Last 30 Years. Restored by Woodie Specialists. Impressively Documented. Classic E.T. “Bob” Gregorie Design. Auction Source: 2012 Pebble Beach Auctions by Gooding & Company

1946→1948 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman

1947 Ford Sportsman Super Deluxe 1664430 – sold for $220,000 Beautiful Restoration. Ford’s Most Elegant Woodie. Recently Serviced by a Sportsman Expert. Classic E.T. Gregorie Design. Highly Optioned Example. Auction Source: The Amelia Island Auction 2012 by Gooding & Company

Story by Gooding & Co.