Great cars, even without the top chop...

I miss the west coast.

Looks like the Possum van. In this case, itd be the Possum Sled.

Seeing cars like this makes me want to drive a Rat Rod daily, year round.

Back from the days when Ford was known for style and reliability. We all know the Blue Oval can make truly beautiful cars, so why must they continue producing things like the Taurus and Explorer?

Also, one must wonder what having a car made almost largely out of Bondo does for structural strength and safety.

The bumper over-riders on the pink car have me strangely aroused.

i have an odd fondness in my heart for the split windshield... am i the only one who would like to see us revert?

are you a splittie too? (or am i just a sick twisted freak?)

Literally, down on the street.

@Martt: Sounds good to me. Not only would it simplify the expense and distortion of the windshield, but it would probably aid a little in rigidity (the "A2 pillar"?). And it looks cool.

@Martt: Hell yeah, split windshields really need to come back.

I love this Ford (and this era of Ford cars in general). It looks exactly right, as it is.

@danio3834: The Possum Sled sounds like something that Platform Pontiac Dave would come up with.

I think I might like the primer cow spots. Drop some wider tires on it and it's complete.

The first year of this design, 1949, really saved FoMoCo. It was the first new Ford since before the war. There is a story here that involves Studebaker stylists. I know with the extensive knowledge of the Jalopniks readers someone has the connection and the complete details.

Very cool old ride Id give it a 9.6 for technical, and a 10.0 for artistic ability

I think it looks good just the way it is..

Damn that's a sweet old thing.

beautiful!!

Nice. Flat black the whole bottom of the car and leave it as is. I love the steelies with chrome lug nuts look.

Did that thing start life as a 4 door?

I guess I'm alone in not going for the "ratrod" thing, or the lowrider thing- maybe it's because cars up here that low would survive about 50 yds., and cars that're left in primer can (and do) start rotting withing minutes..

One more rain-on-the-parade comment: trim was chromed for a reason.

A fine rod. I like how the side windows fore and aft of the B pillar mirror each other. Rear end looks to be lower than that super-low T2...wouldn't happen to bring a tape measure with you, Murilee, would you?

@Mink66: Nope- '49-'51 Ford 2-door sedans were that wonky in stock condition.

@slantsick: "withing"? =within

EDIT button?

What normally goes in the middle of that hole in the grill? An auxiliary light?

@racerx: A big chrome piece.

As Isetta noted, Studebaker stylists Bob Bourke (also on the Avanti team) and Holden (Bob) Koto were on the design teams of both the bulletnose Studes and the '49 Ford Tudor.
The hole in this '49's grille also sported a 4 pointed bullet similar to the '50 Studebaker more prominent bullet.
In '51, Ford added another bullet and moved them apart to balance out the front end look.
It's a classic look for any car, and perhaps (my theory) gave way to the huge "Dagmars" of the 50's on Detroits massive chromed bumpers.

@racerx: But a third headlight a la Tucker would be a kickass mod, especially if it turned with the wheels.

I seem to remember that '80s Subarus had a third headlight- and of course there was Mopar's short-lived "Superlite" -any others?

Ahh, the shoebox Ford. Probably the greatest canvas ever for both professional and backyard customizers. I've never seen one I didn't like.

Wow, if one didn't know better, one might thing that suspension was totally broken.

^ See, if we had an edit button, FreeMan would be able to correct his post to say that the suspension was totally awesome.

I wonder if you could fit a Deville night vision camera into the grille's bullet hole?

@slantsick: The entire front end of the 86-91 (maybe through 95) Mercury Sable lit up.

As it was when Coke changed their original formula, no one knows why.

I'm all for split windshields, wing windows (the "smoker's friend"), floor-mounted dimmer switches and three on the tree. I especially miss wing windows and stomping on the dimmer switch.

Nice car, but the green roof makes it look as though there's moss growing on it.

weren't the 49 and 50 identical, except the '49 had lever type door handles and the '50 had push button type? so this could be a 49?

I think this guy plays in a band called the "Badmen"

The grille needs a pointy chrome piece like Studes of the same era--maybe a propeller?

wow, nice. I do wonder though, if I found one of these w/o the engine and I happened to find, say, a Lexus or an Infiniti engine or the like, just waiting to be put to work, would it be wrong to match them and see if they get along?

@akirachan: Not wrong at all. Old cars with modern motivation are awesome, because a good engine choice compromises nothing-- power, efficiency, reliability, upgrades, and even emissions. It's win-win, really.

@Bumblebee: I forgot about the Sable- although I think the grille didn't actually light up until 1989, and did continue through that design cycle..

As far as how to fill the hole where the Ford's "spinner" should be, a Dagmar would be cool. Or, go back to the Dagmar's roots (and inflinct maximum pedestrian damage) by installing the chromed and inverted headlight bucket from a '37-'39 GM product.

@Paul Y. Rocks: From my brief discussions with the owner of this car, I'm sure he wouldn't put a non-vintage engine in either of his 50s cars (though the Dodge does have a Turbo 350 behind the stock flathead six).

I love everything but the frenched headlights. For some reason I just want the elaborate chrome--or hell, just a chrome ring--around the lights. Although I have to admit, they suit this particular old Ford face.

Pretty funky camber angles on the front wheels...

"the Ford project has progressed enough for it to drive around under its own power and park on the street."

...which means it's done, right?

Me want!

I love it, although I agree with those of us who think a little chrome would go a long way. I've never been into painted trim.

I've chopped two of these already (a '50 and a '53) and although it's a ton of work, it's worth every minute.

I'm shocked you car freaks didn't
see that the Ford pictured is a
1949 not a 1950. The '50 had
square turn signals under the ends
of the grille bar. The '49 in the
picture has no turn signals.
Turn signals were not standard
until 1950. Some '49 had the optional turn signals
but they were in the ends of the grill bar
not under it like the '50

I'm not a fan of the lowrider look. Here in redneck heaven, home of trucks with loud pipes and chili with pasta, we jack our rear ends UP, not down. That Ford would be sweet if its nose pointed at the street and its taillights shone into the treetops.

hey!
this guy lives on Brodway Ave, near the intersection of Blanding.
The guy also has a pink one for his girl.
also, check out his landscaping in front! lol