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1947 Ford Super Deluxe news, pictures, and information

Station Wagon
 
The 1947 Ford Super Deluxe woody wagon greatly resembled the popular 1946 model, with a few styling changes. The grille was slightly modified and the red tracer paint was removed from it, a hood-mounted emblem was added and circular parking lights were placed below the headlights.

The Super Deluxe woodie was Ford's most expensive model in 1947, costing $3,520 new. It was powered by the legendary 239 cubic-inch flathead V-8 that developed 100 horsepower. Standard luxury items included armrests on all doors, passenger assist straps, chrome window moldings, a horn ring and two sun visors.

The 1947 woodies had an eight-passenger capacity; they were equipped with removable rear and middle seats. They featured a metal dash with a Maplewood grain finish, mahogany inside door panels and outside door panels of a mahogany and birch combination.
Sportsman Convertible
Chassis Num: 3598
 
Only 3,692 Sportsman convertible were produced by the Ford Motor Company between 1946 and 1947, with a very few being titled as 1948 models. The body numbers were stamped on the firewall on all Sportsmen, with this example being #3598. Hard Maple from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Mahogany from the Philippines were used to produce the wood bodies, a craft perfected by Ford through years of building station wagons and depot hacks. All Sportsmen had power windows and a power top, as well as a leather interior. Reportedly, there are fewer than 100 examples surviving today.
Station Wagon
 
This Super Delux Woodie Station Wagon was Ford's most expensive model at $1,872 as compared to the two-door coupe at $1,154. These eight-passenger Station Wagons were just 3% of Ford's 1947 production run. The rear and middle seats were removable.

This 3,520 pound vehicle is powered by a 239 cubic inch flathead V-8 engine developing 100 horsepower.

The dash is metal with Maplewood grain finish. The wooden headliner is made of white ash. Inside door panels are mahogany and outside door panels are a combination of mahogany and birch.

These bodies were produced at Ford's Iron Mountain, Michigan, plant that built 4,300 gliders for World War II.
Sportsman Convertible
Chassis Num: 799A1934335
 
Sold for $162,250 at 2009 RM Auctions.
Production of the Sportmans was limited and delayed by strikes and material shortages. Production did not effectively begin until July of 1946. They were assembled at the Iron Mountain facility, alongside regular station wagons. Builders began with standard convertible bodies, the outer door skins, quarter panels and trunk lids were removed. The bodies were then coated in primer before their wood framing and mahogany panels were fitted and varnished. The completed bodies were then returned, fitted with trim, and shipped to Ford's assembly plants to be mated to their chassis.

There were just 2,274 examples of the Sportsman originally produced in 1947. This car wears an older, show-quality restoration, and has recently been re-freshened, with a bare-metal repaint in green. There is a tan power-operated convertible top, and many features including front and rear bumper guards, period correct fog lights, dual chrome-plated rearview mirrors, and whitewall tires on black painted steel wheels with chrome plated trim rings and hubcaps. Inside, there is red leather upholstery, a heater, clock, and radio. Power is from a 'flathead' V8 engine that displaces 239 cubic-inches and produces 100 horsepower. At all four-wheels are hydraulic drum brakes and there is a three-speed manual transmission.

In 2009, this Ford Super DeLuxe Sportsman Convertible was offered for sale at the Automobiles of Arizona auction presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $175,000 - $225,000 and offered without reserve. The lot was sold for the sum of $162,250 including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2009
Station Wagon
 
The 1947 Ford Super Deluxe woody wagon greatly resembled the popular 1946 model, with a few styling changes. The grille was slightly modified and the red tracer paint was removed from it, a hood-mounted emblem was added and circular parking lights were placed below the headlights.

The Super Deluxe 'woodie' was Ford's most expensive model in 1947, costing $3,520 new. It was powered by the legendary 239 cubic-inch flat-head V-8 that developed 100 horsepower. Standard luxury items included armrests on all doors, passenger assist straps, chrome window moldings, a horn ring and two sun visors.

The 1947 station wagons had an eight-passenger capacity, with removable rear and middle seats. They featured a metal dash with a maple wood grain finish, mahogany inside door panels and outside door panels of a mahogany and birch combinations. This 1947 Ford is somewhat unique - it still has its original wood panels.
Sportsman Convertible
Chassis Num: 1967487
 
Sold for $214,500 at 2009 RM Auctions.
Sold for $214,500 at 2009 RM Auctions.
Sold for $187,000 at 2012 RM Auctions.
After World War II, Ford returned to automobile production beginning on July 3, 1945. They were the first American automaker to do so. It would take months before the first cars were available to customers. The first public showing of the Ford line was on October 26th of that year. The Sportsman model was announced in September, but it was not delivered until late December.

The 1946 model year was long, accounting for 18 months of production. Even with this extended amount of time, the Sportmans production was low, reaching just 1,209 units, not even half that achieved in 1947. The Sportsman, like most of the other vehicles, were basically a carry-over from the 1942 model year. There was minor updates, such as a new horizontal four-bar grille, new hood ornament and bumper guards. The engine gained then extra horsepower, and the entry-level Special series was no longer available.

The Sportsman was found in the top-of-the-line Super Deluxe catalog.

For 1947, sales of the Sportsman increased, but they were still at disappointing levels. In an effort to stimulate sales, Ford cut prices by $100, but to little effect. Total production for the year reached just 2,250 units, one-tenth the volume of the steel-bodied Super Deluxe convertibles. Production would continue into the early part of the 1948 model year. The 1948 models were identical (except for the chassis plate) to the 1947 models. By late October 1947, Sportsman production had ended.

This Sportsman Super Deluxe Convertible was given a restoration and finished in Glade Green. The Maple and Mahogany body is highly varnished. The bright-work is excellent, and the condition of the vehicle is in top shape. The seats are upholstered in red leather, and the front floor has rubber mats with maroon carpet inserts. The rear floor has maroon carpet. The dashboard is maple wood-grain, and accessories include a radio, heater and an electric clock. The car rides on B.F. Goodrich 6.50-16 black-wall tires which are in great condition, and there is a matching spare in the trunk.

In the 1970s, this car was owned by Melville Warren Garbitt, who received an AACA National First Prize in 1991. Nick Alexander purchased it in February of 1995. It received the Early Ford V8 Club's Dearborn Award at Dearborn in 1998 scoring 995 points.
In 2009, this 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman Convertible was offered for sale at the Sports & Classics of Monterey auction in Monterey, California presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $220,000-$260,000 and offered without reserve. The lot was sold for the sum of $214,500 including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2009
Sportsman Convertible
Chassis Num: 799A1691621
 
Sold for $220,000 at 2009 RM Auctions.
Sold for $220,000 at 2009 RM Auctions.
This Sportsman was built in May of 1947, and has been restored in Monsoon Maroon. The original wood body shines through 10 coats of spar varnish. There is a black canvas top, running boards, and newly upholstered seats in red leather. There is a tan carpet floor mat and black rubber mats with carpeted inserts in the front.

Before becoming parts of the Nick Alexander collection, this car was owned by Claude Taylor of Asheville, North Carolina, where it received AACA awards at the Southeastern Division National Meet in Huntsville, Alabama in 1980. It joined the Nick Alexander collection in February of 2004, and later received a Dearborn Award from the Early Ford V8 Club and judged at 988 points that year at Hood River, Oregon.

In 2009, this 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman Convertible was offered for sale at the Sports & Classics of Monterey auction in Monterey, California presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $200,000-$250,000 and offered without reserve. The lot was sold for the sum of $220,000 including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2009
Coupe Sedan
Chassis Num: 799A1751951
 
Sold for $33,000 at 2009 RM Auctions.
Henry Henglefelt placed a $50 deposit on a new Ford at Bomgardner Motor Company on December 7th of 1945. Automobile production had just resumed as World War II had come to a close. Demand for automobiles was high and production was slow. Mr. Hinglefelt's car was not delivered until July 3, 1947. This was two years after Ford had resumed production. The purchase price on this vehicle was $1,441.36, and Mr. Hinglefelt traded in a 1938 Ford Tudor.

Mr. Henglefelt died just three months later. Since his wife did not drive, his brother, who lived on an adjacent farm, used the car for six years. E.F. Koening, the brother, took Mrs. Henglefelt to town in the car about every two weeks. After that, it was parked until her death in 1974.

The car was inherited by Mr. Koenig and his wife, Fern. They used it sparingly, later coming into the car of their nephew, Dean Versaw of Loveland, Colorado. Versaw sold it to Frank Elliott of Denver, Colorado, in September 1981.

Currently, the car shows fewer than 12,000 miles. It wears its original Rotunda Gray paint and original gray cloth interior. There are lap belts for two in the front, an original black rubber mat in the front, and a brown fiber mat in the back.

Nick Alexander purchased the car from Frank Elliott in October of 2005. The car received Rogue Award recognition for body, interior and chassis from the Early Ford V8 Club at keystone, Colorado. Mr. Alexander installed the Columbia rear axle for easier operation on local freeways. The engine is a Flathead V8 capable of producing 100 horsepower. There is a three-speed manual transmission and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

In 2009, this Tudor Sedan was offered for sale at the Sports & Classics of Monterey auction in Monterey, California presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $20,000-$30,000 and offered without reserve. The lot was sold for the sum of $33,000 including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2009
Sportsman Convertible
 
This Ford Sportsman Convertible was restored over 3 decades ago with virtually all New Old Stock parts. All of the sportsmen had power windows and top as well as a leather interior. They were powered by Ford's 239 cubic-inch flat head V8 engine offering 100 horsepower.
By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2010
Sportsman Convertible
 
The 1947 model year series began as late as February 1947 and was very similar to the 1946s. After a few weeks of 1947 the cars began to show the planned changes. Most of the changes were visual and relatively minor - grooved moldings changing to smooth, for example. Parking lights went below the headlamps from above the grill, for another. Only 3,692 Sportsman Convertibles were built in model years 1946 and 1947, all with power windows and a power top, and leather upholstery. The wood used was both hard maple and mahogany from the Philippines.
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Average Auction Sale: $78,770

 
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July 2012166,991 
June 2012200,215 
May 2012208,993 
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