1950 Ford German Special

Ford Motor Company had its first presence in Germany in 1912 when a parts company was established in Hamburg. Production of Model T trucks began in 1925 at a plant in Berlin. Production of vehicles resumed after World War II. Henry Ford II visited Ford's German facilities in 1948 when he was considering the purchase of Volkswagen. The purchase, however, was not pursued.

One of Ford's German pre-war models was the Taunus. The name refers to a low mountain range area of great natural beauty near Hesse, Germany. It was offered in several body styles including limousine and truck versions.

This vehicle was customized by the Deutsch Chassis Company of Kolon, Germany. The current owner performed a total frame-off restoration using replacement parts that were purchased in Germany.

World War II put automobile production on hold. Production ceased on February 10, 1942, and resumed in 1946. When production began, most vehicles offered by marques were basically carried over from pre-War development. It was not until 1949 until Ford began offering new designs. They featured simple lines that were clean and well-integrated into the body. In the front was a dramatic and artful bullet nosed grille.

The Custom Deluxe Series was introduced in 1950 and would continue for a total of two years. The Custom Deluxe Crestliner two-door sedan was Ford's top-of-the-line offering and included chrome window moldings, chrome horn rings, armrests on all doors, and two sun visors. Needless to say, there was chrome at nearly every available location. Two engines were available, a six- and eight-cylinder unit. The L-head six-cylinder unit produced 95 horsepower while the L-head V8 produced 100 horsepower. The standard gearbox was a three-speed manual; an optional three-speed manual with automatic overdrive was optional

The cars rested on a 114-inch wheelbase and passenger cars measured 196.6 inches. Station wagons were slightly larger, measuring 206 inches.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2009

The Ford Customline was produced from 1952 through 1956. It was a model placed between the Mainline and the Crestline and was available with either a six or eight-cylinder engine. The three-speed manual gearbox was standard with the automatic unit offered as optional equipment.
By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2007