Ford Forty-Nine Concept at Auction

January 18, 2019 by Dan Vaughan

At the recent Mecum Kissimmee auction, one of the cars that rolled across their block was the 2001 Ford Forty Nine Concept Convertible. Wearing a design by Chip Foose, it was a modern interpretation of the 1949 Ford that helped launch the cruising and customizing craze of the 1950s. It was introduced in 2001 as a coupe at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the one and only Forty Nine Concept convertible was offered for sale from the Wayne Davis Collection exactly as it was used by Ford Motor Company for promotional purposes on the national show-car circuit for two years.

The Ford Forty Nine Concept Convertible is a static display vehicle that is not equipped with running gear. The one-off factory concept vehicle rides on 20-inch Foose-designed chrome wheels, has a two-tone black and burgundy interior, velvety Maroon exterior, concealed pillars and windshield wipers, modest chrome accents, a sloping top-up roofline, cantilevered bench-style power front seat, floating center console, gauges contained within a single round instrument pod and leather upholstery and trim.

Ford's press release stated, 'The Forty-Nine Concept harkens back to the romance of a Friday night at the drive-in or bowling alley, listening to rock-and-roll and cruising in a chopped and channeled custom car.'

At Mecum, the car was estimated to sell for $40,000 - $60,000. One-off vehicles, especially concepts, are difficult to determine estimates. This was not the car's first rodeo, however, as it had been sold at RM Auctions Sports & Classics of Monterey sale in 2010, where it sold for $67,100 inclusive of applicable buyer's fee. The estimates proved accurate, as a willing buyer was found, and the car was sold for the sum of $51,700 at Mecum's auction. Although it is without running gear, it is still nice to see it out on the road....