1947 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman Convertible

Photo by Cliff West

Though this picture from the Towe Ford Museum (now the California Automobile Museum) in Sacramento, California, in March 1992 is very dark, a car with wood-sides fro the 1940s can be made out. While wood-sided station wagons were common, a closer look will reveal that this is not a station wagon. It's a two-door convertible.

After the end of World War II, Ford resumed production of passenger cars, essentially bringing back the 1942 Ford line with updated front-end styling. With the high demand for new cars following the war, this was all that was necessary. Steel was still in short supply, however, and this inspired Ford to create something special. In late 1945, Ford introduced the 1946 Sportsman, a Super Deluxe convertible with a wood-sided body over a steel frame. Sold at a high premium and equipped with a host of luxury options, the Sportsman was exclusive and unique. Ford sold 1,208 in 1946, followed by another 2,250 in 1947. Another 28 leftover 1947s received new serial numbers and were sold as 1948 models. By then, the novelty of a wood-sided convertible had worn off, and those who bought them had undoubtedly realized that the wood bodywork required much more care than painted steel. Today, however, examples like the 1947 model shown here are rare and highly prized.