Why This Car Is Special

The 1947 Ford Super Deluxe convertible occupies a unique place in American automotive history. Ford resumed civilian production after World War II in 1945, and the 1946–1948 models were essentially refined versions of the prewar 1942 design — a practical reality given the retooling challenges of postwar manufacturing. What Ford did produce, however, was a genuinely handsome car. The Super Deluxe was the top trim in Ford's lineup for those years, offering buyers the most chrome, the best upholstery, and access to the convertible body style, which was one of the most desirable and least common configurations offered. Ford produced convertibles in relatively small numbers during this period, and survivors in this condition are increasingly rare finds.

This particular 1947 Ford Super Deluxe has been taken well beyond its original specification through a serious custom build that covers the car from the undercarriage up. It represents the hot rod and custom street rod tradition that traces directly back to the postwar era itself — the very years this car was built. The 1947 Ford body style was a favorite among early customizers and remains a go-to platform today because of its flowing, pontoon fender design and the wide, low stance it naturally carries. This example wears red paint over a lowered suspension, sits on chrome 5-spoke wheels, and carries a Chevy small block V8 under the hood with enough chrome and braided stainless detail work to make the engine bay worth looking at with the hood up. Inside, the car is trimmed in beige leather with bucket seats, headrests, a rear seat, custom door panels, and a VDO gauge cluster set into the original dash. Air conditioning is fitted. The tan soft top completes the package.

This is a built, drivable, ready-to-enjoy street rod. It is not a trailer queen or a show car awaiting its first real trip. It has been put together to be used, and every major system has been addressed.

Features List

• Chevy Small Block V8 engine swap
• Automatic transmission
• Chrome performance intake with open-element air cleaner
• Braided stainless engine lines throughout engine bay
• Chrome engine accessories including valve covers, timing cover, and ancillaries
• Dual exhaust system with custom rectangular exhaust tips
• Disc brakes
• Lowered custom suspension — front and rear
• Chrome 5-spoke wheels with performance radial tires
• Tan soft convertible top
• Air conditioning
• Custom beige leather interior
• Bucket seats with headrests — front and rear
• Custom steering wheel with chrome center
• VDO gauge cluster
• Updated stereo head unit with door panel speakers
• Custom floor mats — red diamond-pattern
• Carpeted trunk
• Painted frame and undercarriage in red
• Chrome front and rear bumpers
• Custom leather door panels with integrated speaker grilles and courtesy lighting

Mechanical

The original flathead V8 has been replaced with a Chevy small block V8, which is the most common and most supported engine swap you can make in a car like this. Parts availability is essentially unlimited, any competent shop in the country can work on it, and the power output over the original flathead is significant. The engine bay has been detailed to a high standard, with chrome Chevy bowtie valve covers, braided stainless lines running to and from the engine, and a chrome performance intake topped with an open-element air cleaner. The presentation is clean and deliberate — this is not a parts-bin engine bay but a finished, intentional build. An automatic transmission backs the V8, which is the right choice for a car that will see regular road use and mixed traffic conditions.

The suspension has been lowered and rebuilt to work with the car's current ride height, which gives the 1947 Ford Super Deluxe the aggressive, low profile that suits this body style. Disc brakes have been fitted, replacing the original four-wheel drums. This is a practical and important upgrade on a car being driven with a modern V8 — you need the stopping power to match the added acceleration. The undercarriage has been painted red and is visible and clean in the undercar photos. The frame shows no rust, no patchwork, and no deferred maintenance. The dual exhaust exits through custom rectangular tips tucked under the rear chrome bumper on both sides.

Interior

The interior of this 1947 Ford Super Deluxe has been completely redone in beige leather. Bucket seats are fitted front and rear, all with integrated headrests — a practical addition that makes highway driving more comfortable and addresses a legitimate safety gap in original postwar interiors. The door panels are custom fabricated in matching beige leather with integrated speaker grilles and small courtesy light lenses near the lower edge. The overall fit and finish of the panels is consistent and well-executed.

The dashboard retains the original 1947 Ford shape and is painted body-color red. A VDO gauge cluster has been installed, providing accurate readings for the current drivetrain rather than relying on original instruments that were never designed to monitor a swapped V8. A modern stereo head unit sits to the right side of the dash. The floor is carpeted and covered with red diamond-pattern custom floor mats that tie the interior color scheme together with the exterior. Air conditioning has been added, which is not a minor detail in a car like this — a convertible without A/C in Florida is a car that sits in the garage for six months of the year. With A/C, this 1947 Ford Super Deluxe is genuinely usable year-round.

Exterior

The 1947 Ford Super Deluxe body is finished in red and presents well all around. The pontoon fender design — a styling element that traces back to the 1941 Ford and carried through the 1948 model year — is one of the defining shapes of immediate postwar American automotive design, and the red finish emphasizes those body lines effectively. Chrome front and rear bumpers are in good condition and contrast cleanly against the painted body. The grille is body-color red, which is a common custom choice on these cars and gives the front end a more unified, less busy appearance than the original chrome grille would.

The tan soft convertible top is fitted and functional. Chrome 5-spoke wheels are installed at all four corners and are sized to fill the wheel openings appropriately with the lowered suspension. The overall stance of the car — low, wide, and centered — is exactly what a 1947 Ford Super Deluxe custom should look like. The car sits right.

Conclusion

The 1947 Ford Super Deluxe convertible is one of the most iconic shapes in American hot rod history, and this example has been built with the right combination of drivability, comfort, and visual impact. The small block V8 with automatic transmission means you can get in and drive it. The disc brakes mean you can stop it. The air conditioning means you can drive it in July. The beige leather interior and VDO gauges mean it feels like a finished car, not a project. The painted frame and detailed undercarriage mean it was built with the same attention to what's underneath as what's visible from the curb.

If you are seriously interested in this 1947 Ford Super Deluxe, contact Skyway Classics in Sarasota, Florida at 941-254-6608. We are happy to answer questions, arrange an inspection, or discuss transport.

Disclaimer

Information found on the website is presented as given to us by the owner of the car, whether on consignment or from the owner we bought it from. Some Photos, materials for videos, descriptions and other information are provided by the consignor/seller and is deemed reliable, but Skyway Classics does not warranty or guarantee this information. Skyway Classics is not responsible for information that may incorrect or a publishing error. The decision to purchase should be based solely on the buyers personal inspection of the vehicle or by a professional inspection service prior to offer or purchase being made.