1950 Ford Shoebox

The 1949 Ford is a line of cars produced by Ford from the 1949 to 1951 model years. The successor to the prewar 1941 Ford, the model line was the first full-size Ford designed after World War II, becoming the first Ford car line released after the deaths of Edsel Ford and Henry Ford. From 1946 to 1948, each of the American Big Three concentrated on the restoration of car production, offering updated versions of their 1941-1942 model lines. Released in June 1948, the 1949 Ford was the first major “postwar” American car line, beating Chevrolet to market by six months and Plymouth by nine.

In response to its design, the model line would become called the “Shoebox Ford”, denoting its slab-sided “ponton” design. While the design theme had been in use since the late 1920s to streamline automobiles, the 1949 Ford marked its widest-scale use, removing running boards entirely and integrating front and rear fenders into a single, smooth body form.

The Shoebox Ford had a modern sleek sided appearance that eliminated the bulgy fenders found on the ’47 Ford. The Shoebox Fords were popular in their earliest years and became a big part of the custom and hot rod culture of the 50s and 60s.

This 1950 Ford Shoebox is powered by a Flathead V8 8BA. This is a 383 Stroker valve-in-block engine under the hood!

The coupe’s updated body was bolted to a ladder-style frame. The new design’s integrated fenders and wide slab sides contributed to its informal moniker, the “Shoebox Ford.” Ample chrome accents compliment substantial wraparound bumpers and front grille. In the ’50s and early ’60s, this popular vehicle was often modified by performance-seeking enthusiasts.

The one we have here is Custom both by name and by design. Described as “a traditionalist mild custom finished in a rich, but highly impactful, combination of colors,” the build retains the classic looks of the shoebox Ford to such an extent it’s hard to tell the difference.