Born and bred in California. 20-year-old build with a traditional look. 302 Chevy power, A/C, power steering and disc brakes, automatic transmission. Beautiful bodywork and paint, ready to cruise! This 1947 Ford custom convertible coupe is one of those cars that definitely has the California look. You can clearly see the old-school inspiration, from the lowered stance to the fender skirts to the chopped Carson-style top to the louvered hood, it has the right look. It was actually completed more than... 20 years ago, so it does have some history behind it, and judging by the way it looks today, the workmanship was simply outstanding. The dark burgundy paint has a wonderful shine and the bodywork underneath is laser-straight so it looks great from any angle. The long, low stance comes from a 4-inch top chop and the fender skirts, both of which are traditional pieces of the custom puzzle. The hood was punched full of louvers, which is not only attractive but functional as well, and the headlights were frenched into the front fenders for a smooth look. In back, Studebaker taillights were used and give the Ford a unique look, which is really what customs are all about. The tan cloth interior is a combination of late-model parts from a '70s Pontiac and custom details designed to match those factory-style parts. Yes, we'll admit that it's a bit dated, but the workmanship is rather well done and if you wanted to update it, it probably wouldn't take much more than a new headliner to make a pretty decent transformation. The front seat is power-actuated and the travel is long enough that even taller drivers can get comfortable behind the seat. There's a GM tilt steering column topped by a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and custom door panels incorporate what appear to be GM armrests and door pulls. The factory instrument panel was filled with white-faced VDO gauges, including a tach over where the clock used to live. There's a custom panel under the dash for the A/C vents and it has all been painted a nice shade of metallic tan for a clean, uncluttered look. The bottom line is that someone spent a lot of effort making sure everything fit together neatly, giving it a very polished feel. It's equipped with Vintage Air A/C, a Sony AM/FM/cassette stereo that sounds great with lots of sound-deadening material behind the scenes, and the back seat is big enough to be functional. This is one custom that doesn't drive like an antique with its springs removed. Instead, there's a thoroughly modern set of parts underneath, starting with a great-running 302 cubic inch Chevy V8. It's pure traditional hot rod, of course, with a 4-barrel Edelbrock carb, Chevy Orange paint on the block, and some chrome dress-up to make it shine. The air cleaner is a '50s Cadillac piece, painted to match the bodywork, and that's a nice touch. The A/C system uses newer components, there's a chrome alternator, and a heavy-duty cooling system means this custom never gets cranky. You'll also find power steering and power front disc brakes, both complements of a late-model front clip from a '70s GM product. The transmission is a fresh TH350 3-speed automatic feeding a GM 10-bolt rear end with easy-cruising 3.23 gears inside, so don't be afraid to hit the road with this cool custom. The undercarriage is extremely clean and you can see evidence of this car's California history throughout, from the spotless floors to the original frame members that are still as crisp and solid as they were in 1947. A custom dual exhaust system with glasspack-style mufflers gives it a fantastic V8 burble that settles down nicely when you just want to cruise. And despite the lowered stance, it rides and handles beautifully, with a big car luxury ride that you'll appreciate when you're on the road. Recent 205/75/15 radials fit neatly in the fenders and are finished with Cadillac hubcaps as a nod to customs of the past. This car drives extremely well and we love the look. Yes, the interior's a little dated, but try to look past that and look at all the many virtues that you get instead: A/C, power accessories, bulletproof powertrain, plus gorgeous paint and bodywork. You couldn't duplicate this car for the price and if you invest a little on an interior remodel, you'll probably be able to add quite a bit of value, as customs like this are suddenly red hot. Give us a call, or better yet, come see this car in person, because we promise you'll be impressed.
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