First of all, I'm really just getting started and have noticed a few things. The thing that is bugging me is the rear wheels. They seem to be pushed back to far in the rear wheel well. Like about 3 or 4 inches. I know I'll have to do somthing about it, but I was just wondering if they are all this way? Also are there any good Car history type websites that I could read up on. Stuff like production numbers, price, designers, etc.? Heres a pick that shows the rear wheels:
Hey Terry, that looks like a pretty good car. It's the "short-roof" version (business coupe) that is more desireable.....and to me a little better looking.
Yes, some of them looked like that. It's usually not too noticable until you lower them. Some are only like that on one side. The reason? From 46 to 48, Ford had three buyers for anything they could get out the door. So quality control was not job one. A lot of the rear fenders look like the wheel openings were made by hand. Frames vary in width by over an inch from one car to another. It's not too hard to fix, cut out the wheel openings, and weld them back in where they should be.
Thanks Reggie! You have brought up another question. Looking in 2 different sources I can not find any reference to Business Coupe. What they do list is 2 Coupes. Deluxe Coupe and the Deluxe Coupe Sedan. I am guessing the Deluxe Coupe has to be the Biz Coupe, right? If so then there was a total of 16,971 built in 47.
It really is called a business coupe and has no backseat. The deluxe coupe looks like this: http://www.thehotrodcompany.com/funstuff.asp?hrc_shopper_id=259811242004105439 Note the longer door. The business coupe is way more desirable, I think one year, 46 or 47, they only made a little over 4000. You have a great start there!!
Yeah the name is very confusing, I always found it very ironic that it was called a bussiness coupe and had no rear seat for the bussiness man to use. The only thing I can figure is it was made for the ole door to door salesman crowd, because there is more trunk room for hauling their wares.
Terry...I recently purchased a 47 Long Door Coupe. I did some research, and found this site for serial numbers. http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_serialnumbers.htm The number is stamped on the driver side frame horn, near the radiator core support. Congrats on your find, and good luck. JP
Terry: I have a '47 business coupe as well..............What are your plans? Mine looked the same, that meaning the rear didn't seem centered in the wheel-well........ Mine doesn't have the stock rear end nor springs but I was told that the rear end was in the stock location...........At any rate, once I lowered my car (only 2" for now) - mind you, the axle was on top of the springs already (not sure if that's the stock location) - it became almost perfectly centered. I have been told that it was not uncommon for the rear ends of '46-'48's to be a little off.... Tim
Yes the business cpe was for salesmen to have more room for their goods. Business cpes continued up into the middle 50's. Don't confuse them with a regular cpe though. After 49 the only difference between a business cpe and a regular cpe was whether or not it had a rear seat.
Great stuff! Thanks guys. But... I agree it's a Biz coupe, and all my life I have heard they have no back seat, and all that. But in my research I have found no reference to a Buisness Coupe anywhere. And that raises the question, what IS the difference between a Deluxe Coupe and a Deluxe Coupe sedan? Seems logical that the Deluxe Coupe is the biz, and the Deluxe Coupe Sedan has the long doors and back seat? Here is what the "Encyclopedia of American Cars 1930 - 1980" has to say: "The 1946 Ford used prewar dies and the old 114-inch wheelbase, but important mechinical changes were made and body offerings were revised. The six remained at 90 bhp, but the V-8 was boosted to 100 bhp, the result of a bore increase that gave 239 cid. The Special series of low-priced sixies was eliminated, leaving the Deluxe and the Super Deluxe with six and eight clyinder engines. There was no six clyinder convertible, but there was two convertible V8s. Little outward change marked the 1947-48 models. Alteratoins involved a shuffle of name plates and lower mount round parking lights in the 47. No stlying changes were made for the 48. In the booming post war market no stlying changes were needed. Ford out put exceeded 429,000 units in 1947, but was only 236,00 in 1948. That drop did not indicate problems in Dearborn, only an early end to the 48. The design of the 49 had begun in 1946 and was released much earlier than usual. June of 1948." As you can see it makes no mention of 2 different Coupes. And in the numbers we have this info: 1947 - Car Models: Deluxe Fordor Sedan Deluxe Tudor Sedan Deluxe Coupe Super Deluxe Fordor Sedan Super Deluxe Tudor Sedan Super Deluxe Coupe Sedan Super Deluxe Conv. Coupe Super Deluxe Sportsman Conv. Coupe Super Deluxe Wagon 4d, 8P Production: Deluxe Tudor Sedan ----------------------- 44,523 Deluxe Fordor Sedan ---------------------- 20 Deluxe Coupe ----------------------------- 10,872 Super Deluxe Tudor Sedan ----------------------- 136,126 Super Deluxe Fordor Sedan ---------------------- 116,744 Super Deluxe Coupe Sedan ---------------------- 80,830 Now I have found this reference to 2 different Coupes in 2 differnt rescourses, which we all know there are. But no mention of a biz Coupe just the Coupe and the Sedan Coupe. Werid huh?
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