Body no. 2704 With the end of World War II, there was a huge demand by the civilian population for new cars. The Ford Motor Company like other manufacturers had devoted the last four years to military orders. To hasten production, Ford and the rest of the industry gave their 1942 models a facelift. One new style however appeared in the Ford line in 1946, the model 71, known as the Sportsman Convertible. The company had been producing station wagons at the Iron Mountain plant on the upper peninsula of Michigan since the early 1930's. They owned extensive hardwood forests and had a state of the art sawmill and woodworking facility. During 1945, Henry Ford II ordered a wooden bodied convertible as a one-off for personal use. With prewar Chrysler wooden station sedans indicating a market, the decision to produce the "Sportsman" was made. The first car off the line was put on exhibition in Dearborn and on Christmas day, 1945 went to actress Ella Raines in Hollywood, while she was filming "White Tie and Tails". The 1946 model was priced $200 more than a conventional convertible, which sold for $1436. Production began in earnest in July of 1946 and continued until November of 1947. Total production was 3,525; with 723 in 1946, 2774 in 1947 and 28 for the 1948 model year, making it one of the rarest of all Fords. The Sportsman used the same "motor-lift" top as the club convertible and had hydraulic push button windows borrowed from Lincoln. The wooden bodies were beautifully detailed and intricate, however the rear deck lid was a master piece of compound curved, dovetailed and finger-jointed craftsmanship. This car sold new at the Ford Dealership in Des Moines, Iowa. In the late 1970's it was discovered in a barn by Tim DeVilbiss of Shell Rock, Iowa; who purchased it and sold it to the vendor in 1983, who began a complete restoration. The car was very low mileage, solid, and complete with perfect sheet metal, however the wooden body showed signs of deterioration. David Patridge Restorations, of Rumney NH rebuilt the chassis and restored all the metalwork. The engine was completely over- hauled and balanced by Knight Engineering, in Gloucester, MA. The wooden body was built by Classic Car Craft in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, using the original patterns. All the joinery is exactly as original. The late Paul Swett of St. Johnsbury, VT, who had recently restored a prize winning Sportsman himself, performed the beautiful fit and finish of the body and final assembly of the car. Swett had restored many Ford wagons in the 1980's and '90's and was well known in the National Woody Club. The car is finished in the correct pheasant red with a LeBaron Bonney red leather interior and tan top and boot. It features dual exhaust with headers, accessory bumper wing tips, dual spot lights and a radio. This lovely car was finished in 1992 and has only traveled 754 miles since. It has never been shown or judged. In June of 2006, a Sportsman in similar condition, at auction, fetched $275,000, setting a record for this model. Sportsman convertibles are highly prized by collectors and Bonham & Butterfields is thrilled to be asked to offer this great example.
Body no. 2704 With the end of World War II, there was a huge demand by the civilian population for new cars. The Ford Motor Company like other manufacturers had devoted the last four years to military orders. To hasten production, Ford and the rest of the industry gave their 1942 models a facelift. One new style however appeared in the Ford line in 1946, the model 71, known as the Sportsman Convertible. The company had been producing station wagons at the Iron Mountain plant on the upper peninsula of Michigan since the early 1930's. They owned extensive hardwood forests and had a state of the art sawmill and woodworking facility. During 1945, Henry Ford II ordered a wooden bodied convertible as a one-off for personal use. With prewar Chrysler wooden station sedans indicating a market, the decision to produce the "Sportsman" was made. The first car off the line was put on exhibition in Dearborn and on Christmas day, 1945 went to actress Ella Raines in Hollywood, while she was filming "White Tie and Tails". The 1946 model was priced $200 more than a conventional convertible, which sold for $1436. Production began in earnest in July of 1946 and continued until November of 1947. Total production was 3,525; with 723 in 1946, 2774 in 1947 and 28 for the 1948 model year, making it one of the rarest of all Fords. The Sportsman used the same "motor-lift" top as the club convertible and had hydraulic push button windows borrowed from Lincoln. The wooden bodies were beautifully detailed and intricate, however the rear deck lid was a master piece of compound curved, dovetailed and finger-jointed craftsmanship. This car sold new at the Ford Dealership in Des Moines, Iowa. In the late 1970's it was discovered in a barn by Tim DeVilbiss of Shell Rock, Iowa; who purchased it and sold it to the vendor in 1983, who began a complete restoration. The car was very low mileage, solid, and complete with perfect sheet metal, however the wooden body showed signs of deterioration. David Patridge Restorations, of Rumney NH rebuilt the chassis and restored all the metalwork. The engine was completely over- hauled and balanced by Knight Engineering, in Gloucester, MA. The wooden body was built by Classic Car Craft in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, using the original patterns. All the joinery is exactly as original. The late Paul Swett of St. Johnsbury, VT, who had recently restored a prize winning Sportsman himself, performed the beautiful fit and finish of the body and final assembly of the car. Swett had restored many Ford wagons in the 1980's and '90's and was well known in the National Woody Club. The car is finished in the correct pheasant red with a LeBaron Bonney red leather interior and tan top and boot. It features dual exhaust with headers, accessory bumper wing tips, dual spot lights and a radio. This lovely car was finished in 1992 and has only traveled 754 miles since. It has never been shown or judged. In June of 2006, a Sportsman in similar condition, at auction, fetched $275,000, setting a record for this model. Sportsman convertibles are highly prized by collectors and Bonham & Butterfields is thrilled to be asked to offer this great example.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
