by Mary Vance

Created on: April 03, 2008   Last Updated: March 10, 2011

The 1950 Ford Coupe had the same classy body style as the 1949 model except for a few minor changes. The Ford lettering on the hood was replaced by the Ford "Coat of Arms" emblem. Turn signal lights were added to the lower front grille. The shiny bullet nose remained.

The major changes Ford made in 1949, brought sales up tremendously for the auto maker. They dropped their use of the cross style frame for the ladder style frame chassis. Coil springs replaced the traverse leaf springs. They advertised their new chassis design as "The Lifeguard Body". The wheelbase of 114 inches remained the same, with the engine moved forward by 5 inches, allowing for more passenger room.

The 1950 Ford Coupe was sporty as well as stylish. It came with the newly designed six cylinder 95 horsepower engine, or the powerful flathead V8 at a 100. The transmission choices were 3 speed manual, or optional overdrive. The Ford Coupe came in two body styles. There was the six passenger Club Coupe with a back seat and front split bench seat, and the single bench seat Coupe that was advertised as the "Businessman's Car". The area where the back seat should have been gave the owner added cargo space.

The convertible Ford Coupe was a beauty. It had two more interior and exterior color choices than the other Coupes. You could choose Matador Red Metallic exterior paint, with Matador red leather interior, and Sportsman Green Metallic with black leather interior. Some optional exterior body features were wheels in the same body paint color, and chrome trim around the windshield and back window.

Standard interiors in the Club Coupe had gray metallic instrument panel and dash. Standard interior upholstery came in gray and rust striped mohair, or gray and blue stripes on gray broadcloth. The one seater Coupe standard interior dash color was also gray. The standard interior colors were almost the same with the exception of the broadcloth color being tan instead of gray. More expensive interior choices were two tone tan leather, tan leather with Bedford cord, red and black all leather, or the combination of leather and Bedford cord. Many custom body colors were available.

The newly designed chassis, body, and powerful engines of the 1949-1951 Fords were reputed to be the cars that saved Ford. It was the post war boost that the industry needed. Ford began its new slogan, "There's a Ford in your future". These Cars were loved by hotrodders and the general public alike for their sleek look and powerful engines. My father drove a shiny black businessman's Coupe for many years. If you are lucky enough to find one for sale today, you can expect to pay a "lot more" than my Father did in the 50's.

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