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To appreciate the 1950 Ford coupe you must understand the era in which it was designed. The United States was winding down from the Second World War, and though President Truman was speaking for engagement in a Korean conflict, the American public was craving peace, prosperity, and leisure. Roller-skating carhops delivered burgers and fries to teenagers at the local drive-in. Carefree teens cruised and drag-raced up and down the streets and roads, many of them in Ford coupes with chopped and customized bodies and engines tweaked for more power.

The Ford Motor Company advertised its 1950 models had "50 improvements for '50" but in reality the body appearances remained very much like 1949, the year of the radical changes. The 1950 Ford coupes were carryovers from that year.

The 1950 Ford coupe was a two-door car with a short, sloped roof. If you were a salesman, you would probably have purchased the three-passenger Business Coupe with either a deluxe six-cylinder 95 horsepower engine for $1333 or a deluxe V-8 100 horsepower engine for $1419. What distinguished the Business Coupe from the six-passenger Club Coupe was the usage of available space. In the Business Coupe, the rear seat was removed to afford the businessman with additional cargo space.

The 1950 Ford Business Coupe was also available in only the Deluxe basic trim package. This meant that only the driver would have an armrest on his door. The horn would be a button instead of a ring,. There would be one sun visor and the moldings around the windows would be rubber. The Business Coupe was a basic practical business vehicle.

A family might choose the six-passenger Custom Deluxe Club Coupe with two full bench seats. The Custom Deluxe package meant more chrome trim, a semicircular chrome horn ring, two sun visors, chrome around the window moldings, chrome trim strips that ran the length of the car, and arm rests on both of the doors. Even the trunk hinges and push button exterior door handles were chrome. The Club Coups was available with the same six-cylinder or V-8 engine choice as the Business Coupe. Because of the added chrome and other design additions, the Club Coupe cost between $1511 to $1595. The standard transmission for all of Ford's cars was a three speed manual although for extra money, a three speed manual with automatic overdrive was available.

The 1950 Ford coupe was and continues to be the vehicle teens and adults love to customize.

Learn more about this author, Sandra Petersen.
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