I'm of the opinion that you can't be a full-fledged car guy until you've owned a flathead Ford. They're the foundation of hot rodding and introduced the masses to the wonders of simply having fun in your daily driver. Sure, some are more desirable than others, but they all have a similar driving experience and I have yet to experience one that didn't put a smile on my face. As the old saying goes, the bad ones are good and the good ones are great.

This 1948 Ford coupe is somewhere between good and great, showing what appears to be a very high-quality older restoration that's been driven and enjoyed quite a bit. It's no longer razor-sharp, but it is perhaps the only car in our inventory where EVERYTHING WORKS. Radio, clock, lights, all of it. Someone was sweating the details when it went back together.

The Pheasant Red paint shows rather well and if I had to guess, I'd say it's single-stage enamel, maybe an early urethane, but it doesn't have any metallic in it and no shiny clear coat, so it looks suitably vintage on the curvy old Ford. Going over it, I can find no evidence that this was ever a rusty car, as the trunk and floors are in excellent order and the rockers are ripple-free. The doors close easily, the hood fits nicely (although the springs are a little weak, which is common to these cars), and it does have a tight feeling going down the road. Most of the glass appears to be original and in excellent condition and much of the weather-stripping is new. The stainless and chrome was undoubtedly restored with the rest of the car and there's nothing that needs any attention beyond a nice polishing job.

The gray interior looks rather authentic too. The striped upholstery is very 1940s and uses patterns that look right. It's in excellent order throughout, with the driver's seat showing the most wear in the form of stretching of the fabric. Otherwise, it's first-rate with no splits or tears. New door panels were made at the same time and the black carpets were replaced, so it all has a cohesive look. The gauges are all fully functional, including the clock, and the wonderful almost cartoon-style faces of the instruments are one of the car's most charming features. Most of the handles and knobs are nice originals, including those for the accessory heater and defroster, but the handle for the accessory spotlight is crumbling. The original radio is in the dash and still works properly using the center speaker, which is always a rare find, and there are a pair of modern speakers down in the kick panels but for what radio, we don't know—perhaps there's an accessory jack in the original radio or there was once a head unit stashed in the glove box. The trunk mat's fit is a little sloppy, but the cardboard side panels are in good condition and there's no sign of trouble underneath. The car also includes a never-used spare tire and wheel plus an original jack assembly, which is what that long handle is for.

The real treat is the 239 cubic inch 59AB flathead V8 under the hood. It starts easily with a frame-mounted electric fuel pump, then the original mechanical pump takes over. It has a bubbly, friendly idle and a purring exhaust note on the road that's a big part of the flathead's appeal. No modifications under the hood, and it appears that it was very authentically restored with correct hose clamps, new cloth wiring, and an oil bath air cleaner for the original Holley 94 carburetor. Note that the ignition is still fired by an original-style coil with Bakelite housing and an accessory oil filter is a welcome addition. A new wiring harness was installed during the restoration and the voltage regulator looks like an NORS piece that's stamped 'Mobil' on its cover, which is kind of neat. It doesn't seem to be afflicted with "Flathead Fever" and stays cool while idling and on the road and the battery looks brand new.

The 3-speed column-shifted transmission works well and powers the original banjo-style rear end, which uses 3.55 gears, so it's a reasonable highway cruiser that's happy at 55-60 MPH. The stock suspension feels agile despite using leaf springs and rigid axles, but that's why it feels so tough, too. Braking is effective, although Fords were never renowned for their braking power, but the pedal is firm and it doesn't pull. The floors and chassis have been protected with spray-on undercoating, but it's light enough that it doesn't hide anything and the floors are in good shape and the frame shows no signs of previous accident damage or repairs. Original wheels have been painted to match the body and treated to correct-looking pinstripes, as well as trim rings and hubcaps that are in great condition. The modern 15-inch whitewall radials do the car no favors in the appearance department, and I would recommend flipping them inside-out, which would be the ideal look for this blue-collar coupe.

This is one of those cars where it's clear the restoration was a labor of love. Most of the details are very correct and it retains 100% of the original personality. It's not perfect anymore, but I bet it was pretty close when it was first completed. Very nicely maintained and ready to enjoy without a second thought, this car represents a very affordable way to get a popular, handsome, easy-to-drive old car with no headaches in store for the new owner. Yeah, it's a great one.