You need to own a flathead Ford. I don’t care if Chevys are your favorite cars or you’ve never wanted to own anything older than 1967, there’s just something special about the way these wonderful V8s go about their business. Pre-war, post-war, whichever you prefer, but the playful road manners and flexible torque curve make these cars as enjoyable as any machine you’re likely to own. For all of today’s cars being touted as “fun to drive,” there’s an argument to be made that the V8 Ford invented “fun to drive,” and it remains just as true today as it was decades ago.

Some of our favorite cars are the 1940s Ford convertibles, which seem to combine everything that we love about these machines: great road manners, attractive styling, and they’re big enough for the whole family to be comfortable on road trips. They handle, brake, and cruise with modern traffic and they’re quite comfortable. This 1948 Ford Super Deluxe convertible, for example, offers a wonderful color combination and a nice older restoration that still presents extremely well. Ford called the color “Maize Yellow” and it’s a cheerful alternative to all the maroon and dark blue Fords you see at shows. It’s not a bright yellow, but a creamy soft yellow that looks great and attracts a lot of attention whenever it’s out in public. Paint and bodywork are quite good and there are no signs that this was ever a rusty car. The doors open and close properly and you’ll note that the gaps are quite tight all around. The ’47 and ’48 cars are almost identical, as there was an all-new ’49 model in the works, and this ’48 sports all its correct dress-up parts, including the beautiful hood ornament with a blue Plexiglas insert and accessory bumper ends that make it look imposing. All the chrome was refinished, including the bumpers and door handles, but the good news is that most the trim is stainless steel, so it can always be polished up to look almost new (not that it needs it). Other accessories include twin side mirrors that are cleverly integrated into the side trim, twin fog lamps up front, and a pair of spot lights on the windshield posts.

The black cloth and leatherette interior is likewise quite correct and it’s a great contrast to the soft yellow paint. The seats are finished with a Bedford cord style fabric that looks right and the leatherette trim remains in excellent condition. Simple door panels include more stainless trim and ivory-colored plastic trim rings on the handles, and they’re not cracked or missing as you usually find on these cars. Black carpets fit nicely and are bound at the edges so they’ll look good for a good long time. The dash is burgundy and extends into the window sills and steering wheel, giving it a handsome, uniform look, and it’s worth noting that none of it is faded or cracked due to long exposure to the sun. The dashboard plastics are satin black, which, believe it or not, is how the factory delivered cars in this color combination, a striking combination. All the gauges are fully operational and show beautifully ornate faces with a fun font on the speedometer. We believe the 3500 or so miles shown on the odometer are since the restoration was completed, but there’s really no way to be sure. You’ll also be pleased to find that the clock ticks away reliable, the heater kicks out some serious BTUs for those cool evening drives, and things like the turn signals, lights, wipers, and horn all work properly. The radio powers up but doesn’t play, but it seems to really want to. Overhead there’s a tan canvas convertible top that shows some age, but isn’t ripped or torn and it seals up well. Besides, if you’re using your convertible properly, you’ll only use it in emergencies anyway! The trunk is neatly finished with new cardboard side panels, a rubber mat, and a spare tire with correct jack assembly. Go ahead, lift the mat—you won’t find any nasty surprises there.

But the real reason people love the early Ford V8s is because of the engine. This is a correct 239 cubic inch flathead which we believe to be the car’s original engine, although there’s really no way to be sure. Given the way it starts and runs, plus the fact that it’s not much of a leaker and there’s zero smoke or serious oil consumption, we believe that it was rebuilt when the car was restored. Today you will find a lot of recent components, including a rebuilt carburetor, new mechanical fuel pump, fresh tune-up parts, and an electric fuel pump mounted on the frame which we’ve never had to use. We just installed a fresh battery and the little Ford cranks right over and fires without much effort, settling into an easy idle with just a bit of choke (yes, Ford still used manual chokes in 1948). Once it’s warmed up, it’s torquey and eager to run, pulling the yellow ragtop up to speed without working very hard and is happy to cruise at modern highway speeds without complaint. It doesn’t seem to get hot or fussy, even idling in the heat, suggesting someone did their work on the cooling system. It isn’t detailed for show, of course, but there are no signs of trouble and an afternoon of cleaning and touching up paint would really make the engine bay sparkle. Or you can just get in and drive, which is what we prefer to do in a car like this.

The chassis is likewise clean and solid, but not shiny and perfect. The 3-speed manual transmission shifts easily and clutch action is light, with just a little chatter in reverse for some reason. 3.55 gears in the banjo-style rear end make it feel quick and agile around town but still allow the V8 to hit the meaty part of its power curve at speed. The suspension is primitive, as was Henry Ford’s preference, still using a solid axle and transverse leaf springs fore and aft. Dual exhaust with glasspack-style mufflers was installed when the car was restored and it sound great, with a wonderful V8 burble that never gets annoying at cruising speeds—we’d drive this car every day just to listen to the sound it makes! Brakes are hydraulic drums, so they’re good at their job and stop the car without any tugging or drama. Color-matched steel wheels wear trim rings and deluxe hubcaps, as well as a recent set of 205/75/15 wide whitewall radials that look right and handle great.

This is not a show car, so don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re going to win trophies. But if you want a cool vintage convertible with plenty of power and that flathead charm, this one is a definite winner. We love these cars and this is one of the better examples we’ve had, balancing quality, beauty, and driving excellence in a reasonably-priced package. Please come drive it and you’ll see why these remain so popular year after year and why they have a special place in our hearts.