Ford conceived the wood-bodied Sportsman convertible coupe in 1945 primarily as a high profile 'halo' car to attract attention and draw traffic to Ford showrooms in the post World War II years. It was a concept made possible by Ford's vast hardwood forests and its Iron Mountain, Michigan factory that milled, dried, shaped and finished the lumber. Announced in 1945 as a 1946 model, the first Sportsman was delivered on Christmas day to Hollywood star Ella Raines. Over the next three years just 3,025 were built, mostly during the 1947 model year, all on the V-8 powered 114 inch wheelbase chassis with Super Deluxe trim. The bodies were constructed at Iron Mountain along with Ford's station wagons using specially configured steel structural panels. The wide rear deck necessitated different rear fenders, borrowed from Ford's sedan delivery. The Ford Sportsman has achieved honored stature among the most desirable collector cars and this example is both one of the best and one of the best known, a 2012 Early Ford V-8 Club Dearborn Award winning restoration. Finished in Dynamic Maroon with Golden Tan leather upholstery and a tan cloth top, it is equipped with standard Super Deluxe trim, radio, heater, clock, pinstriped body color steel wheels with hubcaps and trim rings, wide whitewall tires, bumper tips, overriders and an engine oil filter. Its body wood is all original and impeccably finished. It was restored by one of America's best automobile restorers for his own collection, which accounts for its meticulous attention to detail and the quality of materials and workmanship lavished upon it. It can rightfully be described as a Concours quality car, but it has not been over-restored, just done right. This is a car that will satisfy the most minute inspection and continue to satisfy its new owner whether on display or on the road.

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