1949 Ford Models

The 1949 Ford (Wikipedia entry here) is the design I often use to mark the end of the 1930 (or so) to late-1940s American car styling evolution.  That's when previously separate elements such as fenders, headlights and such became merged into a unitary body. 

For some reason, I haven't bothered to post in detail about the '49 Ford.  But now is the time.  Commentary is in the photo captions below.

Gallery

1959 Ford Custom Tudor- factory photo
A very nice design.  Not truly great or memorable, but significant.  The least-advanced feature is the two-panel, flat glass pane windshield.  The backlight window (see the second image below) used curved glass, but glass-forming technology was only reaching the point of limited production.  Ford Motor Company's 1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitans did have one-piece curved windshields.  General Motors' 1949 models had curved glass windshields, but these were two-segment affairs.

Model of proposed 1949 Ford by George Walker's styling tream
This might have become the 1949 Ford design.  It nearly was, but for some happy reason the tail light assembly was repositioned, changing the rear aspect of the car to something more interesting to look at.

1949 Ford Custom Tudor Sedan - BaT Auctions photo
By placing the oval assemblies horizontally rather than vertically, some sculpting on the rear fenders was added to blend the assemblies onto the otherwise slabbed sides.  This reduced what would have been excessive blandness.

1949 Ford Custom DeLuxe Fordor - car-for-sale photos
Another unconventional touch that appeared late in the styling process was the central "spinner" on the grille.  Prior studies had fashionably bold chrome elements set horizontally.  Nothing aesthetically wrong, maybe even aesthetically better than the grille design seen here -- but what was lacking was visual "punch."  That spinner provided a focus for the front end while echoing the round headlight frames.

Seen from the side, we have compositionally balanced elements on a moderate-length wheelbase of 114 inches (2896 mm).  That is, the passenger compartment greenhouse is not excessively tall, short, or long.  The hood has visual length due to its contrast with the trunk's length.

This car has spats over its rear wheel openings.  Fashionable in those days, but they don't improve the design.

1949 Ford Custom Tudor - car-for-sale photo
Now for some side views of other 1949 Ford models.  The two-door "Tudor" sedan was the best-selling '49 Ford.  One reason might have been that they were slightly less-expensive that the four-door "Fordor" version.  Also, parents of young children thought the absence of rear side doors was a safety factor -- my parents did.  Note that the door is wider than the front door on the Fordor, this allowing easier access to the back seat.

1949 Ford Custom Club Coupe - car-for-sale photo
Club coupes and business coupes had shorter greenhouses.  The door is the same as that on the Tudor.

1949 Ford Custom Convertible - car-for-sale photo
Being a "convertible coupe," the Convertible shared the elements discussed in the previous caption.

1949 Ford Custom Station Wagon - Mecum Auctions photo
Ford station wagons remained "woody" until the 1952 redesign.  All 1949-51 Ford wagons were two-door designs.