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Topic starter
12/02/2021 11:56 am
This brochure received in the mail was special for a different reason than most received from Danbury Mint, because it offered a different type of car. What I mean by that is that it wasn't your usual top-of-the-line Hardtop or Convertible that most of the models produced by the mints were. It was a "Plain Jane low-end entry level 1949 FORD TUDOR SEDAN.
No bright paint job, no dazzling chrome raking the sides and no to the sky fins in the rear. Just a plain everyday workhorse FORD. This car was more common on the roads of the day than the fancy Hardtops and Convertibles were.
I can find no flaws with this model, and I think the only thing that could have been just a little more perfect is if it had "black-wall" tires. Other than that, this was the average "Blue-Collar" guys car that you'd see in your neighborhood. IT'S A BEAUTY and a nostalgic piece of Americana.
Some REAL '49 FORD FACTS:
The '49 Tudor came in either DeLuxe or Custom style. The example offered by Danbury Mint was a replica of the CUSTOM. Brand new the car sold for $1,590 and tipped the scales at 2,988 pounds when delivered as a V-8. If it was a six-cylinder the price slipped to $1,498 and weighed 2,985. The DuLuxe models were $1,425, and weighed 3,945 pounds in the 6-cylinder style. For the 8-cylinder the price increased to $1,511. This CUSTOM was Ford's most popular style Ford with a model run of 433,316 leaving the factory.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
Topic starter
12/02/2021 1:04 pm
A FOND MEMORY
We lived on what was known as the East Side of St. Paul in early to mid-50's. It was a Blue Collar neighborhood in every way. Most who lived there worked at two of the big factory/plants that were there. They were Whirlpool Appliance Corporation and Hamm's Brewery. There were little "Mom and Pop" grocery stores, the corner Drug store, a Medical building, and two small Theater's. Many families back then didn't own a car as in most instances they could walk to where ever they wanted to go. It was common to see a Milk truck on the corner with milk being delivered to the front door steps of many houses.
All the houses on each block had an alley with their garages lined along them. Those that didn't have a garage would park their cars in the front of their house. One neighbor three-doors down from our house had a '49 Ford like the Danbury Mint model. I remember it usually being dirty, it had a little rust around the wheel wells, it had a dent on the left rear fender and the right side wing window was cracked. It was owned by a guy who I thought was really old, but being that I was around 5 years old at the time, he could have actually been in his 30s or early 40s. Of course that would have been old to me.
All I know is that I thought that old Ford was cool. So when the Danbury model became available, it offered up a little of my childhood that up to that point only existed in my mind.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
12/02/2021 1:21 pm
cool story George. I see the Crestliner in this ! Am I correct that from doors back it’s basically the same body as a Crestliner???
Topic starter
12/02/2021 3:56 pm
cool story George. I see the Crestliner in this ! Am I correct that from doors back it’s basically the same body as a Crestliner???
I think basically so, except the Crestliner was a late season 1950 offering. It came with the vinyl roof, lavish interior, and the special side trim with the Crestliner nameplate mounted on the front fender. It was then carried over in to the 1951 model year.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
12/02/2021 6:08 pm
Phil, The entire body was the same as a 50 or 51 including the front clip.
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