When introduced, many considered the 1935 Model 48 to be the best car that the Ford Motor Company had ever built, but not the best car period - Mr. Ford would not have allowed that. “Don’t exaggerate,” he would remind his colleagues, “the truth is big enough.”

Even Ford, which thrived on mass production of automobiles sold at modest prices to the largest possible low-priced market, kept the open four-seater alive in its stock body catalog. In 1935 Ford added a new open car to its catalog, a “Convertible Sedan.” It combined the best features of a closed body, a cabriolet and a four-door sedan into one highly adaptable, quality design that responded to the very specialized desires of a select, successful echelon of loyal Ford V-8 owners. Offered only in deluxe trim, these stylish and distinctive Fords brought prospective clients into Ford dealers’ showrooms.

Although the vast majority of automobiles built in the U.S. in 1935 had closed two- and four-door bodies, open cars still carried an aura of luxury, exclusivity and fun adventures. Traditionally owners who could afford an open four-door for summer driving were the elite. It was prestigious coachwork that set its owner apart.

The Model 48 Convertible Sedan utilized rollup windows and removable pillars between the front and rear doors. The pillars contained the window channels and were secured to both the door posts and the soft-top frame. They securely located the top for tight fits with the side windows and securely located the doors’ windows for precise sealing. The result was a protected, weather-tight enclosure of the passenger compartment in bad weather with the flexibility of sunny, carefree top-down touring when the weather cooperated.

The 1935 Ford Deluxe Convertible Sedan was chosen as the pace car for the 1935 Indianapolis 500. Famous aviatrix, Amelia Earhart was photographed at the wheel of the Ford pace car during her day at the track. To illustrate that Ford was capable of producing an exclusive motorcar; of the more than 4.8 million automobiles built by Ford in 1935, only 4,234 left the factory as the Deluxe Convertible Sedan like this car; the lowest production of all cataloged 1935 Ford styles.

Handsomely presented in a tone reminisce of 1935-spec Dearborn Blue; the Ford has a brown interior with tan top and complementary red wire wheels with red pinstripe accents. The vehicle is powered by the respected 221-cid, 85-hp L-head V-8 engine matched to a three-speed manual transmission. Uncommon by all standards; this machine has received a wonderful frame-off restoration with great quality represented throughout. These observations are backed by it being a two-time Dearborn winner and having been shown at the Thousand Oaks concours and a similar prestige event in Bend, Oregon. The car is further described as “everything appears brand new.”

The deluxe is identifiable by its bright windshield and grille, dual taillights, twin exposed horns and a center dashboard fascia with decorative trim bars. Further features on this fine car includes the optional radio with speaker below the dash, clock, rear-mounted spare with metal cover, complete factory tool set, chromed wheel trim rings with center caps and bumper guards.

This 1935 Ford Deluxe is ideal for anyone who wants to demonstrate the style, comfort and adaptability of the very limited production Convertible Sedan from its first year in the Ford catalog.