1948 Ford Deluxe sedan street rod with a 350, A/C and 12-volt conversion

Why we picked it

Why we picked it: the seller says her husband and a friend built this sedan in the late 1990s, and it has the basics of a usable street rod: a Chevrolet 350 with a Weiand intake and HEI ignition, an automatic, power steering, air conditioning, a 12-volt conversion and bucket seats. It carries a clean North Carolina Specially Constructed title in the seller's name.

The current bid is $3,000 and the auction ends October 19. Comparable modified 1946-48 Ford sedans have sold for $9,350 to $22,000. Bids usually climb near the end, but this one is worth watching because a car in this state could still go well under what a builder would spend to get here.

The value check

When we found it, the bid was $3,000. Comparable cars in the same condition have sold for $9,350–$22,000, so the middle of the market is about $15,675. That put this car 81% under.

Modified 1946-48 Ford sedans in driver condition sold for $9,350 to $22,000 between November 2025 and September 2026. The current $3,000 bid is about 81% under the $15,675 midpoint, but bidding has just started.

Where the numbers come from:

• 1946 Ford Deluxe Tudor sedan, Mecum, $9,350 (Sep 2026)
• 1946 Ford Super Deluxe custom, Mecum, $14,300 (May 2026)
• 1947 Ford Deluxe sedan custom, Hagerty, $18,000 (Nov 2025)
• 1947 Ford custom sedan, Mecum, $22,000 (Jun 2026)

What to check

• Auction ends Oct 19. Bids usually climb, and the page does not say whether there is a reserve.
• Known issues from the seller: the electric door poppers do not work (there is a manual release under the hood), both front door windows are cracked, and the driver's running board is in primer.
• The build is about 25 years old. Have the brakes, hoses, wiring and A/C checked before any long drive, and confirm what front suspension and brakes it uses, since the listing does not say.
• Check the floors, trunk pan, lower doors and rocker areas for rust, which are common problem spots on 1946-48 Fords.
• The title is a Specially Constructed title, so confirm your state will register it the same way.

Making it drive like new

If it still has the original beam axle or straight-axle front, a Mustang II-style IFS kit with disc brakes is the biggest single upgrade. After that: a dual master cylinder if not already fitted, an overdrive automatic such as a 700R4 for highway speed, a new wiring harness, and three-point belts.

2 builders make a complete chassis for the 1941–48 Ford car. Compare them side by side, along with what it takes to stiffen the factory frame.

How it ended

Bidding reached $7,301 but the car didn't sell (ended Oct 19, 2026). Unsold cars often get relisted, so it may turn up again.