That 1949 Ford was so very important for the company. It was the first new car introduced since Henry Ford the second took over from the old man. It was the first new car since the war. The new Chevrolet looked pretty modern, but compare this design to the Plymouth that was new for 1949. This looks years more modern. There were teething problems with this car, particularly body, integrity and leakage, etc., but it was so beautiful and sleek compared to the 1948. Thank you for the information about George Walker. I only know him from Ford, and did not know that he was running his own outside firm before that. Again, you are doing us such a great service by highlighting these mostly forgotten car designers who were so important to what we love.
FoMoCo was pretty dysfunctional with the decline of Henry and illness and early death of Edsel-- it's amazing to me they could contribute so much to the war effort then bring out the new F100 trucks for 1948 plus an all new Lincoln, Mercury and Ford in 1949. I think the full size Lincoln was a bomb; handing the luxury car market to Cadillac along with Packard's 1948 stinker, but the Ford and Mercury were quite successful.
@@jeffaulik3980 - Yeah, Henry Ford didn't want to fight against his buddy Hitler and even sold him trucks up to 4 months before Hitler's (supposed?) death...
@@buzzwaldron6195 Just another stale Earl design that Chevy fanbois started worshpping in the 70's. They were just another used car when I was growing up. Our neighbor's 21 year old son who was in a car club traded in his '57 Bel Air 2 door hardtop for a new '65 Galaxie XL.
Dad bought a '53 Ford Golden Jubilee back in 1979. It was in perfect condition with low hours and a dozen attachments and implements including a snow plow. I spent many an afternoon in Lake Orion in the field on it. Absolutely wonderful Tractor.
The '53 Jubilee live pto and OHV "Red Tiger" motor is much better than the N Series. The 4 cylinder motor is related to the 215/223 "Mileage Maker" inline six Ford used in passenger cars
@timothykeith1367 we were previously using a 1948 John Deere. The Ford was safer and easier to operate. Although it was fun doing wheelies on the John Deere. ;-)
@@timothykeith1367I can verify your statement that the Jubilee engine was much better than the 8N flat head. Not that I have ever worked on a Jubilee and I don't know much of anything about them, but I promise you, there is no chance that it isn't a vast improvement because the 8N's very low compression ratio of 6:1 and its tendencies to find the weak points of each head gasket you install combine to make the machine dramatically underpowered. I'll admit that I'm impressed the 49 8N out back still runs, but I've seen plenty of rider lawn mowers that have more power. Lol
Love those old tractors. Have been around 8N, 8N, NAA, 641, & 841. Have a good number of hours on the 841 back on the farm where I grew up. Good times.
My father had a couple of these tractors. It has more style than the next generation. The next generation was just square. But this tractor looks like someone actually too time to design it.
Thank you, Adam. I spent much time in my dad's 49 Ford as a child. I have mentioned this really an enjoyable Christmas present to see these beautiful photographs and have this history. I hope your Christmas is a joyous one.
My dad bought a new Hawaiian bronze '50 in late '49 for $1,610 at Bob Ford in Dearborn Michigan. A lot of WW2 vets treated themselves to a new car back then. Due to high demand, labor strikes and inflation (price gouging) the '46-'48s were tough to get although my "black sheep "uncle had connections & knew a guy who knew a guy & had a new Olds 98 every year from '46 on. By '49 cars became more available. It seemed our large family of Aunts and Uncles bought a new '49 or '50 model car. Someone hotwired Dad's '50 when he was at work on Merrit & Junction in Detroit & went joy riding with it. The cops found it later & it never ran or rode the same. He traded it in on a new '55 Ford Fairlane. Great memories of the first nice, new car our family had.
I traded even a 1941 Chevy rolling chassis back in 2008 no glass trim nothing just a frame and a body, To a Ford hater that had a non running original 1949 Ford coupe. All I did was paint the body satin black with implement paint got it running drove in down the driveway and I was amazed how smooth the car road. It was the best riding car I have ever owned even in today's standards, Loved driving that car as much as possible. The suspension on that car was way ahead of its time it just floated along like a caddy. Sold it a few years back wish I had never done that. Great Video, Thanks
To me, the Ford team's design looks like a Plymouth from the day. I did find it interesting how some of the elements seemed to sneak into the 52-54 designs and then how the C pillar strakes appeared on the Galaxies and Fairlanes of the early to mid 60's. I love hearing the history of the designs from that era.
Adam: I love these deep dives into automotive design history. It’s important to tell these stories and not let them fade into history. They are an important part of our history! Best wishes for a great Christmas.
I've read that Richard (Dick) Caleel, who was working for Raymond Lowey & Associates doing the design work for Studebaker automobiles out of South Bend, IN did the initial design proposal for the 1949 Ford in his off hours on a free-lance basis for George Walker, who was having difficulty coming up with a fresh design proposal by the deadline imposed by Ford. In fact, Caleel created a plaster scale model of the car and ruined his wife's oven baking the model before applying paint to it for presentation. Walker's guys Oros and Engle also worked with him and refined some of the details. Of course, it was presented to Ford as a George Walker design, which eventually led to Walker becoming the head of Ford design later in the 1950's. As always, a successful car like the 1949 Ford has a thousand fathers - but no-one can seem to remember who designed a bomb like the original Edsel. Ha! Great stories, Adam!
Love that era of industrial design! Interesting how, even things like steam locomotives were getting styling/design treatment. This pushed over to the up and coming diesels, creating the most beautiful locomotives in history. Merry Christmas, Adam!
The really slick locos in the 40s and 50s were EMD F series from General Motors. They had 2 Buick windshields and the same side windows as Buick. GM thought it was a waste to design one just for the loco when they were already making one that would do the job.
The first car I remember being in as a child. My mother took a picture out of the back window when we'd driven across the SF-Oakland Bay Bridge in 1955. It shows the lanes coming down the ramp into Oakland except that the upper deck was arranged for traffic in both directions while commuter trains ran on the lower deck. They retired the trains just a few years later. I don't remember my father being perplexed by the car (he bought it used) but I was still pretty young then. And every time that I see a 1949-50 Ford it reminds me of this. A pretty good looking car after 75 years.
My friend has a 1950 Ford 4-Door sedan with a flathead V8 and 3-speed. It’s in such nice shape that restoration couldn’t do much to improve it. He bought and installed a modern double-reservoir brake master cylinder for safety reasons and doesn’t care if it’s not authentic. When I was in my college years in the early 1970s, I worked for a local cemetery having three older Ford tractors, a 1954 Jubilee and two 1958 Workmasters. The Jubilee was often used with a Woods mower powered by its PTO. Great machines that ran years and years with reasonable care.
I am a retired Industrial Designer and had worked at "Walter Dorwin Teague Design" in the early part of my career. I can confidently state, when major corporations goes to "design consultancies" to help them out with their products, it may create the resentment from the In-House Design Team. My take on that was when companies took that route, it means that the corporate "higher ups" find that something is lacking in the current design philosophy within the design department. They would hire us (design consultancy) to try to look at their products from a different angle, that corporate people may not see - "fresh eyes". Sometimes it's hard for in-house designers to get away from the corporate POV of design. When there is a clash with outside and inside design staff it's not pretty; with a lot resentment from both sides. It's not just only Car Design, it can happen with any corporation that have an 'in-house" design team to help design the company's products. They're just trying to preserve their "turf". I totally understand why in-house designers would leave. Communication among both parties is the key ingredient. Love the video and glad you talk about Industrial Design.
Merry Christmas, Adam and family. I thank you for the many dozens of videos you’ve done since your very first in summer, 2? Or 3 years ago, I think. The 67 Pontiac and 69 Lincoln were the first two I remember. I rarely miss any of your videos.
Those tractors were stellar. A friend of mine bought a rural house and it came with one! I had never driven such a beast, but I used it to drill about 50 post holes for a wrap around and layered deck on the house, still the largest deck to date that I have built. And I've built hundreds of them. The quality of this tractor was impressive. I believe these are machines that will last forever with minimal routine repair, if they keep making parts for them.
The Golden Jubilee Tractor reminded me of the German Ford Taunus P1 from 1952-58. I always thought the ‘49 Ford & ‘49 Lincoln Cosmopolitan looked futuristic next their competition from GM & Chrysler.
Thank you for this informative video. It came as a shock to me that the iconic 1949 Ford wasn't designed in house by Ford designers. I was a kid when the 49 Ford came out, and we had one. I always liked the looks of the car and I gave Ford credit for the clean, innovative design. It was the first mass produced American car I remember that completely integrated the fenders into the body of the car, and thus it separated the pre and post war cars for me and I think it influenced the design of all cars that came after it. But, no matter how long I stare at the picture of that tractor and the 49 Ford, I can't see the slightest resemblance between them. I'm baffled by the similarity you see that I don't see, especially considering that this this the main point of your video. Also, some folks might know what the heck you were talking about with all those references to pillars, panels and rolls, but that all talk went completely over my head. It would have been helpful if you had pointed out the location of those features on the pictures of the car for the benefit of people like me who love cars, but don't know all that lingo.
Thanks Adam, another excellent video filling the voids of our automotive knowledge. Learning the “behind the scenes” stories of the people who designed the cars I grew up with is extremely satisfying. Thanks again, and enjoy the holidays: you’ve made mine even better with another great automotive insight!😎❤️
Merry Christmas, Adam! Thank you again for taking the time this Christmas day to provide us with another awesome video. They are very informative and amazing! Thank you, Adam!
Adam - the NAA came out in 1952 and had a chrome front emblem. The 1953 had a gold emblem and thus the 50th anniversary “Golden Jubilee” nomenclature. The 1954 NAA’s had the chrome/red emblems like the tractors you showed. They are all NAA’s , but only 1953’s are “Jubilees”. Great vid.
Back in 2015, I owned a 1950 Ford Custom DeLuxe that I bought in Portland, Oregon. It had been manufactured in Canada. I was living in Dallas, Texas, my hometown, at the time. That Ford was two-tone ... if I remember correctly, the colors were called Hawaiian Bronze and Sunland Beige ... such poetic names. That car drove smoothly and was "whisper quiet". I am now living in Querétaro, México -- going on three years. That '50 Ford would turn heads here in Querétaro had I brought it down with me. 🙂
I drove a white two door version of this car in 1965. Although I have had countless vehicles since then, my 49 two door has remained my all time favorite and is the one I wish I had today.
@MarinCipollina Ford had the idea back then that people traded their cars every three years. So the 55/56/57 were very much the same, then the Squarebirds of 58/59/60, then the 61/62/63, 64/65/66, then Ford took a vacation, 72-76, 77-79, 80-82, 83-88, 89-97, another break and then the 2001-2005.
George was mostly about the sizzle, not the steak. That’s why he had people like Oros and Engel working for him. George was a schmoozer and a politician, not so much a designer in those years. HFII was happy when GW had to retire from Ford at age 65 because he was tired of Walker talking about him behind his back and gave the job to Gene Bordinat instead of one of Walker’s guys.
Convaluted indeed! I couldn't keep up and was desperate for some kind of graphic to ease my losing the story line. I'll just take your word(s) for it. I enjoy your dives into the design industry of the past in automobiles of my era., but this one left me scratching my head.
My Grandfather had a couple of these tractors that he kept but also restored a couple & sold them. I learned how to drive on those tractors from 7-8 years old & helped using them on the farm & working on them, I loved them & will never forget the time with the tractors & Family on the farm. 🤠
I just picked up Henry L Dominguez's "The Cellini of Chrome", a biography about George W. Walker and Ford design through the 50's. Very very good read!
Joe Oros bravely instituted the very theme Studebaker had employed for 1947. He had to have known it would be criticized, but he knew he had a winner. Love that kinda of kick-seat confidence. "I had that idea on my tractor back in the 40's."
Good story. My dad bought a '49 coupe new, and somewhere in Juneau Alaska there are likely the rusting remnants of it. As many did in the day, he replaced the 'spinner' in the grille with a 3rd headlight.
I'm not a Ford guy really but still have my dads 50 business coupe. Been in the family since the 70s, longer than I've been alive! Has 45,000 original miles, no rust, and all original interior....right down to the dealer installed vinyl seat covers. Need to get it out of the barn and back on the road again. Basically all the cars manufactured through 1948 were just warmed over prewar models, so the 49s were a big change.
Just amazing info there, Adam.. Don't think anyone would have guessed that the '49 Ford was heavily influenced by a Tractor Design proposed by Ford in the mid-40's. Cheers fm Damo.
Very interesting information, Adam. Though I've read a lot about Ford design activities during this time, you had a few new pieces of information to share.
Fascinating story, Adam, if convoluted, as you noted. Btw, my Dad’s second car (aged 23) was a maroon ‘49 Ford ragtop. Thanks so much for sharing, and Merry Christmas!
Adam could also do a heck of a deep dive into the original GT40 and how the Ford people turn it into a world beater. Maybe then even a deep dive into the Pantera... maybe even then a deep dive into the personal relationship between Henry Ford II and Iacocca, who made so much money for Ford but Henry fired him based on personality alone with Millions at risk...
Walker shopped that design around to several companies, including Nash. Nash had seen it, and was planning on using it, but hadn't signed anything or even told Walker more than "we're thinking about it". Nash had started their team on drawing things up when the 49 Fords came out. George Mason, head of Nash, was a pretty mad -- the design he had intended to use for the 1950 Nash Rambler was being used by Ford! All Walker had to say was pretty much "you had your chance!" Mason had worked with Walker before -- the narrator mentioned Walker working with Kelvinator. Charles Nash bought Kelvintaor in the late 30s to get Mason to run Nash Motors when Nash retired. Mason wasn't interested in leaving Kelvinator, so Nash bought it! The new company was called Nash-Kelvinator, with Mason over the entire shebang.
I learned to drive in my uncle's 49 Ford Tudor. It was modified with a 289 V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor and 4 in the floor transmission. It would scoot.
My dads first car was a ‘49 Ford! He had a six in his and his brother had one with the Flathead V8 (not sure if it was a ‘49 as well but was close to the same year) Dads had a lower rear end so his 6 would always get Bobs V8 off the line which apparently would always annoy my uncle to no end lol Rip Dad Miss you bud ❤
Discovered another design legend who would make a great video subject, Alex Tremulis. Mr. Tremulis had a hand in so many autos from Duesenberg to Subaru BRAT!
Very interesting story about the styling. For whatever it's worth, I came home from the hospital (when I was born) in a 49 Ford Convert, just like the one at the end of the video. That was a shade over 71 years ago! Merry Christmas, everyone!
Interesting but I wish you had explained what specifically you find similar between the tractor and the car. Because nothing jumps out at me as obviously similar other than the existence of a round bit vaguely near the middle.
I was always told the Ford tractor was redesigned with a higher, arched hood to make room for the new overhead valve engine that replaced the flathead design on the 8N predecessor. I think you went too far to claim the 1953 tractor influenced the 1949 car.
Very interesting video. My father had a shoebox Ford before I was born. I have only seen photos of it. Another interesting video could be about the styling of the popular1949/1950 Mercury. The failed proposal's (in your video) rear end seems somewhat similar to the 1949/1950 Mercury rear end.
I learned to drive in my dad’s 1951 Ford. Later, after my brother’s wife rolled the car, I rebuilt the Flathead V8 for a 1949 Monarch (Canadian version of the Mercury) I had rescued from a junkyard
That was a very interesting story Adam! I’m surprised however that you didn’t mention that the iconic front of the 49 Ford later served as the inspiration for the “grille-less” 1986 Ford Taurus, which went on to become an even more iconic mainstream Ford.
The 49 Ford was the first completely new car less the engine since the model T. Gone were the buggy spring suspension and the torque tube and banjo rear axle. They practically had to wait till old Henry passed away to finally get a modern car.
It seems the 49 Ford was the first New Modern car design after WWII. How about a vid on the history of the Belt Line Dip as on a 55, 56 and 57 Chevy. Who came up with it first? Also, what was the last regular production car to be offered with a vinyl top? Again, great watch......
While the 49 Ford was the first postwar modern car from the Big Three, beating Chevy and Plymouth by a few months, the first true modern American postwar cars were produced by smaller manufacturers as early as 1946. Specifically, Kaiser-Frazer unveiled their prototype in January 1946, followed by Crosley and Studebaker. Studebaker beat the others to market, however, selling its '47 models as early as May 1st 1946, and the first Crosley CCs rolled off the line on May 9th. Kaiser didn't begin production until June of '46.
Very well done. Good detail and I'm glad you were able to show both design proposals for the '49 Ford. The in-house design, as you mention was not very pretty. Ford made the right decision on this one. The '49 Ford has always been one of my favorites, although I've never had the chance to own one.
I'm a Ford man (as the channel owner is fully aware) and the 49er is a love / hate for me. I guess I could only like it as a convertible as it doesn't have that roof. They made them here in Australia too apparently, and had a "ute" (utility, car-truck) version too. As was done with the Falcon that came across the Pacific later. Even with the 1949, Ford Australia produced a car that was 80% Australian made!
The first family car I remember is my dad’s 49 Gunmetal Grey 2 door Ford V-8. My dad liked fast cars and was a Ford man at heart. I remember him saying a Ford V-8 could pass anything but a gas station.
Great video. According to Alfred P. Sloan's "My Years With General Motors," Ernie Breech was hired away from GM by Bendix, and subsequently hired from Bendix by Ford. Breech was a finance guy, and introduced GM's financial methods to Ford. When I worked at Chrysler (briefly in 1977-78), I learned that a large number of Ford finance guys moved to Chrysler in the early 1950s, bringing the GM/Ford financial practices to Chrysler.
I owned a 4 door shoebox Ford with the flathead V8 about 15 years ago. It was a fun car to own but mine had a lot of issues with rust among other things (this car lived its life in Michigan). I even still have a short video clip on my "channel", which I totally forgot about until I saw this here video. At the end I was happy to move it on..
Note that the emblem on the front of the tractor is not the blue oval but rather a shield that has a gear in the middle. I think some of the mid 50s Ford cars had a similar design emblem except it didn’t have the gear in the middle.
the other looks a little like the kaiser frazer of the era, thos 49-51 fords were the hot ticket in my youth. smitty glasspacks on that 49 flathead would rattle the windows in most of a small town late at night. one of the problems with the 49 that i remember well is the latch assembly was not designed well, going around a corner and hitting a bump could make a door fly open quick. not sure if it was related to the pull action on the outside or not but the problem seemed to go away in the 1950 when the pushbutton outside handle was introduced.
My brother had a 53 golden jubilee tractor, that my uncle had, and my uncle had it painted like a ford 4000.. it was a damn good tractor. 49-50 ford/mercs we’re iconic lead sleds
My father was a service manager at a Ford dealership when the all new 1949 model came out. I remember him saying how problematic it was, compared to the 1948 & 1950 model years. His 1949 Ford was no exception and warned us to avoid the first model year of any all new car.
A '50 was almost my first car. Green with plaid interior for $1,000. By the time I got back to the dealer with my dad, the car was sold. Everything happens for a reason, but I still think it would have made a great first car. Ended up with an MGB. Lol😂 Also, quite a fine first ride. Thanks for sharing.
First car I remember was a 51 Ford Station wagon, in a sorta purple color my Mother heated ( it was a suprise for her). Within a month it was painted a sand color.
This 1949 Ford certainly was better looking than the Ford group had come up with. I’m not in love with that grill though but those back tail lights. Oh, I still love them today.
There is a story about the tail lamps too. One of the original designs called for them to be mounted vertically. The rear fenders needed a little pizazz to break up the bluntness of the slab side motif. It was decided to turn them horizontal, and the neat crease in the rear quarters came to be.
I always enjoy watching your videos. This video is not quite as convincing as all the other videos. The connection between the auto design and the tractor design seems a bit . . . tenuous to me. I will have to trust more discerning people than I. BTW, I read [decades ago in the Packard Club magazine] that Dutch Darrin designed the Clipper (with a slight "Darrin Dip") and the design was slightly modified by Packard's styling department. Edit: There's a 4 door shoebox Ford for sale at a used car dealer in my neighborhood: light gray and a light interior. Body appears to be in good shape. I have seen the Ford moving quietly to the 7-11 next door to get gas. Haven't been close enough to see the sticker price. The 7-11 is at 2005 Marconi Avenue, Sacramento California.
0:53 George Walker lived 5 houses away from my Folks House. His house was on Wing Lake Rd in Birmingham Michigan.. The Walker's Saint Bernard Puppy use to mob us kids to try to steal our grade school lunches in paper bags.. lol.. That giant puppy was named Blob and was the same weigh as us small kids so protecting ones school lunch was interesting Mr Walker retired from Ford in the early 1960s Mr Walker designed all sorts of cool consumer items.. Every year he gave my older brothers a big tip for their newspaper route.
We had these in Australia ; they were known here as the “Single Spinner” Ford ,(Customline I think) ; later this model was replaced by the “Twin Spinner” model. They were pretty good solid cars , but were a bit eclipsed by the GMH Holden models that were locally made, cheaper and lighter,(better fuel economy), and very reliable.
My mother bought a 49 Ford as her first new car. We also had one in the 1960's that my dad treated as his pick up truck. It amazes me that Ford would go to an outside design firm for either the 8N replacement tractor or to design their first new post war car. I'll bet the head of the design department at Ford wasn't the only person to leave, by their choice or Ford management's.
That 1949 Ford was so very important for the company. It was the first new car introduced since Henry Ford the second took over from the old man. It was the first new car since the war. The new Chevrolet looked pretty modern, but compare this design to the Plymouth that was new for 1949. This looks years more modern. There were teething problems with this car, particularly body, integrity and leakage, etc., but it was so beautiful and sleek compared to the 1948. Thank you for the information about George Walker. I only know him from Ford, and did not know that he was running his own outside firm before that. Again, you are doing us such a great service by highlighting these mostly forgotten car designers who were so important to what we love.
FoMoCo was pretty dysfunctional with the decline of Henry and illness and early death of Edsel-- it's amazing to me they could contribute so much to the war effort then bring out the new F100 trucks for 1948 plus an all new Lincoln, Mercury and Ford in 1949. I think the full size Lincoln was a bomb; handing the luxury car market to Cadillac along with Packard's 1948 stinker, but the Ford and Mercury were quite successful.
@@jeffaulik3980 - Yeah, Henry Ford didn't want to fight against his buddy Hitler and even sold him trucks up to 4 months before Hitler's (supposed?) death...
Chevy totally outdated all earlier cars with the one seen at 34:10 here:
th-cam.com/video/vWdF3L_qxTk/w-d-xo.html
@@buzzwaldron6195 Just another stale Earl design that Chevy fanbois started worshpping in the 70's. They were just another used car when I was growing up. Our neighbor's 21 year old son who was in a car club traded in his '57 Bel Air 2 door hardtop for a new '65 Galaxie XL.
GM had that full envelope body one year prior with the '48 Cadillac.
The Ford was a very clean design as well for sure.
Dad bought a '53 Ford Golden Jubilee back in 1979. It was in perfect condition with low hours and a dozen attachments and implements including a snow plow. I spent many an afternoon in Lake Orion in the field on it. Absolutely wonderful Tractor.
The '53 Jubilee live pto and OHV "Red Tiger" motor is much better than the N Series. The 4 cylinder motor is related to the 215/223 "Mileage Maker" inline six Ford used in passenger cars
@timothykeith1367 we were previously using a 1948 John Deere. The Ford was safer and easier to operate. Although it was fun doing wheelies on the John Deere. ;-)
@@timothykeith1367I can verify your statement that the Jubilee engine was much better than the 8N flat head. Not that I have ever worked on a Jubilee and I don't know much of anything about them, but I promise you, there is no chance that it isn't a vast improvement because the 8N's very low compression ratio of 6:1 and its tendencies to find the weak points of each head gasket you install combine to make the machine dramatically underpowered. I'll admit that I'm impressed the 49 8N out back still runs, but I've seen plenty of rider lawn mowers that have more power. Lol
Love those old tractors. Have been around 8N, 8N, NAA, 641, & 841. Have a good number of hours on the 841 back on the farm where I grew up. Good times.
Sir,1963 I was 15 ears old,bought a 1953 two door,V 8 flathead,ran hot like most flatheads!
Both the Tractor & Car are beautiful.
Quite so...
My father had a couple of these tractors. It has more style than the next generation. The next generation was just square. But this tractor looks like someone actually too time to design it.
Thank you, Adam. I spent much time in my dad's 49 Ford as a child. I have mentioned this really an enjoyable Christmas present to see these beautiful photographs and have this history. I hope your Christmas is a joyous one.
My dad bought a new Hawaiian bronze '50 in late '49 for $1,610 at Bob Ford in Dearborn Michigan. A lot of WW2 vets treated themselves to a new car back then. Due to high demand, labor strikes and inflation (price gouging) the '46-'48s were tough to get although my "black sheep "uncle had connections & knew a guy who knew a guy & had a new Olds 98 every year from '46 on. By '49 cars became more available. It seemed our large family of Aunts and Uncles bought a new '49 or '50 model car. Someone hotwired Dad's '50 when he was at work on Merrit & Junction in Detroit & went joy riding with it. The cops found it later & it never ran or rode the same. He traded it in on a new '55 Ford Fairlane. Great memories of the first nice, new car our family had.
I traded even a 1941 Chevy rolling chassis back in 2008 no glass trim nothing just a frame and a body, To a Ford hater that had a non running original 1949 Ford coupe. All I did was paint the body satin black with implement paint got it running drove in down the driveway and I was amazed how smooth the car road. It was the best riding car I have ever owned even in today's standards, Loved driving that car as much as possible. The suspension on that car was way ahead of its time it just floated along like a caddy. Sold it a few years back wish I had never done that. Great Video, Thanks
To me, the Ford team's design looks like a Plymouth from the day. I did find it interesting how some of the elements seemed to sneak into the 52-54 designs and then how the C pillar strakes appeared on the Galaxies and Fairlanes of the early to mid 60's. I love hearing the history of the designs from that era.
I owned one of these. It was the "Two door Deluxe" model with a flathead 6 cyl. It was 20 years old when i got it and it still ran great!
Adam: I love these deep dives into automotive design history. It’s important to tell these stories and not let them fade into history. They are an important part of our history! Best wishes for a great Christmas.
I've read that Richard (Dick) Caleel, who was working for Raymond Lowey & Associates doing the design work for Studebaker automobiles out of South Bend, IN did the initial design proposal for the 1949 Ford in his off hours on a free-lance basis for George Walker, who was having difficulty coming up with a fresh design proposal by the deadline imposed by Ford.
In fact, Caleel created a plaster scale model of the car and ruined his wife's oven baking the model before applying paint to it for presentation. Walker's guys Oros and Engle also worked with him and refined some of the details. Of course, it was presented to Ford as a George Walker design, which eventually led to Walker becoming the head of Ford design later in the 1950's. As always, a successful car like the 1949 Ford has a thousand fathers - but no-one can seem to remember who designed a bomb like the original Edsel. Ha! Great stories, Adam!
Dick Caleel was definitely one major contributor to the design.
Thank you so much for exposing the real facts behind that car design.
Just have to love the shoebox!!~ The designs that came from that car are endless. As plain jane as it was, it was also desirable!!~
And the doors shut with a solid thrump. No 70s GM door rattling there.
@@HAL-dm1eh As did most all cars back then. Not just a Ford thing.
Love that era of industrial design! Interesting how, even things like steam locomotives were getting styling/design treatment. This pushed over to the up and coming diesels, creating the most beautiful locomotives in history.
Merry Christmas, Adam!
The really slick locos in the 40s and 50s were EMD F series from General Motors. They had 2 Buick windshields and the same side windows as Buick. GM thought it was a waste to design one just for the loco when they were already making one that would do the job.
@ I really like the EMD’s of that era. Especially the slant nose E Units!!!
That rejected Bob Gregory design somehow reminds me of the 1950 Plymouth. General shape, doors, hood ornament, etc. Another fine video--thanks.
The first car I remember being in as a child. My mother took a picture out of the back window when we'd driven across the SF-Oakland Bay Bridge in 1955. It shows the lanes coming down the ramp into Oakland except that the upper deck was arranged for traffic in both directions while commuter trains ran on the lower deck. They retired the trains just a few years later. I don't remember my father being perplexed by the car (he bought it used) but I was still pretty young then. And every time that I see a 1949-50 Ford it reminds me of this. A pretty good looking car after 75 years.
My friend has a 1950 Ford 4-Door sedan with a flathead V8 and 3-speed. It’s in such nice shape that restoration couldn’t do much to improve it. He bought and installed a modern double-reservoir brake master cylinder for safety reasons and doesn’t care if it’s not authentic.
When I was in my college years in the early 1970s, I worked for a local cemetery having three older Ford tractors, a 1954 Jubilee and two 1958 Workmasters. The Jubilee was often used with a Woods mower powered by its PTO. Great machines that ran years and years with reasonable care.
One of the first things my dad did when he got out of the army was to buy a brand new 1949 Ford. He always said it was one of his favorite cars.
I am a retired Industrial Designer and had worked at "Walter Dorwin Teague Design" in the early part of my career. I can confidently state, when major corporations goes to "design consultancies" to help them out with their products, it may create the resentment from the In-House Design Team. My take on that was when companies took that route, it means that the corporate "higher ups" find that something is lacking in the current design philosophy within the design department. They would hire us (design consultancy) to try to look at their products from a different angle, that corporate people may not see - "fresh eyes". Sometimes it's hard for in-house designers to get away from the corporate POV of design. When there is a clash with outside and inside design staff it's not pretty; with a lot resentment from both sides. It's not just only Car Design, it can happen with any corporation that have an 'in-house" design team to help design the company's products. They're just trying to preserve their "turf". I totally understand why in-house designers would leave. Communication among both parties is the key ingredient. Love the video and glad you talk about Industrial Design.
Kudos to the channel for attracting such informed, credentialed, and insightful information in the comment section.
The Cadillac Allante’ is another example of going ‘outside’ for a design. Pininfarina vs Cadillac Design
My goodness that blue ford studio shot is GORGEOUS!
my Uncle had a 49 Ford.It was a daily driver for 30 years and several reman engines
Merry Christmas, Adam and family. I thank you for the many dozens of videos you’ve done since your very first in summer, 2? Or 3 years ago, I think. The 67 Pontiac and 69 Lincoln were the first two I remember. I rarely miss any of your videos.
Marvelous bit of tidbits. Nothing like a documentary I saw, which was more for entertainment than truth.👍🏾🇺🇸
Those tractors were stellar. A friend of mine bought a rural house and it came with one! I had never driven such a beast, but I used it to drill about 50 post holes for a wrap around and layered deck on the house, still the largest deck to date that I have built. And I've built hundreds of them. The quality of this tractor was impressive. I believe these are machines that will last forever with minimal routine repair, if they keep making parts for them.
The Golden Jubilee Tractor reminded me of the German Ford Taunus P1 from 1952-58. I always thought the ‘49 Ford & ‘49 Lincoln Cosmopolitan looked futuristic next their competition from GM & Chrysler.
Thank you for this informative video. It came as a shock to me that the iconic 1949 Ford wasn't designed in house by Ford designers. I was a kid when the 49 Ford came out, and we had one. I always liked the looks of the car and I gave Ford credit for the clean, innovative design. It was the first mass produced American car I remember that completely integrated the fenders into the body of the car, and thus it separated the pre and post war cars for me and I think it influenced the design of all cars that came after it. But, no matter how long I stare at the picture of that tractor and the 49 Ford, I can't see the slightest resemblance between them. I'm baffled by the similarity you see that I don't see, especially considering that this this the main point of your video. Also, some folks might know what the heck you were talking about with all those references to pillars, panels and rolls, but that all talk went completely over my head. It would have been helpful if you had pointed out the location of those features on the pictures of the car for the benefit of people like me who love cars, but don't know all that lingo.
Thanks Adam, another excellent video filling the voids of our automotive knowledge. Learning the “behind the scenes” stories of the people who designed the cars I grew up with is extremely satisfying. Thanks again, and enjoy the holidays: you’ve made mine even better with another great automotive insight!😎❤️
Merry Christmas, Adam! Thank you again for taking the time this Christmas day to provide us with another awesome video. They are very informative and amazing! Thank you, Adam!
Adam - the NAA came out in 1952 and had a chrome front emblem. The 1953 had a gold emblem and thus the 50th anniversary “Golden Jubilee” nomenclature. The 1954 NAA’s had the chrome/red emblems like the tractors you showed. They are all NAA’s , but only 1953’s are “Jubilees”. Great vid.
I have always loved the design/styling of the 49 Ford and Meteor. Simple beauty!
Back in 2015, I owned a 1950 Ford Custom DeLuxe that I bought in Portland, Oregon. It had been manufactured in Canada. I was living in Dallas, Texas, my hometown, at the time. That Ford was two-tone ... if I remember correctly, the colors were called Hawaiian Bronze and Sunland Beige ... such poetic names. That car drove smoothly and was "whisper quiet". I am now living in Querétaro, México -- going on three years. That '50 Ford would turn heads here in Querétaro had I brought it down with me. 🙂
I drove a white two door version of this car in 1965. Although I have had countless vehicles since then, my 49 two door has remained my all time favorite and is the one I wish I had today.
I’m so thrilled you did a story on George Walker. He really was up there as far as designs. Do one on the t bird
Yes. Do one on the Thunderbirds. I own a 1955 that was built on Feb. 14, 1955. They are beautiful cars.
The 1958 and 1959 Thunderbirds look completely different from the 1957 Thunderbird.
I'd also like a Thunderbird video, but on the 66 Thunderbird like that which was used in Thelma and Louise.
@MarinCipollina Ford had the idea back then that people traded their cars every three years. So the 55/56/57 were very much the same, then the Squarebirds of 58/59/60, then the 61/62/63, 64/65/66, then Ford took a vacation, 72-76, 77-79, 80-82, 83-88, 89-97, another break and then the 2001-2005.
George was mostly about the sizzle, not the steak. That’s why he had people like Oros and Engel working for him. George was a schmoozer and a politician, not so much a designer in those years. HFII was happy when GW had to retire from Ford at age 65 because he was tired of Walker talking about him behind his back and gave the job to Gene Bordinat instead of one of Walker’s guys.
The 1949 "Shoebox" Ford is iconic. Thanks for posting Adam! And Merry Christmas to you and your family!!
A fascinating episode! I have always loved the look of the Golden Jubilee.
Convaluted indeed!
I couldn't keep up and was desperate for some kind of graphic to ease my losing the story line.
I'll just take your word(s) for it. I enjoy your dives into the design industry of the past in automobiles of my era., but this one left me scratching my head.
Excellent podcast
My Grandfather had a couple of these tractors that he kept but also restored a couple & sold them. I learned how to drive on those tractors from 7-8 years old & helped using them on the farm & working on them, I loved them & will never forget the time with the tractors & Family on the farm. 🤠
I just picked up Henry L Dominguez's "The Cellini of Chrome", a biography about George W. Walker and Ford design through the 50's. Very very good read!
Sounds interesting !
Merry Christmas, Adam! 🎄🎁
Here Here !
I just bought a 49 custom 4 door a few months ago, such a nice car, glad to see it getting some attention.
Joe Oros bravely instituted the very theme Studebaker had employed for 1947. He had to have known it would be criticized, but he knew he had a winner. Love that kinda of kick-seat confidence.
"I had that idea on my tractor back in the 40's."
Good story. My dad bought a '49 coupe new, and somewhere in Juneau Alaska there are likely the rusting remnants of it. As many did in the day, he replaced the 'spinner' in the grille with a 3rd headlight.
I'm not a Ford guy really but still have my dads 50 business coupe. Been in the family since the 70s, longer than I've been alive! Has 45,000 original miles, no rust, and all original interior....right down to the dealer installed vinyl seat covers. Need to get it out of the barn and back on the road again. Basically all the cars manufactured through 1948 were just warmed over prewar models, so the 49s were a big change.
Just amazing info there, Adam.. Don't think anyone would have guessed that the '49 Ford was heavily influenced by a Tractor Design proposed by Ford in the mid-40's. Cheers fm Damo.
I was completely unaware of the 49 Ford.
What a pretty car!
Very interesting information, Adam. Though I've read a lot about Ford design activities during this time, you had a few new pieces of information to share.
Fascinating story, Adam, if convoluted, as you noted. Btw, my Dad’s second car (aged 23) was a maroon ‘49 Ford ragtop. Thanks so much for sharing, and Merry Christmas!
Adam could also do a heck of a deep dive into the original GT40 and how the Ford people turn it into a world beater.
Maybe then even a deep dive into the Pantera... maybe even then a deep dive into the personal relationship between Henry Ford II and Iacocca, who made so much money for Ford but Henry fired him based on personality alone with Millions at risk...
Walker shopped that design around to several companies, including Nash. Nash had seen it, and was planning on using it, but hadn't signed anything or even told Walker more than "we're thinking about it". Nash had started their team on drawing things up when the 49 Fords came out. George Mason, head of Nash, was a pretty mad -- the design he had intended to use for the 1950 Nash Rambler was being used by Ford! All Walker had to say was pretty much "you had your chance!" Mason had worked with Walker before -- the narrator mentioned Walker working with Kelvinator. Charles Nash bought Kelvintaor in the late 30s to get Mason to run Nash Motors when Nash retired. Mason wasn't interested in leaving Kelvinator, so Nash bought it! The new company was called Nash-Kelvinator, with Mason over the entire shebang.
Love old tractors........
More tractor videos "Please"
I learned to drive in my uncle's 49 Ford Tudor. It was modified with a 289 V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor and 4 in the floor transmission. It would scoot.
I've always felt that the 49-51 Shoebox Fords had a bit of influence on the 55-57 Chevy's.
My dads first car was a ‘49 Ford!
He had a six in his and his brother had one with the Flathead V8 (not sure if it was a ‘49 as well but was close to the same year)
Dads had a lower rear end so his 6 would always get Bobs V8 off the line which apparently would always annoy my uncle to no end lol
Rip Dad
Miss you bud ❤
Many owners replaced the propellor with an amber fog light. My local fire department put a flashing red light for the fire chief's "buggy".
Discovered another design legend who would make a great video subject, Alex Tremulis. Mr. Tremulis had a hand in so many autos from Duesenberg to Subaru BRAT!
Learned to drive in a ‘49 Ford like this. It was burgundy colored. It was the family car for years. Great car!
Adam and subscribers Merry Xmas to you all mamynmore many more. Im from the South side of Chicago. 🎄
Very interesting story about the styling. For whatever it's worth, I came home from the hospital (when I was born) in a 49 Ford Convert, just like the one at the end of the video. That was a shade over 71 years ago! Merry Christmas, everyone!
Glad you made it home safely, and we get to hear that story all these years later !!
👏🙏
@@josephgaviota I don't remember much about that trip, unfortunately.
High Adam, good video! You told me quite a bit that I did not know. Dave...
Thank you Adam.
Interesting but I wish you had explained what specifically you find similar between the tractor and the car. Because nothing jumps out at me as obviously similar other than the existence of a round bit vaguely near the middle.
That round area was originally a propellor for the tractor but it became an emblem instead.
I was always told the Ford tractor was redesigned with a higher, arched hood to make room for the new overhead valve engine that replaced the flathead design on the 8N predecessor. I think you went too far to claim the 1953 tractor influenced the 1949 car.
Very interesting video. My father had a shoebox Ford before I was born. I have only seen photos of it. Another interesting video could be about the styling of the popular1949/1950 Mercury. The failed proposal's (in your video) rear end seems somewhat similar to the 1949/1950 Mercury rear end.
Buon Natale, Adam! Nice episode.
I learned to drive in my dad’s 1951 Ford. Later, after my brother’s wife rolled the car, I rebuilt the Flathead V8 for a 1949 Monarch (Canadian version of the Mercury) I had rescued from a junkyard
What an excellent episode, Adam.
Adam, I hope you are paying yourself double time for working on Christmas. 😅
My wife volunteered to work today and getting DBL time and a half $ Ka Ching! 😎
He’ll buy himself two classics for Christmas haha.
That was a very interesting story Adam! I’m surprised however that you didn’t mention that the iconic front of the 49 Ford later served as the inspiration for the “grille-less” 1986 Ford Taurus, which went on to become an even more iconic mainstream Ford.
The 49 Ford was the first completely new car less the engine since the model T. Gone were the buggy spring suspension and the torque tube and banjo rear axle. They practically had to wait till old Henry passed away to finally get a modern car.
It seems the 49 Ford was the first New Modern car design after WWII. How about a vid on the history of the Belt Line Dip as on a 55, 56 and 57 Chevy. Who came up with it first? Also, what was the last regular production car to be offered with a vinyl top?
Again, great watch......
I would say the Kaiser and Frazer plus the '47 Studebaker were the first post war new car designs.
While the 49 Ford was the first postwar modern car from the Big Three, beating Chevy and Plymouth by a few months, the first true modern American postwar cars were produced by smaller manufacturers as early as 1946. Specifically, Kaiser-Frazer unveiled their prototype in January 1946, followed by Crosley and Studebaker. Studebaker beat the others to market, however, selling its '47 models as early as May 1st 1946, and the first Crosley CCs rolled off the line on May 9th. Kaiser didn't begin production until June of '46.
@@dylansan Boy, learn something new every day.....
@@jeffaulik3980 Boy, learn something new every day.....
"First by far with a postwar car" Studebaker advertising in 1946.
Very well done. Good detail and I'm glad you were able to show both design proposals for the '49 Ford. The in-house design, as you mention was not very pretty. Ford made the right decision on this one. The '49 Ford has always been one of my favorites, although I've never had the chance to own one.
One of the true masterpieces from Ford!!! I sure wish the FoMoCo of 1950 would re-emerge now!!!!
I'm a Ford man (as the channel owner is fully aware) and the 49er is a love / hate for me. I guess I could only like it as a convertible as it doesn't have that roof.
They made them here in Australia too apparently, and had a "ute" (utility, car-truck) version too. As was done with the Falcon that came across the Pacific later.
Even with the 1949, Ford Australia produced a car that was 80% Australian made!
Merry Christmas and happy new year!
The first family car I remember is my dad’s 49 Gunmetal Grey 2 door Ford V-8.
My dad liked fast cars and was a Ford man at heart.
I remember him saying a Ford V-8 could pass anything but a gas station.
49 Ford's are one of my fave car designs of all time
I remember as a young kid that the starter on an 8N tractor sounded identical to the 49 Ford car.
Great video. According to Alfred P. Sloan's "My Years With General Motors," Ernie Breech was hired away from GM by Bendix, and subsequently hired from Bendix by Ford. Breech was a finance guy, and introduced GM's financial methods to Ford. When I worked at Chrysler (briefly in 1977-78), I learned that a large number of Ford finance guys moved to Chrysler in the early 1950s, bringing the GM/Ford financial practices to Chrysler.
A must see is the Keystone Tractor/Car & Truck Museum just off I-95 in Petersburg, Virginia.
I have a friend with a Ford 871 diesel tractor - it's a beast. It's also amazingly fuel efficient.
I owned a 4 door shoebox Ford with the flathead V8 about 15 years ago. It was a fun car to own but mine had a lot of issues with rust among other things (this car lived its life in Michigan). I even still have a short video clip on my "channel", which I totally forgot about until I saw this here video. At the end I was happy to move it on..
Great content!
Note that the emblem on the front of the tractor is not the blue oval but rather a shield that has a gear in the middle. I think some of the mid 50s Ford cars had a similar design emblem except it didn’t have the gear in the middle.
The first model car I built as a kid was a 49 ford. Now I own one and am working to put it back on the road.❤
the other looks a little like the kaiser frazer of the era, thos 49-51 fords were the hot ticket in my youth. smitty glasspacks on that 49 flathead would rattle the windows in most of a small town late at night. one of the problems with the 49 that i remember well is the latch assembly was not designed well, going around a corner and hitting a bump could make a door fly open quick. not sure if it was related to the pull action on the outside or not but the problem seemed to go away in the 1950 when the pushbutton outside handle was introduced.
i think it's Kelvinator (not Kalvinator)...Great video as usual. Merry Christmas!
My brother had a 53 golden jubilee tractor, that my uncle had, and my uncle had it painted like a ford 4000.. it was a damn good tractor. 49-50 ford/mercs we’re iconic lead sleds
My father was a service manager at a Ford dealership when the all new 1949 model came out. I remember him saying how problematic it was, compared to the 1948 & 1950 model years. His 1949 Ford was no exception and warned us to avoid the first model year of any all new car.
A '50 was almost my first car. Green with plaid interior for $1,000. By the time I got back to the dealer with my dad, the car was sold. Everything happens for a reason, but I still think it would have made a great first car. Ended up with an MGB. Lol😂 Also, quite a fine first ride. Thanks for sharing.
5:40 Some aspects of that vehicle remind me of the '49 Mercs and Lincolns.
Of Gregorie's prototype? They probably should; he's credited as the design lead for the '49 Mercury (and possibly the Lincoln, too).
@@benjaminrobinson3842 Ooops I had an error in the time. Corrected to 5:40.
Great stuff.. Could you do a deep dive into Ford engines. Love to see the men behind the Ford V-8's
Dad had a 50, He loved it, Put in an overdrive and would take it on the 402 highway and turn heads with its speed.
First car I remember was a 51 Ford Station wagon, in a sorta purple color my Mother heated ( it was a suprise for her). Within a month it was painted a sand color.
This 1949 Ford certainly was better looking than the Ford group had come up with. I’m not in love with that grill though but those back tail lights. Oh, I still love them today.
There is a story about the tail lamps too. One of the original designs called for them to be mounted vertically. The rear fenders needed a little pizazz to break up the bluntness of the slab side motif. It was decided to turn them horizontal, and the neat crease in the rear quarters came to be.
My dad had a brand new 1949 ford,was a great car!
I've always liked the styling of the single and twin spinners.
I always enjoy watching your videos. This video is not quite as convincing as all the other videos. The connection between the auto design and the tractor design seems a bit . . . tenuous to me. I will have to trust more discerning people than I.
BTW, I read [decades ago in the Packard Club magazine] that Dutch Darrin designed the Clipper (with a slight "Darrin Dip") and the design was slightly modified by Packard's styling department.
Edit: There's a 4 door shoebox Ford for sale at a used car dealer in my neighborhood: light gray and a light interior. Body appears to be in good shape. I have seen the Ford moving quietly to the 7-11 next door to get gas. Haven't been close enough to see the sticker price. The 7-11 is at 2005 Marconi Avenue, Sacramento California.
My brother also had a 50 Ferguson. I wish I had that tractor now
That in-house design look like a Russian restrike of a Checker. I still think we should all meet at Adam's house to discuss these things.🎉
0:53 George Walker lived 5 houses away from my Folks House. His house was on Wing Lake Rd in Birmingham Michigan..
The Walker's Saint Bernard Puppy use to mob us kids to try to steal our grade school lunches in paper bags.. lol..
That giant puppy was named Blob and was the same weigh as us small kids so protecting ones school lunch was interesting
Mr Walker retired from Ford in the early 1960s
Mr Walker designed all sorts of cool consumer items..
Every year he gave my older brothers a big tip for their newspaper route.
We had these in Australia ; they were known here as the “Single Spinner” Ford ,(Customline I think) ; later this model was replaced by the “Twin Spinner” model. They were pretty good solid cars , but were a bit eclipsed by the GMH Holden models that were locally made, cheaper and lighter,(better fuel economy), and very reliable.
My mother bought a 49 Ford as her first new car. We also had one in the 1960's that my dad treated as his pick up truck. It amazes me that Ford would go to an outside design firm for either the 8N replacement tractor or to design their first new post war car. I'll bet the head of the design department at Ford wasn't the only person to leave, by their choice or Ford management's.