All 1946 Fords were, in essence, restyled 1942 models utilizing the same drivetrain as the prewar models. The grille was restyled with horizontal bars on the outside of the rectangular opening, instead of the flush-mounted grille of the 1942 models. The remainder of the body was virtually the same as the prewar version.
The Deluxe series was the base trim level for 1946, and included rubber moldings around all the window openings, a horn button instead of a ring, one interior sun visor and armrests only on the driver’s door.
Total Deluxe series output was 94,870 vehicles. In addition, there were 84 chassis produced with closed drive front end and two chassis produced with open drive front end. Ford does not indicate the number of each model produced with sixes apart from V-8s. Therefore, all figures quoted from the factory show total production of each body style, including both types of engines.
The Super Deluxe Series was cream of the Ford crop. It was the top trim level for 1946 and included chrome moldings around all windows, a horn ring, two interior sun visors, armrests on all doors, passenger assist straps on the interior “B” pillars for easier rear seat egress, horizontal chrome trim on the body and leather interior in the convertible models.
The “woodie” wagon, while offered with a great many different nameplates over the years, is perhaps most closely associated with the Ford, and with good reason. Ford simply built more of them than anyone else.
The only truly new model for 1946 appeared in the Super Deluxe line. It was called the Super Deluxe Convertible Sport Coupe, or Sportsman. The Sportsman was a two-door convertible that featured a wood body along the lines of the station wagon. The wood-bodied station wagons had already been produced in various marques for a number of years, but non-wagons were fairly new. Chrysler had its Town & Country, Nash produced a Suburban wood-trimmed sedan, wood appliqué kits were available for some models of Chevrolet, and even Mercury had its own Sportsman, which was a companion car to the Ford version.
Total Super Deluxe Series output was 372,43 vehicles. In addition, there were 26 chassis produced with closed drive front end, three chassis produced with open drive font end, and eight chassis-only produced. As with the Deluxe series, Ford does not indicate the number of each model produced with sixes or V-8s, so all figures quoted here also show total production of each body style, with both types of engines, except in the case of the convertibles, which came only with V-8 power.
Important Spec’s
1946 Super Deluxe Station Wagon
Model No. 69A
Body/Style No.: 78B
Length: 198.2 inches
Wheelbase: 114 inches
Weight: Station Wagon 3,490 lbs.
Engine: L-head V-8, eight-cylinder
Displacement: 239 cid
Horsepower: 100 @ 3,800 rpm
Bore & Stroke: 3.19 x 3.75
Compression ratio: 6.8:1
Electrical system: 6-volt
Tire size: 6.00 x 16
Transmission: Three-speed manual
Price: $1,553
Production total: 16.960 (including both V-8 and six-cylinder models
Engines:
SIX-CYLINDER: L-head. Cast iron block. Displacement: 226 cid. Bore and stroke: 3.30 x 4.40 inches. Compression ratio: 6.8:1. Brake hp: 90 at 3300 rpm. Carburetor: Holley single-barrel Model 847F. Four main bearings.
V-8: L-head. Cast iron block. Displacement: 239 cid. Bore and stroke: 3.19 x 3.75 inches. Compression ratio: 6.6:1. Brake hp: 100 at 3800 rpm. Carburetor: Holley two-barrel Model 94. Three main bearings.
Popular options
Radio, heather, spotlights, exteriors mirrors, grille guard, bumper wings, exterior sun visor, white sidewall tires, fender skirts, wheel trim rings, exhaust deflector
Collectibility
Whether seeing one brings back memories of the West Coast surfing culture or just elicits an admiration for craftsmanship well done in a mass-produced environment, "woodies," are a desirable segment of collectible automobile within the old car hobby. Ford had been producing its own wood-bodied wagons in its Iron Mountain, Michigan, assembly facility for many years, so when World War II ended, the automaker was ready to resume woodie production in a big way.
Offered exclusively in the Super Deluxe line, the '46 woodie wagon found 16,960 eager buyers. Today, the survivors are few as the wood-based bodies succumbed to the elements at a much higher rate than their steel-bodied counterparts. In this demand-outstrips-supply-scenario, a '46 Ford woodie commands mid-five figures in solid condition.
Collector Pricing
1946 Super Deluxe Four-Door Station Wagon
No. 1 condition: $53,000
No. 2: $37,100
No. 3: $23,850
No. 4: $10,600
