Ford was the first manufacturer to return to production after World War II, but it was months before cars became available. Production began on 3 July 1945 with the first public showing of the new Fords on 26 October. The first Sportsman Convertible was delivered at Christmastime that year. Hollywood star Ella Raines took delivery with all the fanfare that Ford’s publicity machine could muster. Shortly thereafter, Admiral William “Bull” Halsey rode in a Sportsman as grand marshal of the 1946 Rose Parade.

Strikes and material shortages kept production of the Sportsman from fully ramping up until July of 1946. Cars were built alongside regular station wagons at the Iron Mountain facility in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Unlike its station wagon counterpart, the Sportsman did not use wood as a structural component, but rather purely as a cosmetic embellishment. To create Sportsman models, outer door skins, quarter panels, and trunk lids were removed from standard convertible bodies, which were then coated in primer before maple wood framing and mahogany panels were fitted and varnished. Completed bodies returned for the fitment of final trim before shipment to Ford’s assembly plants to be mated to their chassis. The complicated process resulted in low production numbers of just 723 units in 1946, 2,774 in 1947, and 28 in 1948.

Designer Eugene “Bob” Gregorie designed the Sportsman during World War II. It was the first totally new style approved by Henry Ford II in his role as president of Ford Motor Company. Interiors were similar to the regular convertible, though hydraulic windows were standard. Genuine leather covered the seats in a choice of tan, red, or gray. A chrome steering-wheel horn ring, righthand visor, and door armrest were included. Certainly not an economy model, Sportsmans were listed for $1,982; almost $500 more than the standard convertible. All were equipped with Ford’s 100-horsepower, 239-cubic-inch V-8, and three-speed manual transmission.

Benefitting from a high-quality, frame-off restoration by marque expert Nick Alexander in the mid-2000s, this wonderful example has accumulated few miles since that time. According to its previous owner, this is the final car produced by Ford in December 1946. Finished in Black over a dark red interior and a black canvas top piped in red, this Sportsman is equipped with a hydraulic power convertible top, driver’s side spotlight, clock, AM radio, heater, dual sun visors, a locking gas cap, windshield washer, and front bumper guard. BF Goodrich Silvertown wide whitewall tires accented by stainless steel trim rings enhance the period-correct appearance.