The stunning coupe was a retro-modern interpretation of an iconic icon. It never came to fruition.
We thought it was the perfect time to recall the glory days when the classic car wasn’t dominated by SUVs and crossovers. It’s not easy to pay tribute to a legend, but the Blue Oval managed to capture the spirit of 1949. Ford It was named after the Detroit Auto Show’s original concept 18 years ago. The retro-futuristic coupe was more than a modern version of the original. It featured a huge glass roof that extended from the front to the rear. The design was kept as simple as possible with slim taillights, hidden door handles and concealed door handles.
Ford decided to forgo the bullet nose from the 1949 and hide the windshield wipers in order to create a smooth appearance we still love almost twenty years later. The Forty-Nine was seated on polished 20-inch wheels with discreet chrome accents.
The minimalist interior harkened back also to the era hot rods. It featured a floating console that not only looked great but also served a secondary purpose, increasing the car’s rigidity. For a retro look, four bucket seats were clad with two-tone leather. The one-piece instrument cluster was also an nod to the inspiration behind the design. The Thunderbird’s 3.9-liter V8 motor (of Jaguar origins), was the source of motivation, as shown on the side badge. It was a sight to see, with the engine bay beautifully finished in satin black with chrome and stainless accents. Although the coupe was a concept car, it was soon followed by a conversion (static vehicle) which was sold earlier this month at $51,700 in Mecum Auctions’ Kissimme sale.