Photo Finish: 1947 Ford Sedan Delivery
An antique Ford Sedan Delivery restored to a beautiful shine.
History of the Sedan Delivery
A ‘sedan delivery’ is a kind of sedan/cargo van contraption used back before the cargo van had been invented.They hauled everything from plumbing tools to dead bodies (note the lingering influence on modern hearses), and sometimes even featured just one seat to allow more room for getting the job done.
Delivery sedans were popular from the 1920’s all the way up into the 60’s, and eventually morphed into the modern station wagon we all know and love. As vans replaced them, delivery sedans went out of fashion and the concept became impractical. Compact ‘sedan deliveries’ were later created by Ford and Chevy in the ’70’s; that’s the Pinto and Vega respectively. These are better known today as ‘hatchbacks’.
Since sedan deliveries are practically extinct in today’s production model lineup, these cars are hotly sought after by collectors. They were used for hauling, though, so restoration of these beauties can require extensive work. If you see a wonderfully restored sedan delivery like this one, be sure to stop and snap a few photos. This particular 1947 Ford Sedan Delivery was spotted at an auto show in Beavercreek, Ohio, and is owned by Dave H. It is a fine specimen, with meticulous restoration inside and out.
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Photos by Rain Blanken-Turner
Rain Blanken is an author who specializes in covering art, travel and the automotive industry. With three kids and a lot of road trips ahead of her, she is always excited to review the latest models and to check out classic car shows. Rain has written for The New York Times, Barnes & Noble and Running Press. She currently lives in the land of cornfields and airfields; Dayton, Ohio. See more articles by Rain.