1949 Foose Ford

By Jay Hirsch

The design of this Ford is “shoebox.” “Shoebox” is what 1949 – 1951 Fords have been lovingly called since the new post-WW II model was introduced. The new, slab-sided 1949 Ford with its integrated fenders was a streamlined design compared to the pre-WW II American car. It was a time when men and women wore leather shoes, and the Ford resembled the box those shoes came in for many people. The 1949 Ford had a new, ladder-type chassis with coil-spring, independent front suspension and leaf springs in the rear. The engine was moved forward, creating more interior space. 

There is no official account of when and how the term shoebox became commonly used for 1949 – 1951 Fords. By the late 1950s when these Fords were the favorite car for people to customize and hot rod, the term shoebox was cemented in the vernacular of the car world.

Harry B. Bradley was a car designer who was born in La Jolla, Cali., and grew up in Waban, Mass. At age 14 he contracted polio and was paralyzed from the waist down. He studied design at Pratt Institute and went to work for GM in 1962. Harry was much more interested in his own designs than working for GM, and in 1966 he joined Mattel, where he designed die-cast model cars. Working with Mattel enabled Harry to move back to California. Harry also was able to open own his design studio in California and did work for several custom-car publications.

In 1983 the design of this shoebox appeared in Street Rodder Magazine. Donn Lowe was infatuated with the design, so in 1996 begin to “build his dream car.”

This turned out to be too big (“as in money”) of a project for Donn, so he sold it to Jack Barnard, who had Sam Foose (Chip Foose’s father) complete it. Since then it became known as the “Foose Ford.”

The Foose Ford’s smooth, understated-yet-arresting appearance is created using a wedge-sectioned 1949 Ford body with a two-and-a-half-inch chopped top and a windshield laid back six inches. Other accents included a customized 1949 Ford grille ornament, Frenched 1952 headlight rims, and custom-fabricated steel body trim, as well as carefully-modified bumpers with custom rear exhaust outlets. Painted in a deep PPG Phantom Green finish, the Ford is set off by gleaming brightwork and painted steel wheels with beauty rings, original-style Ford script hubcaps, and 225/75 x 15, three-inch wide radial whitewall tires, all the time remaining true to its classic shoebox design

The interior, created under the supervision of Chip Foose, features Glide Engineering front seats and a custom rear seat, with rich grey leather and mohair upholstery by Gabe Lopez. The smoothed original dashboard houses restored original instruments, a Vintage Air air-conditioning system, and a two-spoke billet steering wheel mounted on a 1973 Cadillac tilt column. The car is complete with remote entry, a Kenwood stereo system with an Alpine CD player, and a powerful sound system, all the necessities for a modern high-end custom.

Under the hood is a 302-cubic inch GT40 crate engine from Ford Motorsports with a 1950s Cadillac-style air cleaner and Edelbrock intake, as well as Ford Racing headers. Stopping power comes from front disc brake/rear drum brake. The frame incorporates a 1972 Nova front clip with Fat Man control arms and a stout Ford nine-inch rear assembly with 3.00:1 gears. The result is a shoebox with modern engineering while staying true to its classic 1949 – 1951 design.

In 2002 it was selected by the Ford Motor Company to be part of the Ford display at the world famous Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise, which takes place outside of Detroit in August.

Skip Barber, who owned this 1949 Ford, operates Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn. Skip owns several cars, from vintage Ferraris to American icons of the 1950s. Skip is a car guy! He appreciates all cars but has a deep affection for American cars from the “Golden Age” of the 1950s — 1930s hot rods being part of that era. The 1949 – 1951 shoe box Ford coupe being the highlight car for Skip.

As car designs changed in the 1950s, the shoebox”lent itself to being updated and customed by individuals and custom body shops.

The Foose Ford to Skip is the epitome of shoebox Fords.

“To many people, the average car owner, this Foose designed Ford looks like a car Ford made,” Skip said. “The color is reminiscent of a color Ford did have. All the radical but subtle work on the car is what made me want this car. The stands out by its pure, simple. elegant design.”  •