When in 1942 the US plunged into the Second World War Ford, like the rest of the automotive industry stopped car manufacturing and turned to national defense projects. The few cars that were indeed made were turned over to the Armed Forces. Ford plants manufactured planes for the Air force, dreadnaughts for the Navy, Jeeps, tanks, armored carriers, trucks for the Army. The first model year after the war was 1946 which was nothing but a 1942 with some added chrome. This lively car with the L head V8 was a darling of the world as well as here in Turkey. Whenever the springs broke one would go to horse cart repair shops. It is said that spares were available in back country groceries. |