Fomoco 1949 fastbacks

[Paul Payne]

Just discovered these and never saw them before, not even at the Fall Meet at Hershey. More opportunities for customizing?

[Oldcarfan27]

Looks like some fun "phantom" projects to me.

Especially the first one! I like that one and the 4 door Merc.

[Mark]

I'd like to see how the trunk lid is hinged on the Ford fastback.

[keyser]

Guy in pic is the Deuce himself. Looks 12yo. ?

http://www.resinrealm.net/Star/STAR Models Old/49_Fastback_Concept.html

Edited April 19, 2022 by keyser

[espo]

I think these were pictures of prototype models. There often were designs that got as far as the "clay stage" before the design would get "killed" before production. The fastback body design was popular just prior to WWII and was pretty much over with in the early 1950's. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

I've never seen the shoebox fastback before. Something I'd like to build, specially as it's a 2-door.

I need to do some research...   

[Mark]

The Ford (corporation) shifted a lot of things around for 1949, with some body styles getting lost in the process.  Initially a smaller economy Ford was included in the lineup, that car got built in France instead.  What finally appeared as the Mercury was originally intended to be the Ford, the smaller Lincoln was originally intended to be the Mercury.  Everything got moved up one notch, and the Ford was started fairly late in the game due to the change in plans.  

[Ace-Garageguy]

https://www.motortrend.com/features/1301sr-1949-ford-slab-sided-fastback-sedan/

Edited April 19, 2022 by Ace-Garageguy

[Paul Payne]

I guess Fomoco torpedoed the torpedoes.......................

[Mark]

A '49 Ford kit I picked up at a show years ago included an attempt at the fastback body.  Unfortunately it's just the Ford body with a Mercury roof stubbed in.  The bodies taper differently in the middle (Ford is wider towards the front) leaving the roof a poor fit.  The Merc's stock height roof looks chopped compared to the Ford's, and the rear window is a different shape from that prototype also (but looks better).  That body isn't really fixable (roof swap is a hack job) but it might be interesting to try it again.

[Oldcarfan27]

8 minutes ago, Mark said:

A '49 Ford kit I picked up at a show years ago included an attempt at the fastback body.  Unfortunately it's just the Ford body with a Mercury roof stubbed in.  The bodies taper differently in the middle (Ford is wider towards the front) leaving the roof a poor fit.  The Merc's stock height roof looks chopped compared to the Ford's, and the rear window is a different shape from that prototype also (but looks better).  That body isn't really fixable (roof swap is a hack job) but it might be interesting to try it again.

Maybe try removing the whole roof and replacing it with the Merc roof. Undoubtedly, if Ford would have done it, they would have used readily available parts. Hence the Mercury lineage. 

Might also be cool to try a Mercury coupe using the Ford roof.

[keyser]

Merc with 51 Victoria roof would be neat. 
Couldn’t find any but this was fun

https://www.customcarchronicle.com/custom-cars/victoria-custom-stories/

Edited April 19, 2022 by keyser
Linky

[RSchnell]

13 hours ago, keyser said:

Guy in pic is the Deuce himself. Looks 12yo. ?

http://www.resinrealm.net/Star/STAR Models Old/49_Fastback_Concept.html

That's William Clay Ford, Henry II's brother. WCF was involved in styling and on the board of directors for years. 

 

[RSchnell]

Anyone with an interest in Ford & body design, should pick up this book. Lots of photos of one off designs and is fascinating reading. Well worth finding a copy! It has a chapter on the 49 Ford & it's design. 

 

 

[Oldcarfan27]

10 hours ago, keyser said:

Merc with 51 Victoria roof would be neat. 
Couldn’t find any but this was fun

https://www.customcarchronicle.com/custom-cars/victoria-custom-stories/

Roof from a 53 Ford attached to the Mercury would make a "Keen Kustom".

[Ace-Garageguy]

 

Love that Fordomerc business coupe...

 

[SfanGoch]

Design-wise, Ford, among the Big Three, cornered the market on stodgy until the introduction of the Mustang.

[Plowboy]

On 4/19/2022 at 3:26 PM, Oldcarfan27 said:

Maybe try removing the whole roof and replacing it with the Merc roof. Undoubtedly, if Ford would have done it, they would have used readily available parts. Hence the Mercury lineage. 

Might also be cool to try a Mercury coupe using the Ford roof.

I actually thought about doing a roof swap between the Ford and Mercury a few years ago. But, like a lot of other things, never have got around to it.

[Oldcarfan27]

3 minutes ago, Plowboy said:

But, like a lot of other things, never have got around to it.

Here you go. Now get to cuttin'

[Mark]

11 hours ago, SfanGoch said:

Design-wise, Ford, among the Big Three, cornered the market on stodgy until the introduction of the Mustang.

Apparently you haven't seen pre-1955 Chrysler products, or the '53-'54 Studebaker sedans that they tried to make look like the coupes at the last minute...

[stavanzer]

Mark, you beat me to it.

MOPAR had some truly forgettable and stodgy designs in the late '40's and early '50's. There is a reason they were the number 3 seller for so long.

[SfanGoch]

2 hours ago, Mark said:

Apparently you haven't seen pre-1955 Chrysler products, or the '53-'54 Studebaker sedans that they tried to make look like the coupes at the last minute...

Chrysler broke free and led the way from '57 with the Forward Look while Ford trudged on, excepting the Mustang, with the boxy look until the mid '60s. It took GM until the 1959 MY to break the mold on its lineup. Nothing wrong with the Studebakers. The '50-'54 models were also ahead of their time in terms of styling with elegant, sweeping lines. Even the sedans looked better than the offerings from the Big Three of that period. My opinion. I don't follow the group-think consensus of other members.

[Ace-Garageguy]

17 minutes ago, SfanGoch said:

...I don't follow the group-think consensus of other members.

OMG !!! OMG !!!  BAN HIM !!! BAN HIM !!!

[keyser]

Exner/Loewy ftw. 
Pot->Kettle. I resemble that remark. Lol. 
Loewy tried best he could with Stude. The coupes were stellar. Just hard to overcome image, the brand loyalty back then. 

[Smoke Wagon]

On 4/20/2022 at 6:36 PM, SfanGoch said:

Design-wise, Ford, among the Big Three, cornered the market on stodgy until the introduction of the Mustang.

’50 Ford Tudor:

’50 Plymouth 2 door sedan:

These two designs were pretty much direct competitors. Ford made a considerable advancement with their styling for ‘49, the rear fenders didn’t bulge out, and the front fenders rose up and met the hood and window line rather than blending in with the bodywork a foot lower.

If you park a ‘48 Ford next to a ‘49 Ford, you really start to see how forward thinking the ‘49’s design was at the time.
Park a ‘48 Plymouth next to a ‘49 Plymouth and you’ll start wondering if the folks at Chrysler wrangled up one of the ‘48s and somehow fed it nothing but fried cheese and Twinkies for a year straight.