What could be better than De Luxe? Super De Luxe, of course. Here’s a look at Ford’s premium models of 1941-48.
1947 Super De Luxe emblem
Henry Ford didn’t spend a lot of time fussing over model names. His first successful production car in 1903 was called the Model A, and by 1909 he’d made it up to the letter T. This no-nonsense naming policy continued well into the ’30s, when the two models in the Ford Motor Company’s product line were Ford and Ford De Luxe. Or in some years, Ford Standard and Ford De Luxe.
But in 1941 when the passenger car was redesigned, the stripped-down base model was labeled the Special, while the De Luxe then landed in the mid-range. What, then, would the be the name for the premium model? Super De Luxe, the company determined. That’s simple enough. No focus groups or social psychologists were consulted in the process, we’re thinking.
1942 Super De Luxe Fordor (left) and 1946 Super De Luxe Tudor
While in previous years there could be significant differences between the base and De Luxe Fords, especially in the front-end sheet metal, in ’41 the three models bore the same basic styling. The distinctions came down mainly to trim and equipment, and to the body styles offered at each level. While the Special and De Luxe offered limited choices, the full range of seven body styles was offered in the Super De Luxe, including a six-passenger Coupe Sedan and a Convertible Coupe (and in 1946, the Sportsman woody convertible).
1941 Super De Luxe Fordor
The best seller in the Super De Luxe line for ’41 was the Tudor Sedan at $820, compared to $775 for a De Luxe Tudor. For their extra $45, Super buyers received more bright metal on the exterior, including running board trim, wheel trim rings, and a Super De Luxe emblem on the left front fender. In the cabin, there were upgraded fabrics in multiple colors and styles, twin visors, a horn ring, a rear ashtray on the sedans, and a fancier instrument panel with a cigar lighter and a clock.
1948 Super De Luxe Sportsman
Buyers saw the value, as the Super De Luxe handily outsold the De Luxe in ’41 and in each succeeding year as well. As the Ford passenger cars received a significant facelift in 1942 and minor styling updates in the following years, the Super De Luxe continued as the top-of-the-line model with minor adjustments in features through 1948. (There was no civilian production in ’43-’45.) In the final year, the De Luxe was offered only as a Coupe or Tudor as the Super De luxe dominated the product line. But when an all-new 1949 Ford was introduced on June 10, 1948, the model names were now Standard and Custom.
1946 Super De Luxe 
That’s a Republic P-43 Lancer in the top photo. Not the most famous warbird of WWII but it did its duty.
Roger that, you can clearly see the P-43’s turbo supercharger peeking out of that bulging belly- definitely not it’s Seversky P-35 flat-bottom predecessor…
Specials are often mistaken for “blackout” cars (even ’41s!) because the side moldings at door handle height is present but painted body color. And chances are they were polished stainless or aluminum on Deluxe and SDs so the decontenting cost Ford more.
Yes indeed. The magic of decontenting. When automakers do this, they are reasoning that the extra cost makes them money by steering customers into the premium model.
Interestingly, the 1941-48 Ford Book, put out by The Early Ford V-8 Club of America, doubts any blackout Ford cars were actually built in the last few weeks of 1942-model production, since very few parts carried chrome. Most bright-work was “rustless” steel.
Hi Bill, thanks for the info. GM (and maybe some others) were actually painting over bright metal on their blackout models in some cases. Seems curious, but then the chromium-saving measure was in part symbolic anyway. The wartime messaging was focused on shared sacrifice.
The back seat in the last picture, of the 1941 Super De Luxe Fordor, looks positively huge, almost a movable living room.
Were they actually that roomy?
My grandmother had a late ’30s Ford sedan; I was fascinated by the grille on it as a child (in the early ’50s), but I can’t remember much about what the inside was like.
I have two full sized Cadillacs and the back seats don’t have that kind of space. Maybe a little wider, but that legroom looks awesome in the old Fords.