Nothing on the street of Eugene surprises me anymore, including a 1950 Ford “cop car” carrying the markings of Tombstone Pass. Times have been tough for the little mountain hamlets of Oregon, so why not keep the old Ford in service for a while longer, especially now that Crown Vics aren’t available anymore. It is a bit hard to imagine an Australian-built Chevy or a Taurus sporting that logo.
OK; it’s not really Tombstone Pass’ patrol car. For that matter, Tombstone Pass is just a high point a near Hwy 20 on the way to Santiam Pass, a bit further up the road from this shot taken through the windshield of a vintage Kenworth V12 semi-tractor, on the “Tombstone Pass Run” for big toy trucks. Ooohh; wish there was video and audio from that; nothing like a Jimmy V12 at work.
The pass got its name in 1871, when 18 year old James McKnight accidentally shot himself while retrieving his gun from his bedroll. His mother placed a tombstone on the spot, and history was made. Including this 1950 Ford that for some reason is spending its life commemorating that place in the woods. Oregon….
Fords were popular as police cars in this era, for obvious reasons. A stock Ford V8 was already the fastest of the Big Three low-end sedans. But Ford also offered the bigger 255 CID Mercury V8 flathead, modestly rated at 110 hp for police work only. Add dual exhausts, and 125 hp was readily on tap, as the NJ Turnpike Fords had; hard to beat in 1950.
Is that a cold-war era nuclear-war alert siren on the fender? Wow; that is impressive. Or maybe a very early experimental radar speed device? Or a little turbo-jet for extra boost to catch modern cars?
One of these days, we’ll have to do a proper CC on the 1949 Ford, a very important car in Ford’s critical bid to step out of the Model-T/A/V8 era and into the second half of the 20th Century with a truly modern new car (except the flathead V8 engine, of course). It had the most advanced styling of the Big Three, with very clean lines in the latest “pontoon” look.
There were several design teams competing for this critical job, and Richard Caleal was hired by an outside team headed by George Walker, and including Joe Oros and Elwood Engel. But Caleal wasn’t happy with the team’s direction, and was given permission to keep working on his ideas at home. Caleal’s design was the one chosen, and went into production with only minimal changes..
But getting into production was a rush job, as the originally planned ’49 Ford was deemed to be to big, and became the Mercury. And haste makes waste, meaning the ’49 Ford was plagued with a number of shortcomings and glitches, including complaints about handling, noise, and workmanship.
Which explains the 1950 Ford ad copy “50 Ways New”, even though it looked virtually identical to the 1949. Given the seller’s market at the time, the 1950 did not suffer any lingering effects of the ’49’s shortcomings. And within two more years, Ford would finally overtake Chrysler for the number two place, having lost it back in the thirties. A very pivotal car for Ford.
Ironically, the 226 CID 95 hp six was actually considered by some the better choice for every day driving, as it had a fatter torque curve, which made it as fast or faster than the V8 in typical driving situations, was more economical and less challenged keeping a cool head(s), literally.
But Henry’s nemesis (he hated sixes) is clearly not at work here. The Tombstone Pass Patrol car got a green left-turn arrow, and the very distinctive muted bark of a Ford flathead V8 working through dual exhausts ensued. Because of its siamesed exhaust ports or for some other reason, a Ford Flathead V8 has one of the most unmistakable exhaust sounds ever. Let’s listen…
I saw this car yesterday as it was heading north on I5 towards Salem! The old girl had no problem keeping up in modern traffic.
My brother owned a ’49 Ford with the flathead six, and it was indeed torquey, an easy car to drive lazily. The Ford flathead six had some cachet with bootleggers, too. My brother’s car had been used for whiskey running in the Blue Ridge. That two door sedan in the photo is a beauty.
The 49-50s were so much prettier than the 51s. These Fords helped create a truism for car design that original almost always look better than the facelifts.
My first thought on seeing this picture is how right it seemed. Those ’49-50 Ford sedans just look like they are supposed to be police cars. And, I might add, on the exact same 114 inch wheelbase of the modern Crown Vic. Only taller.
I do love the sound of that flattie.
The 49 US echoed the new Ford coporate look of the English Zephyr/Consul range which one was first I dont know but to a kid here they all looked like Fords. We didnt get the range of engines either the mercury flathead was assembled into all Ford here nobody relised until kids my age started tearing them down and hotting them up. My uncle was in the NZ police in this era and was issued with a 48 coup’e V8 for his work replaced in 57 by a Zephyr which was better handling and faster than the Ford from USA. Our Police cars were grey all over highway patrol cars had the magpie colour scheme like this but not Ford V8s especially 49s body cracking when new kept these out of severe service here. Yeah shame about no sound and clip from inside the K-waka
Looks a lot like the Mk1 Consul my Mum had
Indeed a pivotal car for Ford and one of my favorites from this era. Such a svelte design for the time, especially in comparison to the ’48.
I do know of a place south of me where somebody has a ’49 or ’50 in the carport and it appears to be their only car. If only I could catch it in a different location.
In 2005, I went to an auction where a man had been hoarding cars for years. One of the cars there was a ’49 or ’50 Ford coupe with a six and it had been a race car as evidenced by the roll bars and numbers on the doors. Perhaps the torque curve was so vastly better than the V8’s this was a better choice.
less weight over the front axle would help maybe
That appears to be a period-correct “growler” siren on the Ford’s fender.
Was Barney Fife driving?
I always assume that the ’60s Mayberry patrol cars were sixes with automatics. Can’t see Barney being that smooth with the clutch, or And’ ever trusting him with a high-powered interceptor…
Add me to the list of those than love the distinctive sound of a Flathead v8. Count me in on loving the sound of a screamin Jimmy also Paul. There are a few great ride along vidoes of folks Youtube driving old Detroit Diesel powered rigs. Extra points are awarded if said Jimmy is backed up a twin stick transmission.
Another favorite of mine is the sound of a Ford hipo 289 with it’s solid lifters.
Like this one of a 1948 Diamond T with a Detroit 453T: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU3gZGUInd4
With a noise like that, who needs a radio? 🙂
If I remember correctly I have driven at least six flatheads. At least four of them were Ford/Merc V8s. 1953 seemed to bite me more than any other year. I did like them an awful lot and sometimes they were awful in return. It was a beatup 53 Merc that I practically gave away when I bought my new vw in 66. Couldn’t ever count on it starting in Newfoundland weather. Never really looked back after that.
I think these were the police cars in Dodge City until the mid fifties. In 1960 the V8 Studebaker larks took over. All the cars there in my memory are tan. This paint looks more like the real McCoy.
Wow, this person can drive around looking like a cop car with a gum drop light and all!? Oregon seems like an alright place; pretty sure the police in Central New York would ticket you in a heartbeat if I tried to pull that here.
I looked up this car because i saw it going by my house yesterday. I remember when the ’49 Ford was first shown in a dealership across from my school. Compared to other cars we’d seen before, it looked streamlined and slick enough to have been dropped from outer space. A young, blonde-haIred teacher at my school bought a bright red convertible the next week, with a continental kit. She caused quite a sensation when she cruised around town and probably increased the local sales of ’49 Fords.
Steve McDonald