The highest-grossing film of 1978 was “Grease,” a musical starring John Travolta. It brought in $366.2 million worldwide and ended up having a wildly successful soundtrack, with over 30 million copies sold. One of the main characters in the film was a 1948 Ford . . . except it didn’t look much like a 1948 Ford at all, having been heavily modified with a plexiglass hood, chopped front fenders, and massive tailfins. Today, the actual movie car resides at the Volo Museum in Illinois.
If you’re a Ford fan who’s more into original-equipment classics, then you will enjoy our AutoHunter Spotlight that shows what the movie car might have started out looking like. This 1948 Ford Super Deluxe Convertible is being sold by a private seller in Deltona, Florida, with the auction ending Friday, August 15, 2025, at 11:15 a.m. (PDT).
Parrot Green (known as “M14226” in Ford’s color palette for the year) is a muted tone that works well with the coupe’s body lines. Exterior features include chrome brightwork, spotlight, split windshield, power-retractable white soft top, and wide-whitewall tires wrapped around body-colored steel wheels. Note the aftermarket driving lights.
By the time model year 1948 rolled around, Ford was getting ready to retire its design language that had been around since 1941. Because the brand’s focus was centered on getting buyers excited about the incoming, redesigned 1949 models, the 1948 production calendar was shorter than usual. Only 12,033 convertibles were built before the plants switched over. The Super Deluxe units rolled off the line with a luxurious interior for the time, offering features like a dash clock, radio, and armrests.
Power for this car comes from a two-barrel 239ci “Flathead” V8 mated to a three-speed manual transmission—a powertrain that was factory-rated at 100 horsepower. Later in life, this Ford was upgraded with a 12-volt electrical system, electric fuel pump, and power-assisted front disc brakes. The odometer shows 80,308 miles, but the title reads mileage-exempt.
The Super Deluxe is a practical ride with classic charm, making it a popular choice among collectors. If originality isn’t your thing, perhaps you have some customization ideas for a “Greased Lightning”-style hot rod tribute of your own? If so, you could start with a Super Deluxe as your blank canvas.
The auction for this 1948 Ford Super Deluxe Convertible ends Friday, August 15, 2025, at 11:15 a.m. (PDT).
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery
