After World War II, Ford returned to automobile production beginning on July 3, 1945, and was the first American automaker to do so. It would take months before the first cars were available to customers, with first public showing of the Ford line was on October 26th of that year. The Sportsman model was announced in September, but it was not delivered until late December.
The 1946 model year was long, accounting for 18 months of production. Even with this extended amount of time, the Sportmans production was low, reaching just 1,209 units, not even half that achieved in 1947. The Sportsman, like most of the other vehicles, was basically a carry-over from the 1942 model year. There were minor updates, such as a new horizontal four-bar grille, a new hood ornament, and bumper guards. The engine gained then extra horsepower, and the entry-level Special series was no longer available.
The Sportsman was found in the top-of-the-line Super Deluxe catalog.
For 1947, sales of the Sportsman increased, but they were still at disappointing levels. In an effort to stimulate sales, Ford cut prices by $100, but to little effect. Total production for the year reached just 2,250 units, one-tenth the volume of the steel-bodied Super Deluxe convertibles. Production would continue into the early part of the 1948 model year. The 1948 models were identical (except for the chassis plate) to the 1947 models. By late October 1947, Sportsman production had ended.
The L-head six-cylinder unit displaced 226 cubic inches, had four main bearings, a Holley single-barrel carburetor, a 6.8:1 compression ratio, and delivered 90 horsepower at 3,300 RPM. The L-head V-8 displaced 239 cubic inches and used a Holley two-barrel carburetor, three main bearings, a 6.8:1 compression ratio, and delivered 100 horsepower at 3,600 RPM. Both engines were backed by a three-speed manual transmission and stopping power was by four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. The suspension was comprised of solid front and live rear axles with transverse leaf springs. The wheelbase measured 114-inches and the length of 198.2 inches.
