Chuckles

1948 was a unique year for Ford. It marked the final year that they were forced to offer the same-old same-old and finally take the plunge into the post WWII market. All the US manufacturers had a long period of difficulty getting out of wartime production, and the process of getting themselves straightened out and back on line making vehicles took time. Fords had been pretty much the same with minor changes since 1941, and this was the last of that line. A brand new model was introduced mid-year.

1948 was also the last year for another Ford feature. If you look closely, you can see the hole in the lower center of the grille that leads to the bayonet socket on the end of the engine crankshaft. Cars had featured electric starters for a long time, but Ford had also included this old feature in case you had a dead battery. You could pull out the wheel-lug wrench (that also worked the jack to change a tire) and insert the end into this hole to start old Gerty the hard way. Might not be fun, but it would get you home.