Few postwar American automobiles carry the presence, rarity and craftsmanship of Ford’s wood-bodied Sportsman, and one of the finest examples anywhere is now for sale at Aumann Auctions. This 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman from the Don Henley Collection is a fully documented, concours-quality convertible that has collected the Early Ford V-8 Club of America’s Dearborn Award along with the Antique Automobile Club of America Triple Crown. It is offered as Lot 1 in Aumann’s online Don Henley Automobile Collection & Vintage Motorcycles auction, with bidding scheduled to close on November 9, 2026.
Ford’s Postwar Flagship
The Sportsman was conceived by Ford Chief Stylist E.T. “Bob” Gregorie at the direction of Henry Ford II, and it was designed to capture the optimism of a country coming home from war. In 1947 it was Ford’s flagship model and the most expensive Ford a buyer could order. Only about 3,600 were built across the 1946 through 1948 model years, and fewer than 100 are believed to survive today, which makes this Aumann Auctions offering a rare chance to acquire one of the most desirable production Fords ever made.
Wood Straight From Henry Ford’s Timberlands
What sets the Sportsman apart is its body. Each one was crafted at Ford’s Iron Mountain, Michigan wood plant using hardwood harvested from Henry Ford’s own timberlands, with Hard Maple framing wrapped around ribbon grain Mahogany panels. This particular car wears Iron Mountain body number 2418, dated June 1947, and the photographs in the Aumann listing show just how striking that contrast of light maple and deep mahogany looks against the Monsoon Maroon paint.
Fifty-Eight Years on an Illinois Farm
The provenance of this Sportsman adds to its appeal. The car sat tucked away on a central Illinois farm for more than 58 years, which preserved an unusual degree of originality before it was discovered in 2012. Its current owner then commissioned a meticulous four-year restoration, completed in May 2021, that retained original components wherever possible. Today the Sportsman for sale at Aumann Auctions carries a clean Illinois title, matching engine and chassis numbers, and the seller invites bidders to see it run and drive.
A Show Record Few Fords Can Match
After the restoration, this Sportsman went straight to the show field and started winning. It earned AACA First Junior, First Senior and First Grand National honors in 2021, followed by a Senior Grand National in 2022, an AACA Zenith Award nomination, the AACA Annual Grand National Postwar Car National Award and the Postwar Car Award for the Eastern Division. It achieved perfect scores multiple times at AACA National Meets and scored 999 judged points with the Early Ford V-8 Club of America on its way to the Dearborn Award. The full award history and documentation are included in the Aumann catalog.
Flathead V8 Power
Under the hood sits Ford’s 239-cubic-inch flathead V8, rated at 100 horsepower and paired with a three-speed manual transmission. It is the classic Ford powertrain of the era, and on this car it has been restored to the same exacting standard as the rest of the build. Anyone who appreciates a correct engine bay will want to spend time with the detailed underhood images on the lot page.
Red Leather and Ford’s First Power Windows
Inside, the Sportsman was trimmed as Ford’s luxury offering, and this car shows it. The beautifully restored red leather upholstery features elegant French stitching, and the car is factory-equipped with Electro-Hydraulic power windows, a first for Ford. A tan canvas convertible top and matching boot finish the presentation, and the interior photos from Aumann Auctions highlight how well the cabin complements the maroon paint and warm wood.
The details carry through to the driver’s seat. A banjo-style steering wheel frames the woodgrain dashboard and period gauges, while the chrome trim and switchgear have been refinished to match the quality of the body. It is the kind of cockpit that rewards close inspection, and the Aumann listing includes dozens of close-up photos for bidders who want to study every surface.
Ready for the Concours Lawn or the Open Road
Rarely does a Sportsman of this caliber come to market. Between its farm-find provenance, its award-winning restoration and its documented originality, this car is equally suited to concours competition, museum display or a private collection of top-tier postwar Americana. Even practical touches, such as the fully restored trunk and correct spare, have been handled with care, as the trunk photos in the auction gallery make clear.
Serious collectors should review the complete description, bid history, preview times and terms on the 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman lot page at Aumann Auctions before the online sale closes on November 9, 2026. Cars like this rarely change hands, and the next opportunity to own a Dearborn Award-winning Sportsman may be a long way off.
More From the Don Henley Collection
Aumann Auctions is proud to present an extraordinary collection of vintage automobiles and motorcycles spanning generations of American motoring history. Carefully assembled with an emphasis on quality, condition, craftsmanship and significance, this collection brings together some of the most recognizable machines ever to travel the American road.
Don’s collection features some extraordinary Fords that are second to none! From the pioneering days of the 1914 Ford Model T Touring to the elegance and innovation of the great Classic Era, the collection offers an impressive journey through automotive history. Among the early Ford offerings are a 1925 Ford Model TT Fire Truck Pumper, 1933 Ford V8 Roadster Pickup and elegant 1935 Ford Deluxe Phaeton. But the real standout Fords are the pristine 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman holding the distinguished Dearborn Award from the Early Ford V-8 Club of America with multiple AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America) awards and the 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Woody Wagon also a multi-year AACA winner! Be sure to study all the documentation, awards, recognitions and photographs that prove these Fords to be of the absolute highest quality. Don’s collection does not stop there. He’s also offering up three very special 2-wheeled machines including an original 1949 Powell P-81 Motorcycle AACA & HPOF certified, an original 1951 Whizzer Sportsman also certified by AACA & HPOF as well as a true piece of Springfield, IL history, a 1957 Forall Scooter in unrestored original condition that is also recognized by AACA & HPOF!
Also being featured along with Don’s collection is a selection of cars from a fellow collector. This collection includes a stunning 1936 Auburn Boat Tail Speedster embodies the sweeping lines and unmistakable presence of the Classic Era, while the 1937 Cord 812 Supercharged represents one of America’s most daring combinations of design, engineering and performance. Luxury is represented in equally impressive fashion by a 1937 LaSalle Opera Coupe, 1937 Cadillac Series 60, and commanding 1939 Cadillac Fleetwood V16 Series 90—an extraordinary automobile from the final chapter of Cadillac’s celebrated V16 era.
The unmistakable optimism and style of the 1950s comes alive with a spectacular 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz, sleek 1951 Mercury Eight and iconic 1957 Ford Thunderbird, followed by the open-air style of a 1961 Chevrolet Impala Convertible. A 2005 Volkswagen GLS Convertible rounds out the automobile offering.
John Lloyd