My French Flathead

sortkaffekop

sortkaffekop

Senior Member
Attached pictures of my Ford Vedette 1953. Developed by Ford USA during the war as an "economic" car. Scrapped project bought by SAF (Ford France, retooled to metric, and introduced on the French market in 1948.;)

Cheers, Christian
Denmark
 

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Thanks for the pictures and history lesson. It strongly resembles a '49-'51 Mercury, but I would guess much smaller?
 
I remember a fellow had one of the Simca Vedette 2-door sedans in my old home town. He bought the thing while in the military overseas and had it shipped back to the states. It had a 60-hp type engine. It got to the point in the late 60s where he could no longer find parts for it. He had someone install leopard skin seat covers in it so it definitely stood out in the crowd. Not a bad looking little car though. It was a little smaller than a shoebox Ford but not by much.
 
It has the 60hp type engine, beefed up to 67 by raising compression (standard factory done, that is). In european standards it was a roomy car, with seating for six. And adequate power in a time when competition were 40hp Beetles and Austins.

Quite good looking, don't you think!
 
Yes, it is good looking. Looks like a cross between our '49 Ford and Mercury. I have often heard about the Vedette's and their engines that are similar to the '37-'40 60hp engines used here in the States, but have never seen an actual car before. Any chance of some engine and engine compartment pictures? What type of transmission and differential does it have?
 
Looks like a hot air heater on the left side radiator hose. I've never seen that done before. I wonder how well it works?
 
tubman said:
Looks like a hot air heater on the left side radiator hose. I've never seen that done before. I wonder how well it works?
Click to expand...
I was wondering if that heater could be called a hot water heater? Seems safer than the hot air exhaust heaters.
 
V12Bill said:
I was wondering if that heater could be called a hot water heater? Seems safer than the hot air exhaust heaters.
Click to expand...

It is actually a small radiator, with hot water running through an element. Air is coming from the fan, and into the cabin. Airflow can be shut from a lever. Works quite well.:cool:
 
I have one of these engines very complete here in Charlotte NC , I think the rotor button is broken & maybe the cap . otherwise very complete .
Cheers
Tony
 
An interesting tidbit of information that I learned from Bill Warner, a close friend of E.T. Bob Gregorie long time body designer and stylist for FoMoCo. Bob Gregorie was hired I believe by Edsel Ford and was famously responsible for the Lincoln Continental. The Vedette in the pictures shows a strong resemblance to the `49-`51 Mercs here in the U.S. The interesting thing is the character line that starts higher in front then drops down along the side is derived from the profile of the way many boats are constructed. Both Edsel and Gregorie were powerboat enthusiasts and some styling cues of fine boats were put to use on these cars. Imagine the bow being higher to cut through the waves with drop down sides. That is what you see here on the Vedette and the Mercs. Mr. Gregorie informed Bill Warner of this fact in a conversation they had concerning his tenure at Ford. Just thought you'd like to know.
 
Thanks for posting I've learn't something new about the world of flatheads. To me it looks like a 41/48 Ford 4 door has been having "nooky" with an early 50's Merc:)


GB
 
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