1949 Ford Custom Coupe
Ford and Stark collaboration

“Ladies and gentlemen, what if I told you that in just a few short years, your automobile won’t even have to touch the ground at all!!! With “Stark Gravidic Reversion Technology”, you’ll be able to do just that,” touted Howard Stark at the 1943 World’s Fair.
He succeeded. Here’s how:
“Hank the Deuce” (Henry Ford II) came home early to help save the struggling Ford Motor Company after his grandpa (Henry Ford) was too ill to run it. His dad (Edsel Ford) had died. In 1943, Hank was mesmerized by Mr. Stark’s flying wonder at the World’s Fair. Even though Stark’s display car only flew for a few brief moments, Hank was inspired.
After the show, Hank approached Mr. Stark with a joint business proposal. As the soon-to-be CEO of Ford, he had access to an old workshop where they could work unfettered by the peering eyes of the world. Hank also had all the free cars they could need.
With World War II raging on, progress on the flying car creation was slow. Both men were occupied in separate peace efforts. But after the war, things began to get moving. A few attempts and failures later, they realized they needed a whole new automotive design. The cars currently on the market were just unsuitable for flight.
Hank and his unwitting designers, known as the “whiz kids” then crafted an innovative design known as the 1949 Ford. With its “shoebox” shape, they now had the space they needed in the engine bay for the propulsion system. The now-larger trunk housed the myriad of technical components needed to keep the car afloat. The all-new integrated steel chassis and body (the “lifeguard body”) made this car safe for flight. The hood and roof vents provided the cabin Environmental Control System. (Parts of this system are still used on airliners today.) To help the car fly, it needed special conductance. The gold trim on this car provides those necessary conductance requirements of the Gravidic Reversion System.
This 1949 beauty was exactly what they needed! Henry made sure of that. Unfortunately, the reason we don’t see this technology used today is because the SSR, (later known as S.H.I.E.L.D.) caught wind of the project. As soon as it was fully functional, they swept in and claimed ownership (thanks to Howard’s close ties with S.H.I.E.L.D.). Of course, this infuriated the Deuce. He felt this technology, would prove to the world and to his grandfather, (who died in 1947 before the labors bore fruit) that he had the chops to take Ford from the proverbial edge of the cliff and return it to its rightful place as the #1 auto manufacturer in the world.
This whole trademark debacle was locked up in court battles for the next several years. Ultimately, S.H.I.E.L.D. won out after Hank died. Secretly, S.H.I.E.L.D. never stopped working on the project, culminating in Director Coulson’s cherry red 1962 Corvette, as seen in the docuseries: Agents of Shield.
Presented here is my recreation of this historic moment in 1/24th scale. How did I obtain this story you might ask? My deceased grandfather was one of the privileged few who got to work on the project. My recreation is based on the “tall tales” he told me in my youth. I found old photographs he took while employed by Ford and realized all of those old stories he told me about flying cars were in actuality true! As the photos are black and white, I chose to paint the car Howard’s favorite color, Metallic Crimson. Please enjoy my creation!