1949 Ford V8 Pilot Saloon (more pics below 👇)
Ford built the V8 Pilot primarily for the British market from 1947 to 1951, evolving the design from the pre-war Model 62 by installing the larger 221-cubic-inch (3.6-liter) flathead V8. Production took place at Ford’s Dagenham facility in Essex, which had been operating since 1931.
The Pilot’s predecessor, the Model 62 (also known as the 22 hp), had appeared in 1937 as a UK-specific model using a 2,227 cc side-valve V8 in a short-wheelbase chassis.
When civilian production resumed after World War II, Ford upgraded the design with the proven 221-cubic-inch V8, creating one of the more powerful British family saloons of its time.
An unusual braking arrangement combined hydraulic operation at the front with mechanical rod actuation at the rear. Built-in hydraulic jacks distinguished the Pilot from other Ford models.
The design represented Ford’s effort to offer British customers a relatively large, American-style V8-powered family car during post-war years when most manufacturers were still reviving pre-war designs.
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