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A Cruise Down Main Street...

The year was 1958 and 16 year old Woodbury, CT resident, Blase Defeo was to receive a special gift from his brother-in-law Alfonse Robert D’Andrea, that he would never forget. That special gift was a 1948 Ford Deluxe Sedan Coupe which Alfonse had bought for the purchase price of $125. At the time, Blase worked in his brother-in-law’s garage in Bridgeport after school and he has vivid memories of cruising down main street in the 48 Ford with Allen Freed belting out the Rock and Roll favorites on the radio. Those were the days!

Retiring in 2005, Blase decided to try to recapture some of those memories and began looking for another 1948 Ford Deluxe Sedan Coupe to restore. He also hoped this would help him pass the tough winter months. His e-bay search brought him to Wisconsin where he located and purchased what was to become his beautifully restored 1948 Ford Deluxe Sedan Coupe. After having it shipped to Connecticut, work began on the frame up restoration project and with help from fellow Early Ford V8 Club members and Neil’s Autobody of Watertown Ct. the body and mechanical work was completed.

For the interior including the upholstery, door panels and headliner, Blase purchased a complete interior from LeBaron Bonney Co. He also told them he was looking for a “show quality” installation of this interior to complete the restoration and was given the name of LeBaron Bonney’s Authorized Installer, Vintage Motorcars in Westbrook, Ct. who he was told were the best. “Boy were they (LBB) right” “they were just fantastic”, reports Blase. Richard Willard, Vintage Motorcars President, kept him involved all along the way including sending e-mail pictures of the progress and inviting him to visit anytime.

Fellow V8 Club members who have inspected the work were very impressed with the quality and workmanship.

Blase can now complete his dream of one more cruise down main street .