If you remember The Karate Kid film from 1984, then you will most probably remember Daniel Larusso's famous vintage car. It was a classic at the time and a true vintage classic now.
The Ford Super De Luxe is the that Daniel waxes before his first karate lesson with Mr. Miyagi. It has a famous moment that most fans of the movie, and vintage Ford lovers, will not forget. Let's reveal why this Ford model is the best vintage car from The Karate Kid.
Ford Super De Luxe Specifications
The Ford Super De Luxe is a 6-seater sedan with two-doors and a soft-top convertible roof. These models were produced from 1946 to 1949 only. Hence, they are pretty hard to source now, and that is why it had such a classic moment in the movie.
For its time, the car boasted a lot of power. It was produced with a large 3.7-liter engine that offered up to 90 horsepower. An upgraded version was available in its latter years, offering a 3.9-liter engine that could max out 100 horsepower. They were pretty heavy vehicles, weighing around 3,200 lbs so there's no wonder they found it difficult to pick up speed.
What Makes It A Vintage Car?
With it being produced in the late 40s, this car is an ultimate classic. It was produced by Ford just after the war as an upgrade from their 1941 Super Deluxe Business Coupe. The upgrades that were done to the 1946 model offered more power, style, and affordability to Ford customers at the time.
After the model was upgraded to an electrical convertible top, which was quite rare at the time, it was highly sought after. At the time, the Ford Super De Luxe was one of the only electric roofs, with most in the market being manual. Hence, this model stood out among other competitors at the time. In later years it made an appearance in the Karate Kid, as well as Back To The Future films.
Other features that made the Ford Super De Luxe stand out were its cab style lights and luxury wheels. The front featured classic red Ford accents and a wide shiny grille, adding to its luxury facade.
Why Is It The Best In The Entire Film?
Classic Ford cars were known to be pretty cool in their heyday, as much as they are now. With it boasting an electric roof and luxurious style, it was the fit perfect fit for the movie industry. In the movie, you see Daniel waxing the car's exterior before embarking on his first karate lesson.
Later in the film, Daniel received the car as a gift for his 18th birthday present, which had fans lusting over having one of their own. It was seen as an achievement for his hard work during training, so it was seen as a special token and a rememberable part of the movie. In the car, the Ford Super De Luxe was a 1947 yellow model, which was one of the first to have a convertible top.
Where The Car Is Now
After the car was used for The Karate Kid, it appeared in other movies. It was used a lot for its luxury and classic style. It was, and always will be, a true vintage Ford car, which is the reason it was a great fit for movies. Since its appearance, it has been known to be located in a private collection. Maybe one day it will make an appearance in other movies and make a statement once again. For now, it is stored away to maintain its condition.
At the time of production, the Super De Luxe retailed for around $1,500. With it being a famous and true Ford classic, it will probably be almost impossible to get your hands on one now in perfect condition. So there's no wonder they are taking such good care of this one.
Reports suggest that many car modifiers have sourced old Super De Luxe's and restored them to excellent condition before remodeling them to replicate the exact one from The Karate Kid. Although it's not quite the same thing, the replicators were pretty popular and sold out quickly.
In our opinion, although the Ford Super De Luxe was an impressive car in its first years of production, it is even more impressive now. Since its appearance in The Karate Kid and a few movies after, many movie and car fans would sure love to experience one. With it being stored away, maybe it will appear in a museum one day for fans to admire. Until then, we can only dream of riding around in such a vintage classic from the 40s.