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The story is better than the car here, and the story comes with an asterisk worth stating up front: Roy Acuff never owned this Ford. What the seller says it does have is his blessing. According to the Hemmings listing for this 1941 Ford Super Deluxe Fordor sedan, the selling dealer reports that Acuff signed a letter in 1976 granting permission for the Tennessee mechanic who serviced his cars to build this tribute, painted and lettered to re-create a Ford that Acuff and his band once used while touring.
The lettering on the doors is the whole pitch: "Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mt. Boys," with WSM beneath it, the Nashville radio station that carried the Grand Ole Opry. It is a rolling piece of country music history, offered as a tribute rather than a provenance claim, and it is up for auction on Hemmings with no bids yet and a starting price of $10,000.
Who Roy Acuff Was
Acuff (1903-1992) was the "King of Country Music," a title that grew out of his long association with the Grand Ole Opry. He auditioned for the Opry in February 1938 after being turned down for years and was offered a regular spot. His group took the name Smoky Mountain Boys at the suggestion of a WSM executive, and "The Wabash Cannonball" became one of his signature hits of the 1940s. His songbook sales helped lead to the founding of Acuff-Rose Publishing in 1942, a cornerstone of Nashville’s music business, and in 1962 he became the first living artist elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, according to the Tennessee Encyclopedia.
A 1941 Ford fits the era: Acuff was already hosting the Opry’s Prince Albert segment by 1939, so he was an established radio star by the time this model year rolled out.
What Is Being Sold
The car itself is a straightforward prewar Ford. Power comes from a 221-cubic-inch L-head V8 that was factory rated at 90 horsepower, backed by a manual transmission. The listing describes the finish as white over a brown cloth interior, with a heater, a spotlight, and a full-size spare in the trunk. The odometer reads 70,999 miles, though the listing says the actual mileage is unknown. The dealer says the car is unrestored and reports only minor patina, chips and hairline scratches, and the listing says the tribute refurbishment was reportedly done by a longtime Acuff mechanic.
The paperwork and memorabilia are where this one separates itself from other 1941 Fords. The sale reportedly includes the 1976 letter from Acuff, framed photos of Acuff with the tribute car, a Roy Acuff sign, a "Precious Memories" postcard, and a novelty Tennessee license plate. The seller, LukAutoGroup of Boca Raton, Florida, says it will provide a clean title.
It is worth keeping the sourcing straight. The Acuff letter, the mechanic’s connection, and the tie to a touring car are all seller statements, and Hemmings says it has not verified the accuracy of the listing. A buyer will want to see that 1976 letter in person before paying for the Acuff connection.
Why It Matters
Plenty of 1941 Fords sell for the flathead V8 and the pre-war styling. Very few come lettered for a Country Music Hall of Famer and packaged with a signed permission slip. If the letter checks out, the car is a small, odd piece of Nashville history, and one that is currently sitting at the starting bid.
If you like prewar Fords, we have also covered a rare 1941 Ford Super Deluxe wagon and a restored 1929 Model A Fordor sedan. And for a very different kind of Ford history, see where Bonnie and Clyde’s 1934 Ford V8 ended up.
The auction closes later this week. See the original listing on Hemmings.
