Bert Beckman is a well-known car guy in his circles because he has built some of the best custom rods in the hobby, including his 1946 Ford 2-door sedan trailer hauler.
Bert’s reputation as a custom builder puts him at the head of the class, even in his car guy circles where everyone is very good at custom builds.
Jim Sutherland
Bert told MyStarCollectorCar that he has owned his ’46 Ford for about 15 years, and it was a solid platform for his project when he got it.

Bert and his wife Gail (a self-described car girl) are no strangers to the custom car hobby and like to take their vehicles on long road trips when Bert finishes a project, including their ’46 Ford. Gail added, “I can honestly say I knew where he (Bert) was whenever he tackled a project”, mainly because Bert put in long hours whenever he hit the garage.

Bert is also known for his ability to complete a project in short order-and not sacrifice quality during the process. For example, his ’46 Ford project only took “one winter”, in Bert’s words, an amazingly short period of time, given the quality of the build.
As mentioned, Bert is an old school builder who chose some retro upgrades for his ’46 Ford, including a Nova front clip to handle its 455 Buick big block, an engine that delivers “lots of power”, according to Bert.

The big Buick engine is bolted up to a 200 R-4 overdrive automatic transmission because these trannies are compatible with other non-Chevy GM engines and offer a smooth shift into overdrive. The versatile GM tranny is hooked up to a Ford 9-inch rear end.

Bert and Gail have logged thousands of miles in the ’48 Ford since its completion and even haul a holiday trailer behind it because Bert built in a tow package that can easily handle the trailer’s extra weight on the road.

He also included air conditioning, power steering, power windows and a power front disc/rear drum brake system, along with cruise control in the car guy recipe for his ’46 Ford custom build. Bert chose an aftermarket gauge package because he wanted an accurate assessment of the Ford’s mechanical status on the road.

Bert has an unusual background that helped make him a front-runner in the custom car hobby, including a career in the computer industry when it was in its infancy. The computer stint was undoubtedly a good fit for Bert because it required exceptional analytical skills, in similar fashion to the custom car hobby.

Bert wanted a motorcycle when he was 14, but his dad overruled him on that game plan and advised him to buy a car. It was sound advice that stuck with Bert over the decades and allowed him to become one of the best builders in the car hobby instead of a teenage motorcyclist fatality statistic.

The net result is a car guy who chooses to travel long distances with his car girl bride in their custom 1946 Ford 2-door sedan trailer hauler.
After all, they built their marriage around a perfect game plan for car guys and girls.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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