Two decades after bringing V8 power to the masses with its famous “flathead,” Ford went high-tech in model year 1954 with an all-new overhead valve V8 called the “Y Block” for its deep skirting. This 1954 Ford Customline Club Coupe in Boise City, Oklahoma features a running Y-block V8 and comes priced to sell at $2500 Buy It Now here on eBay. Reassuringly billed as “a perfect candidate for restoration,” the two-door benefits from new fuel and brake parts and new tires, and comes with donor parts to replace rusty originals.
If original, this 239 cid (3.9L) first-year Y-block V8 makes 130 HP, more than the outgoing “flattie.” That interesting wraparound front exhaust crossover makes this V8 hot in more ways than one. A newer dual-circuit brake master cylinder should provide improved stopping power and safety.
Though described as a pillarless “two door hardtop,” there were no hardtop Customlines in ’54, and that looks like a solid B pillar. Our Ford experts can confirm, but glancing at lov2xlr8, the longer rear deck makes this the sportier Club Coupe. New Coker white walls have never seen use, according to the listing. The left fender shows a large dent, a good test of your metalworking skills. Failing that, it’s a bolt-on part that’s easily replaced. We might cringe seeing a trailer hitch on a modern coupe, but pulling a small travel trailer or speed boat would have been this Ford’s patriotic duty in post-war America.
Electrical tape and zip ties give a short-track look to the steering wheel rim. That tri-tone blue and white interior would have been the bee’s knees in the Eisenhower era. The Astra-Dial control panel puts the speedometer where you can’t miss it, and the bright trim stands out sharply against the dashboard.
Frankenstein body parts from a donor sedan can be sectioned in as replacements for rusty rockers, according to the seller. How far would you go restoring this Y-block V8 Ford?
Full body-off restoration for me. I had a ’54 4-door that was slated for a major rebuild till a guy saw the front end eyeing him from my shop. I was working on another relic when he walked up and said, “How much?” I shot a price back that I was sure would have him walking down someone else’s street but the next thing I knew, there was a tilt-deck truck backing into my driveway and the guy standing there with a bank draft and a bill of sale. Me and my big mouth. Well, I’m a man of my word. Twenty years ago it was my bike…
How far would I go to restoring it Todd? All the way. Killing the surface rust is the most important thing, the drivetrain might get some “upgrades”, but I wouldn’t wait to put some big “Clown wheels” on it right away, those big disc brakes are gonna need some room.
How far would I go to get a look at it and think it is a nice car? Hint, more than 50 feet!
dave u hit the nail on the head. Possible a small block and letter go! Nice to see an affordable project . Good luck and happy motoring!
Cheers
GPC
Why put good money in a 2 Dr sedan? Ugh!!!
this the ‘shoe box”?
Basic car on the street in my ele skol daze.
Not too ‘bulgemobile-ish’ like the tri-five but gettin there. The nxt gen (early ’60s) I like better (swoopin almost feminine lines of late 30s+ – merican/european I like da most!). 1960/67? 0r so they all had the nice straight lines. Muscle had the ‘humps over the wheels’. Not till the ’80s did the “liner, straight, angular” come back.
Tarus changed all that (we called it coke bottle) world wide & we are just loosin it now (to a combo of both sorta – weird space ship like fins in odd places, roof lines that drop like fast backs of the late 60s @ the B pillas, front ends w/bulbus shape).
I suppose that makes sense to you , but not to me
I really like the way these shoebox Fords look, I think they make sweet street machines or hotrods. I’d repair the rust, completely restore the interior, drop in a built small block and a floor shift 5 or 6 speed. Then add air ride suspension, a set of classic looking wheels and I’d be all set to cruise until I was too old to drive a stick. There’s one of these running around in the neighborhood where I live with a flathead and 3 on the tree, flat black with baby moons and wide whites. Very cool looking car.
Weren’t the “shoebox” Fords ’49, ’50, & ’51,?
I heard that the ‘True’ Shoebox was ’49-’51, however, I’ve also heard that Shoebox accommodated them up to ’54. And then someone else also said that the ’55-’56 models were in that same group. Personally, the Shoebox moniker stood for the ’52-’54 models…
This is identical to my first car purchased in 1964 not running. Swapped 239 for 312 Police Interceptor. Added three speed on the floor. My 64 Christmas present from my dad was a candy apple red paint job. Add black naugahyde seats and chrome reverse wheels from JC Whitney and voila, sweet little street rod. Those were the days.
I’ll stick with my family original observation, but, thanks for your input.
That’s one bald spare tire. Someone got their money’s worth out of it. My Dad ran them down to the cords so I guess this still has some life left.
One of my older brothers had a ‘54 like that in the late 60s…Looked like that too, as it took us awhile to clean off all the weeping willow sap that dripped on it at the previous owner’s house. Don’t remember for sure if it had a V8 but it was six volt, converted over to twelve volt simply by changing the battery, I guess everything electrical was able to survive because I don’t think anything else was changed. It was low mileage but he fell asleep at the wheel and rolled it over. Back then cars like this were “throw-a-way”…we had a field on the farm full of them.
Man, those old Y blocks had so much character. The long runner intake snaking across the top of it with what looks like a Flying Toilet carburetor.
First gen ’49-’51, slab side, no rear fender bump out, your typical “shoebox”.
The price is right. That is a body style with nice lines.
Hasn’t had the oil lines added to the valve covers. Either has low miles or need rockers.
My first car was a 1954 4 door with a 57 312 direct from a T-Bird.
It had a three speed column shift and I put a JC Whitney floor shift kit in it.
I was only 15 at the time and my dad didn’t want anything to do with it but my mom would take me out to the country and let me drive it.
I traded a set of weights for a double floatbowl Holly and manifold.
A few years later I got a 57 2 door coupe Chevy Bel Air that already had a floor shift conversion.
I sold the Ford for $90 (I’d paid $325 for the Chevy).
Saw a really sweet ’54’ 2dr wagon during the Downriver Cruise a few years back. Restomod with a 4.6 and auto. w/ac. Owner said he drove it all over the country and always got a lot of looks.