1950 was a pivotal year in history. Diners Club was the first credit card introduced to the world, the Korean War began when North Korea invaded South Korea, and The Howdy Doody Show was a popular program for kids on a new appliance called television. It was also the second year of production for Ford’s famous “Shoeboxes.” This 1950 Ford club coupe for sale on Craigslist in Port Jefferson Station, New York has traveled a scant 58,000 miles since it rolled off the production line. Largely original, this rust-free car is said to run and drive well and has several desirable options. Is the $21,000 asking price market-correct for such a milestone car for the Ford Motor Company? Thanks to Mitchell G. for the shoebox tip!
While Ford had numerous body styles in 1950, most looked very much alike. A perusal of the Mac’s Motor City Garage Car Spotters Guide to the 1949-1951 Ford leads one to believe that the car seen here was marketed as a club coupe. It differed from the sedan by having a smaller rear passenger compartment and a longer deck. Comparing this body style to the tudor sedan makes one wonder why Ford went to so much trouble to produce body styles so similar. Still, one has to admire the graceful beauty in the lines of these cars. They quickly earned the nickname “Shoeboxes” due to their slab-sided design, but they are anything but a shoe box in looks.
If you are looking for a Shoebox Ford, this 1950 model would be a great candidate. The first thing to remember is that Ford made a lot of small changes to refine and improve the car in this second year of production. 1949 models had issues with water leaks, body noise, and poor front suspension geometry on the new for that year independent front suspension. Much of this was remedied in the 1950 model, and the car still had the great looks of the original.
Speaking of original, this car is advertised as having just 58,000 original miles. The seller tells us, in true Washington’s ax fashion, that the car has benefitted from a repaint and a redone interior. Unfortunately, the seller cannot tell you when these refurbishments took place despite having purchased the car from the original owner just three years ago. It is also stated in the ad that the car was “lovingly cared for throughout its lifetime.” While words are cheap, it should be a safe bet to assume this car spent the majority of its life in a comfy garage. The trunk picture above is a testament to the car’s originality. One can see the original trunk mat. Whether or not the spare tire, rim, and four-way lug wrench are original is anyone’s guess. Well, maybe the lug wrench came from Western Auto (remember that store?).
A look under the hood reveals the original Flathead V-8. The engine displaced 239 cubic inches and belted out 100 horsepower. That power is routed through a three-speed manual transmission with a column shift. This one even has an overdrive unit, which should make it a very pleasant highway cruiser. Once again, we are told that it runs and drives excellently. The car has recently been serviced with new hoses, belts, wires, plugs, fluid, and more. After a thorough checkout by a competent mechanic who won’t go looking for the place to plug the computer in, this one may be ready for you to fly into the nearest city and drive it home.
If you are looking for a good car to drive and enjoy, then this may be the one for you. Shoebox Fords have a reputation for having pleasant road manners, and there are plenty of parts available and tremendous club support through the Early Ford V-8 Club of America. While the paint and interior are not original, the rest of the car is likely just as it left the factory in 1950. Whether or not it is worth a premium over a restored car is up to you. What is for sure is that, with proper care, this car will likely outlast you. I am not so sure that Ford can make similar claims about their products today. That is not a knock on the company. It is a reflection of how cars were built back then when Ford had its act together.
Would you pay extra for a good, original car like this 1950 Ford? Have you ever owned a “shoebox?” Please share your thoughts in the comments.
This style had 2 uses. No rear seat was a Business Coupe and with a rear seat it was a Club Coupe.
My first car. A former police car, black with a white top and a spotlight:-)
$25 (twenty five dollars), I was 14
got my first car at 15 also paid $ 25 it was a running 1948 Pontiac straight 8 flathead that was in 1960
Business in the front, Party in the back!
I would daily this 1000%. Great body style and color.
And it has the desirable Crestliner steering wheel. This will sell in a hurry.
what picture shows a crestliner stearing wheel
Al, you have to”click” on the “Craigslist ad”, which is highlighted in red to see all the pictures
didn’t know that I learned something today and yes it’s a crestliner steering wheel
This is a great deal.
Looks like a nice car.Should go quick.
Nice article your style is warm and friendly. Dad had one of these in a 51 4 door was a great car
You are so observant and easy to read your work. Yes Western Auto had a store in our town and dad and I both frequented it often. Dad had a charge account they kept in a journal. Those were the days!! Thank you for pulling up some fond memories of nearly 60 years ago.
I feel your fondness and appreciation of these old cars, how important they are and a time when a car simply had to have a full time driver. No whistles or bells she just went when you or I say go!
Thanks again your kind treatment and fond way endeared me not only to the car but you as a person thank you!!
My first contact with a ’49 Ford was a bright red with white interior convertible that a friend’s dad completely rebuilt and gave to him. It might have been old but it was beautiful. Good looking cars that Ford built carried on through ’57 until the car industry. morfed into big ugly cars.
A bargain. This car had one of the best front grilles ever, especially with the bumperettes, which serve as the landing gear of the plane motif. True art. If it was west coast I would buy this.
“8BA” power plant, too
I had a 1951 ford convertible my first car.bought it in. Brantford ontario Canada. In 1957 near where I lived still have the bill of sale my dad backed me for the 850 .oo I paid . On the back bumper I had shake roll and rattle than I realized it should have been shake rattle and roll but I just left it the way I did it. Now I’m to old to cut the mustard
My brother had one just like it and I think same model year. Loved it, fun to drive. Sounded so good with a Smitty muffler on it. I have a pic of my buddy and I in front ot the car but can’t seem to copy/paste to this comment.
I owned a ‘49 Club Coupe with black exterior and gray mohair interior. I paid $950 for her back in the mid ‘70’s. I had her for four years and the only replacements were an oil sending unit and the passenger side chrome bar at the middle of the grill. I sold her for $1,300. This one is very tempting….
A lot of these wound up as moonshine runners. Heavy rear springs and a hopped up flat head.
First my answer is yes to both your questions. As for the first one would you pay for a nice one. I think this car answers that, it checks all the boxes, the price is high retail, but you get what you pay for.
If this one runs and drives as good as it looks it will sell quickly at that price. My friend sold a black 50 coupe like this one three years ago for more than the ask on this one, and his was not a low mileage car like this one. This looks like a great deal to me if you want a collector car that you can drive and enjoy now. If you have never restored an old car this is the kind of car to start with IMO. Good luck to buyer and seller.
I purchased one of these in 1964 for $50. Great car, built like a tank.
A very sharp looking Shoebox, but with the way the heater hoses have been routed there could be a heater core problem.
I noticed that too. It doesn’t look right but there’s no mention of a problem in the ad. The ad also says it was recently serviced with new hoses, etc. I would think the heater would be a necessity in NY if it gets driven in the winter.
yep, I saw the heater hose reroute back to itself and you can bet you will need to either have it rebuilt or get a repro.
This brings back memories. My Dad had a twin to this one. Same color and equipment.
Sweet….most likely the smoothest running flathead I’ve owned to date was in a green club coupe just like this one….smooth and never ran hot even after I put a few new vavles in it !
I had a ’50 Club Coupe for 18 years. I chopped it 3.5″ and lowered it and shaved it. I had ’55 Pontiac trim and had it two-tone. I put a ’53 Flatty in it with Cherry Bombs and flame throwers. Today I WOULD NOT wack the top on a Club Coupe, but may on a 2 door sedan. The longer trunk made it look so cool with the chop. I bought it in 1990 and put it on Ebay in 2008 just to test the waters. A lady in Germany immediately contacted me and made a great offer. It now lives at a German bed and breakfast with it’s ’29 A Model buddy taking guests for cruises. I really miss it and this post just brought me joy and great memories. Thanks BarnFinds!!
if anyone remembers it was a 1950 Ford with 1955 Pontiac side trim that was in the accident that killed James Dean
WOW!! I didn’t know that?? I used it because it was a long enough spear to make a two-tone.
In my twenties I had a 50, am now 70. I took a friend home from work and after he got out he motioned for me to do a spin out. I popped the clutch and broke a left rear axel. My grandfather lived a block away so we pushed it to his house. Grampa said for me to jack it up and pull the wheel which I did. The axel was broken a third of the way in. He told me to get him a coat hanger, which I did and he put a slip joint in the unfolded coat hanger. He fished it in over the axel and gave it a tug and out it came. He then sent me back up the block to a neighbor to ask if he had an axel for the Ford. The old fellow went into his partially falling garage and came back with a NOS axel. A few bucks and back to Grandpa’s. We installed the new axel and put everything back together. After a few hours I was back on the road. Those really were the good old days.
Terry, moonshine runners also swapped out the flatheads for Caddy’s 331 OHV V8. People called them “Fordillacs”! Spoke with one gent years ago that had a 51 with the Caddy V8 way-back-when & he said not too many ‘opponents’ beat him in stoplight drags. I bet it howled!!
I may have mentioned this before. Back in 1967, my first car was a 51 Ford 2dr sedan. It had a 312 Y block w/ dual quads. Edelbrock intake and twin Carter AFBs. 3 spd Borg Warner T-85 trans. 12 volt upgrade. Man I loved that car. Was gonna turn it into a Gasser. Put a straight axle under it, gold anodized aluminum interior. Had most of the pieces, but my local draft board had
other plans for me. Oh well, as they say… the rest is history. Came home from Vietnam and my priorities had changed. Sold it for cheap and went on with my life. I miss the old girl even today, especially with the renewed interest in ‘gassers’.
If I didn’t have 9 cars and 2 motorcycles, I’d buy this yesterday.
always loved the proportions of these. Nice find