The 1954 model year was a big one for Ford as it finally retired its flathead V8 in favor of a new overhead-head engine. But the cars themselves were largely restyled versions of what you could buy in 1952-53. The seller’s 1954 Mainline is a 2-door sedan that looks as though it was discovered in a dusty and dirty garage by family members assigned to clear out an estate (this is only an assumption). We’re told the automobile is complete but needs a full restoration. Located near Pompano Beach, Florida, this long-forgotten relic is available here on craiglist for $5,500.
There were three main trim levels of the 1954 Ford: Mainline, Customline, and Crestline. The former was the entry-level product and that’s what we have here (per the door tag). The engine should be the basic 223 cubic inch inline-6 paired with a “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission. Its running condition is unknown and given the overall state of the discovery, we’re guessing it hasn’t moved or even been started in a bunch of years.
The door tag indicates that the paint under all the dirt and dust (and primer?) is Sea Haze Green, but who knows what it will look like after a good bath? Is there rust? We can’t say, but it’s safe to assume yes. Also, we don’t know the state of the interior as the seller doesn’t open any of the doors for photos. The odometer reading is 86,500, which means it was a well-used Ford up until some point. If you’re looking for a mid-1950s Ford to restore, here you go. But it seems like a run-of-the-mill family car for the period.
Hopefully nobody hurt themselves taking photos. These were good looking cars, especially with a little “customizing”, I’ve always liked the way the headlights give off a “frenched” appearance. The price definitely makes it an affordable place to start
I can’t see $5500 there. Especially with so few pictures and so little details. I wish the seller good luck.
In 1954, one of my my aunts on my mother’s side of the family and my uncle (who was her brother-in-law) went to the local Ford Dealership in Jersey City, New Jersey and bought two, 1954 Ford Mainline sedans. Both cars were powered by the 223 C.I. OHV Inline six hooked to a three speed stick with column shift. The cars were identical except the one my uncle bought was green and the one my aunt bought was white. Well my uncle worked for the U.S. Postal Service and his job required a lot of travel. Well in 1960, my aunt decided to buy a brand new 1960 Rambler Classic 4 door sedan, so she gave my uncle (her brother in law) her white 54 Ford because it had far less mileage on it then his green 54 Ford. The green 54 Ford then got traded in for the new Rambler Classic. Well in 1965, a full year before I obtained my New Jersey State drivers license, my uncle sold me that white 54 Ford Mainline for something like $50.00 and I proceed to buy a FOXCRAFT floor shift from California Speed and Sport, which was located in New Brunswick, New Jersey for $35.00
Around 1962/63 my Dad had 54 with straight axle and a 406,4sp
also rear window has chrome trim mainline had black rubber window trim it’s not a mainline it’s a custom line
I allways thought a 460 cu big block would be nice as a cruiser in a 54. I like that model.
Ha! That shop was still there the last time I was in New Brunswick a couple years ago.
make a nice 50s hot rod by putting a ford 312 and 3 speed floor shift nice set of skirts nose and deck it headlights are already frenched and that’s it
The 1953 & 1954 Fords looked the same bodywise . They were dependable cars depending on how well you maintained them . For 1955 , all new redesigned Fords were available with better features and different bodystyles . They proved popular as sales were good even into 1956 . Of course , the later models cost more than the older ’54 s , but that’s the way marketing works . Happy Motoring !
1952 1953 1954 all same body just small changes in grill, tail lights and trim and in 1954 a new restyle dash with see view speedometer with glass/plastic see tru top love the 1954 dash
Had one same color with the 239 Y-Block….traded it for a 1956 Plymouth hard top.
Jim Reed( Kent McCord) drove a 2 door ’54 Ford gasser in the Adam-12 episode “Who won?” Some great classics in that episode, including the 2 Lane Blacktop ’55 Chevy. Paired agin Officer Ed Wells( Gary Crosby, Bings kid, you know) in a ’69 Camaro, bet you can guess “who won”. Reeds car apparently was well known in the L.A. area, and ran a destroked 427.
Sadly, I see little to no interest in these types of projects today.
Somebody found the Adam 12 54 couple years ago, Google search should turn up some info
looks like there is or was a chrome strip going down the side main liners had no side trim think this may be a custom line.
If they throw in that air compressor and deliver the ’54 to my door? I’m their huckleberry at $550.
Even Doc Holliday wouldn’t be that rude and crude
Oh geez. I had one of these in high school in the late 70s on the other coast. We repainted it the same seafoam green, added some mild pinstriping, reupholstered the interior and rebuilt the motor. It was a 4 door and a beast. Someone else at my school had a yellow one 2 door one that had an overdrive with a flathead v8. I was jealous. Good times.
the last flathead was in 1953 same body style all 1954 where ohv v8 s
Canadian Fords and Mercurys kept the flathead V8 through 1954 and went to the Y-block in 1955.
There were no six cylinder Canadian Fords until the 1957 model year.
I had a 1954 Canadian Monarch and it had the overhead V8.
In 1964, or was it 1963, my Dad gave me his 1954 customline, 4 door. It didn’t run. 239 V8 and a 3 on the tree. My entry into cars. I rebuilt the engine and it actually ran and ran well. I was 15 and got two tickets in it before I could get my license. The car was a big part of my life and was well used for a number of years. Almost makes we want to get this car and rebuild that history. But it’s a bit too much even for what it could be.
The days of restoring some of these old cars as passed someone as a dream about bring it back to life then finds out the cost it go back in the garage to hide
A grungy car in a garage dump. No car salesman/women here.
Pretty typical of what we usually see here, so what’s your point?
Not sure, but in the under hood photo it looks as if this car never had a heater and defroster. That could mean no driving in colder weather.
No heater? No sale lol. I bet it has a heater
I just looked at it and you are right this was bought with out a heater in 1954 heater was a option not stand equipment
Your right al. That black plate on the firewall is where the heater would mount. Who needs a heater in south Florida, but a blower to clear a misty windshield might be nice.
I have the same engine in my 56 Ford pickup. No heater either. It’s about as plain as it gets!
lion I can remember when I was real young and in my parents 1949 Ford dad always had a rag to wipe windshield deforestors back than weren’t all that great they where just little vents on top of dash
Right on al. I had a 1951 Merc in high school and we lived in Regina Saskatchewan. Winters were colder ‘n hell. My friend picked up his 3 friends in his 1951 Hillman. With 4 teens breathing we had to use frost scrapers to keep the windows clear enough so he could see to drive. His heater was crap, but that little 4 cylinder flathead with a 12 volt system always started in the coldest temps. Oops, kinda off topic here guys, Sorry for stealing the thread.
It’s a Customline, not a Mainline. The chrome trim around the rear window and the holes down the side where chrome trim was, and also the trim tag showing 70B body style verifies it’s a Customline. I think they will be fortunate to get $5.5K for it although I hope someone who will fix it up and put it back on the road will get it. I hate to see any old car just get thrown away.
My 1st car when I got my license in 1959 was a ’54 Ford Customline; not sure about the color, it may have been the Seafoam Green, not my favorite color, but on a 1st car, who cares? At least it was a 2 door (sedan) with a 3 speed stick. Had been traded by a local farmer and probably never driven over 35 MPH. 1st thing I did was take off from a traffic light, shifted into 2nd gear and heard a loud BANG. Got it into 3rd with a speed shift, but when I got back to our farm, had to slam on the brakes to make the turn. Had blown the clutch. Pop wasn’t pleased when we towed it up the road to the guy who loved working on Fords. At least 64 years ago, the clutch replacement was “only” $50….
I stay away from cars that have lived (or stored near a salt water beach), better take a good look underneath at the frame and floor pans.
Found a beautiful 54 Ford at the Jefferson Car Show in Wis. some years ago. The price was right and the body was “perfect”, but I took my platic/refrigerator magnet and lo and behold there were big spots where it woudn’t stick. Looked to me like there was lots of bondo under the paint!?!?
Hi Kurt, do you live in Jefferson, Wisconsin? I’m asking because I grew up in Jefferson I moved from Wisconsin when I was 17. I haven’t heard from anyone from Jefferson in 40 years.