- Seller: David B (Contact)
- Location: Middletown, Connecticut
- Mileage: TMU Shown
- Chassis #: B1EG145624
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: Chevrolet 350 V8
- Transmission: Powerglide Automatic
Once or twice a month, I play bar trivia with my trivia pals, but I have never seen one category that would be a guaranteed hit (with me): identifying the non-stock parts on a custom car. Automotive customization is just one of the many ways car builders recycle parts in a beneficial manner, and this is true of the 1951 Ford. For the sake of amusement, I’ll save the three more obvious custom parts listed by the seller for last. See if you can spot them. The car itself is being sold by the family of the late owner, who bought it about six years ago and added some mechanical components that the new owner will undoubtedly appreciate. If you want to be seen, this car is for you; the heavy gold flake in the red paint alone will see to that. For those extroverts in the crowd who are looking for a fun cruiser, the selling family is asking $27,500, and the car is located in Middletown, Connecticut.
This car was built (and improved) for reliability, not racing. The 350 Chevy is topped by an Edelbrock carburetor and aluminum intake manifold, the transmission is a Powerglide, and the rear axle is a Ford 8.8″ unit with 2.75:1 gears. It has power front disc brakes with a dual circuit master cylinder for extra safety, and a Vintage Air system for extra comfort in those warm summer months when you’ll be cruising around. The steering is handled by a Jaguar rack and pinion.
The interior looks a lot fancier than it did when the car emerged from Ford’s premises in 1951. It features a Lokar floor shifter for the Powerglide, auxiliary gauges to monitor the 350’s health, “leather button” upholstery, dashboard pinstriping, a vinyl headliner, electric windshield wipers, and an aftermarket steering wheel (in red, of course).
The trunk is also fully upholstered (in red, of course). The polka-dot pattern is fifties-approved, and all the time-honored custom exterior touches developed so many decades ago by those pioneering craftsmen (and women) are present: frenched taillights, headlights, and antennas; shaved door handles and emblems; blue dots, etc.
A set of headers and chrome tailpipes emit the sort of rumble one would expect from a goldflaked custom, and although the lake pipes are dummies, there’s nothing that says you can’t make alterations of your own if you buy this cool custom cruiser. If you’re in a “Lost in the ’50s” mood this summer, why not make an offer on this Barn Finds Classified?
Trivia Answers: 1953-1957 Corvette grille, 1957 Dodge Lancer/Royal Lancer wheel covers, 1949 Ford taillights.
You didn’t mention the bumpers. Nash?
A couple things I would’ve done differently but overall a very nice build. This is why I love car shows, talking to the person who bought or built it, their stories, the familiar old car smell when you stoop down and look inside. How awesome it is that this thing has made it through 75 years and still turning heads! God bless the USA!
Stories like this make me sad. Probably waited his whole life to get a car like this. A really nice mild custom job. Not over the top, and tasteful. I’ll disregard the engine choice.
The owner’s having been able to enjoy only briefly what was likely his pride and joy saddens me, too. I diverge, though, from your implied assessment of the engine choice.
The tyres look too wee for the car ?
These cars are hard to get rubber under them. Unless you tub the rear you max out at a 215.
It is a custom car. And I am sure the builder thinks its great. Just has too find another person who thinks so too. Unfortunately, that’s 100 % not me!
Grille looks like maybe a 53 Chevy. Maybe the bumper too?
With extra teeth added, to emulate a Corvette…
53 Chevy grille with extra teeth added…to emulate a Corvette grille…
I don’t like the striping on the quarter panels! Otherwise a great look! Where did the bumpers come from?
I for one, wonder why the painter slanted the line on a down angle, rather than keeping it horizontal to the other lines of the car?
Fake Lake pipes? Really? The obvious question is ….. Why? Get rid of them!
Lost me as soon as I saw that bow tie in the engine bay!
It does ensure you will likely reach your destination and get back home! :)
One of the things that makes this hobby so much fun is that you can always count on a wide variety of opinions and views on just about everything. I enjoy seeing a customized ride like this and it is tastefully old school. Apt license plate too. I was always interested in this genre of the car scene especially when I was a teenager. Don’t get me wrong; I love stock. But over the last few years I find myself spending more time than I used to admiring customs like this. I’m sure there is going to be a happy new caretaker for this car. It’s sad that the previous owners didn’t have as much time with this as they wanted. GLWTS
Nice, tasteful custom on this Ford. Yes, should have a Flathead under the hood and I detest those ugly steering wheels. Fords and Mercs of this era had the best looking dashes a steering wheels, so why replacing it with that ugly thing beats me. Sorry, shouldn’t criticize the builder but, ugh.
Engine choice is not my cup of tea neither is the transmission 351 Cleveland and a Tremac 5 speed now that would be a nice combo
Hey he was growing older and just wanted to be able to get to his destination and back home without breaking down…😂
I never liked this body style. But they are starting to grow on me. This car is a well done ahow/driver. odyssey
Hi everyone,
I’m representing this car for the widow.
Yes, the owner did only get to drive the car several times unfortunately.
Customs are exactly that .. not stock and built to the owner’s/builders likes. This can make them difficult to find a buyer for becasue of those differences.
I would have liked a fully pimped out Flat head V8, with aluminum finned heads, triple carbs, etc.
I would have done the stripes differently (if at all)
I would have gone with bigger rubber under the rolled fenders … among other things.
BUT
I didn’t build this car.
Based on the number of comments and generally positive in nature, I’m hopeful that finding a buyer won’t be as difficult as some other cars I’ve sold for folks.
As always, any questions, if you’d like to see another 400+/- photos and the videos, please feel free to just ask.
Thanks!
Talk soon,
Pass – no Ford with a Chevy V8 … zilch … zero … none … nada … fugg-git about it – how many times can you say it ?