It’s refreshing when a restorer puts the money where it counts, as too many “restored” cars amount to lipstick on a pig, if I may use a cliché. This 1951 Ford Custom, brought to us by Barn Finder T.J., is wearing its original body and paint, but the undercarriage and drivetrain have been restored. Therefore, you have a car with all the perks of originality that you can trust not to overheat or make funny noises, as long as the work was done well. The seller includes a video in the Marketplace ad from Grand Junction, Colorado, and the engine sounds like it’s ready to take a road trip. The $11,900 price tag also doesn’t sound too bad for a car that’s had a lot of work done underneath.
The seller doesn’t mention specifics, however, about that drivetrain restoration. Given that the engine has fresh paint and “FoMoCo” stamped radiator hoses, chances seem good that the 100-horsepower, 239-cubic-inch flathead has been rebuilt. The bronze engine paint was correct for 1951 Fords, and apparently the 1949-51 flatheads had hardened exhaust seats, so they were theoretically ready for unleaded gasoline decades before it became mainstream. It appears that the engine compartment has either been restored or is in amazing original condition, as the firewall paint is shiny and there’s what appears to be a factory “chalk” mark on the firewall as well.
The seller says that the Ford has new “upholstery, headliner, and flooring,” in addition to a 12-volt electrical system with blinkers and an electric fuel pump to keep that pesky vapor lock away. The interior itself doesn’t quite match Ford sales brochures from the era, but it’s not egregiously tacky or out of place; rather, it looks like a durable fabric done by someone who knew what they were doing, which is about all you can ask for in a good driver. The transmission is a three-speed manual with the optional .70:1 overdrive, which got a standard 4.10:1 axle ratio; therefore, drivers got the best of both worlds, good off-the-line acceleration and more relaxed high-speed cruising. The seller also mentions that the suspension bushings, gas tank, and weatherstripping have all been replaced.
The 1949-51 Ford club coupes are one of those styles that just look right; they’re not ostentatiously decorated and there are no big fins to distract from their clean lines, which is why they have a bit of a timeless look. On top of that, all Ford Flatheads have their just-right exhaust note as standard equipment. With this car’s interesting combination of 74-year-old paint and money spent on the things that matter most, this will be a satisfying collectible for someone who appreciates things that look original but can still be used regularly.
Like it, want it, need it. My bank account disagrees.
They are almost giving it away at that price!
I totally agree. The ’51 Ford Coupe is as classic as it gets. With it in good mechanical condition, and the rest being well preserved, I think the seller could have easily got about twice his asking price.
The asking price seems like what it would sell for in the 1990’s
Thunder Road….
Looked at Facebook ad it is a nice car. It has a little rust on top of front fender and bottom of front fenders but a really nice car for the money.
I grew up with the older brother, a 49 model of basically the same car. We called it ‘Ol Gray (tho it was officially seafoam green) and it was a farm car. Even had the overdrive transmission.
I didn’t used to like the 51 version of taillights compared to 49 or 50, but the 51 has the best dash in my opinion. This one is fairly priced if it runs as well as it appears, having been cared for well. The exterior original paint is a plus for some members of the Early Ford V-8 Club, where it can be entered in the “Rouge Class”, judged for originality, named for the River Rouge plant in Dearborn MI.
yes 1951 had a great dash love it tried to put one in my 1950 Ford didn’t turn out well
My favorite of the three years is the 1950, partly because my family owned two of them, and partly because the ’50s had upgrades from the ’49s but hadn’t gone to the ’51’s wider taillights and done away with the pushbutton starter switch.
And, it seemed like the 1950s had better chrome than that of the 1951s.
If you want a nice little flathead Ford this is an excellent choice. I had the exact same car a number of years ago, except it was standard two door. I drove it several years for my work car and basic transportation with no issues.
I came home from the hospital in one almost like it. It was 50 ford and black in color. It must have rode pretty good, because i slept all the way home.
Maybe you were conceived in it as well.
It’s been said that sometimes kids are named for the location of their conception. Well, if that’s true, then somewhere I’ve got a kid named Ambassador.
I’ve heard some drivers say the same thing. — Reminds me of a joke:
‘I want to die like my grandpa did – peacefully in his sleep – NOT like his passengers who were frantically screaming to the very end.’
Nice looking car. Wish it was mine.
Another story….was after a club coupe in my area for years that sat down the driveway with the front end to the street. Wasn’t for sale but kept stopping as one day I went by and it just looked all out there if you will. Stopped and knocked and they said yes – but you might not want it. See the nieghbors tree had falling across the back – not really hurting it much – not even breaking that rear window ! After replacing a few vavle assyblys and cleaning the radiator – that was one of the best running flathead’s I’d had and NEVER ran hot !
For 30 years from 1989 to 2019 I owned a 53 Ford F-100 panel delivery truck with the same flat V-8 engine. A few years after I bought it and after the body paint work was done, I drove it from Philadelphia to the Early Ford Club Grand National event in Dearborn MI. All went well until the return trip. It was 95 degrees on the PA Turnpike, and I noticed the needle had climbed up but no steam apparent. When I got off at the toll booth it started running rough and there was plenty of steam. I pulled over and let it cool off before adding water. The paint had burned off the heads! I made it home, but it ran poorly. I ended up doing a valve job, replacing three burned exhaust valves and seats, engine still in the truck, standing on the bumper. I painted the engine, and it ran well for more than 20 years, never again overheating. I sold it for the more comfortable 66 F-100 pickup.
Very nice well preserved old Ford. When Ford changed up the tail lights – making them almost twice as wide as previous models, they should have mounted them vertically along the seam of the quarter panels – and put a backup light in the center. If they had; they would have a distinctive sedan like no other at the time – and probably would have set a trend others followed.
the larger 1951 tail lights where first ones made of plastic 1950 was last year real glass was used
On the ground, nosed, decked and shaved.4″ chop in front, 6″ in the rear, emerald and seafoam green, Caddy engine
didn’t take long, pending.
this ’51 looks nice, but without the bullet nose not for me.