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Pair of Shoeboxes: 1950 Ford Custom Club Coupes

shoebox-barn-find As the forties were coming to a close, Ford decided it was time for a new look. Curvacious bodies were a thing of the past, so they came up with something a little more square. The much-loved “shoebox” Ford was born. It was offered with either an inline-six or a Flathead V8. Luckily, this pair of 1950 Club Coupes are both equipped with the later. They are being sold together with a stash of parts for $13,500 here on craigslist in Clinton, South Carolina. Thanks goes to Steven J. for the submission.

shoebox-barn-find-side

Steven already spoke to the owner and apparently the blue Coupe has a very nice interior and the engine was rebuilt prior to being parked in 1974. We would want to inspect these ones in person before sending any money. The photos cannot show the extent of corrosion under all that dirt. Depending on how original the cars are and how much rust there is, the asking price might be fair though.

shoebox-barn-find-flathead

Here is one of the Flathead V8s. They were rated at a respectable 100 horsepower, but it didnt take long for enthusiasts to start making speed parts to squeeze even more out of them. To get a full understanding of these engines, take a look at this extensive guide Hot Rod Magazine featured a few years back.

shoebox-barn-find-parts-stash

This must be that load of spares mentioned in the ad. Not a deal breaker, but extra parts are always nice to have and you could always sell off some bits to help finance the purchase. We would probably just keep the best of the two cars and list the rest for sale anyway.

shoebox-barn-find-rear

We had a chance to pick up a running one of these on the cheap about two years back, and we are still kicking ourselves. With a souped-up Flathead, they can be great little cars to tool around in.

Comments

  1. braktrcr

    They look beautiful to me. My brother’s first car was a 49 flatty 3 on the tree. Fond memories. If I had the spare change I would buy these. I think the price is reasonable, Make one stock original, and the other perhaps period Hot Rod

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    • Jesse Mortensen

      That is a good plan indeed.

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  2. geomechs geomechs Member

    Now you’re talking! Ford shoeboxes are my favorite 50s cars. The question I keep asking though: Why are these finds on the opposite side of the country?

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    • paul

      Because they always are.

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    • paul

      Actually these are on my side of the fence, but I got no room for em.

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      • FRED

        PAUL IF YOU BUY THEM I WILL LET YOU STORE THEM AT MY PLACE FOR THE LOW LOW PRICE OF GIVING ME ONE OF THEM…LOL.CARS LIKE THESE ALWAYS REMIND ME OF MOONSHINE RUNNERS AND THEIR SOUPED UP FLATHEADS GREAT CARS,I REMEMBER MY GRANDFATHER HAVING ONE AND DRIVING US TO THE TRAIN MUSEUM IN NH. WET HIT THE THRUWAY AND HE HIT 45MPH AND SAID WE ARE REALLY MOVING NOW. COULD NOT WAIT TO GET MY LICENSE SO I COULD DRIVE.

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    • Jesse Mortensen

      We can’t forget our east coast brethren geomechs!

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  3. paul

    I imagine these will be gone in hours.

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  4. jim

    a lot of different ways to go with these two. i think maybe one daily driver and one to show. update as time and money allow. another very nice find.

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  5. whiskey runner

    now that is my kind of find.. they would look good in my shop..id push my 51 out if i had these

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  6. jim

    “It was offered with either an inline-six or a Flathead V8. Luckily, this pair of 1950 Club Coupes are both equipped with the former.” I think you meant the “later”. “Former” refers to the first of two things, “latter” refers to the second of two things. :-)

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    • Jesse Mortensen

      All fixed. Thanks Jim.

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  7. Gene

    Bought a ’52 custom line when I finished college that year. It was green, might have been a V8. Pretty much never looked under the hood. Never any problems. Kept it for six years. Nice car but it was just another car. Magic attributes take many years to develop.
    Traded for a ,58 ford 352 hardtop that gave 10mph. Kept that 8 years. Went for Volvo and Saab where I have remained. Sorry America.

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  8. Bobinott

    The first car that I remember in our family was a 1950 Ford like these. The story was that my Dad bought the car around 1955 for $150, from a guy who was moving up to a Jaguar XK something or other (120/140/150).

    My Dad had been a Ford guy since Model T days, so this car fit right in. I vaguely remember him wrenching on it to keep it running as the family car. I didn’t get my job as official trouble-light holder until after the 1950 Ford was gone, replaced by his one and only trip to the Dark Side (a GM product). He quickly returned to the fold with a ’64 Fairlane, and then stayed loyal to the Blue Oval until he passed in 2005.

    I would love to pick up this pair, and make one really good car out of the two. I have never worked on a Flathead Ford, but I would like to add that to my resume of “Great Engines I have Owned” (Ford Kent 1600, Jaguar XK 3.8, Datsun 510 1600, CItroen 2CV)

    Bobinott

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  9. AMCFAN

    More worthwhile of a project then the Woodie of a few days ago

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  10. Karl

    I recently saw one of these being used as a daily driver outside the Harbor Freight Tools store that I haunt. It was definitely not restored–it was probably the dirtiest car parked out front. I hung around for awhile, but the owner never appeared.
    It would be mighty sweet to snag this deal, but the wife would kill me. I hope somebody does these cars justice if they are as good as they look.

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  11. DENIS

    gotta drop in a Buick nailhead or J-2 Olds….I want one….

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  12. Lary

    We are talking about real cars and real englnes. Wouldn’t want to GuMmy up those FirstOnRaceDays! Learned to drive on a ’50 flathead on a dirt road. Thrilling!

    Like 0

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