The list of vehicles tapped on the shoulder to serve as the Pace Car for the Indianapolis 500 is long, but the Ford Crestline Sunliner received the honor in 1953. The seller located this example in a barn. While it is a solid classic a new owner could restore or preserve, they raise the possibility of transforming it into a tribute to the original steered by William Clay Ford, Sr. Its needs are minor in its current form, meaning the buyer could return it to the road quickly for some classic top-down motoring fun. The Sunliner is listed here on eBay in Forest Grove, Oregon. Bidding sits below the reserve at $6,600, but there is a BIN option of $15,000.

The Crestline enjoyed a short production run as Ford’s range-topping offering. It appeared for the 1952 model year, with the last cars rolling off showroom floors in 1954. Our feature car sits in the middle, with its original owner taking delivery in 1953. It spent decades parked in an Idaho barn, receiving a color change from its original Woodsmoke Gray to Raven Black before hibernating. The storage environment must have been favorable because this classic emerged without rust issues or problems. Its exterior is clean, and the floors exhibit little beyond small areas of dry surface corrosion. The paint shows age, and some may consider a cosmetic refresh appropriate. That raises the question of whether returning the Ford to its factory form is warranted or if retaining the current shade is more appealing. The seller raises the idea of transforming it into a Pace Car tribute, and if a color change is planned, that might be an option that will turn heads and capture attention. The soft-top is new, and the fender skirts sit in the trunk. The chrome looks pretty good for a vehicle of this vintage, and the glass has a few rub marks that a specialist organization might be able to polish out.

This Ford’s interior is tidy, needing nothing if the new owner seeks a driver-grade classic on a budget. The seats wear new covers, but the remaining upholstered surfaces are original and in surprisingly good order. The buyer may want to tweak the new carpet to achieve a better fit, while the occasional paint chip and mark could prompt a refresh. This Crestline is missing its front kick panels, but the interior is, otherwise, complete. It isn’t loaded with luxury appointments, although the pushbutton radio and clock are in keeping with a range-topping model from this era.

Lifting the hood reveals a point of confusion with this Crestline. The seller indicates it features its original 239ci flathead V8, but the photos suggest otherwise. Close scrutiny reveals Mercury and “8CM” markings on the cylinder heads, which indicates this motor may not be the one that occupied the engine bay when the car rolled off the line. The transmission has also changed, with the original overdrive unit making way for a regular three-speed. The seller quotes a power output of 125hp, consistent with the Mercury flathead from this model year. If those changes are correct, that should offer buyers moderate performance improvements. We must delve further into this car’s history to decide whether the odometer reading of 25,400 miles could be genuine. The seller says a previous owner unearthed this classic in 2016, stating it had occupied the same spot in an Idaho barn since 1965. With such a short history of active service, the mileage could be accurate. However, it probably warrants further investigation to uncover the truth. Years of inactivity meant this Sunliner needed love before it returned to life. The seller fitted an aluminum radiator with an electric fan, a new water pump, new radiator hoses, and a new fuel tank and replaced the entire braking system. They haven’t fitted the original oil bath air cleaner for some reason, and they indicate it needs new tires. Otherwise, it runs and drives perfectly, with this YouTube video confirming it sounds as sweet as a nut.

The new owner of this 1953 Ford Crestline Sunliner faces some choices, but the car’s solid nature means those decisions aren’t urgent. Preserving this gem in its current form would cost the least and may be the best alternative for a budget-conscious buyer. A cosmetic refresh should be straightforward, but which path would be best? A repaint in Raven Black would be easiest, although reinstating the Woodsmoke Gray might be irresistible to purists. Throwing caution to the wind by creating a Pace Car tribute sounds tempting, but which option would you choose?