I became a Reggie Jackson (and Oakland A’s) fan in the summer of ’69. In a breakout year for Jackson, he belted out 37 home runs by the July All-Star Game break. Reggie led the colorful A’s to three consecutive World Series titles and, after trading the green and gold uniforms of Oakland for pinstripes, helped the New York Yankees win back-to-back titles in 1977 and 1978. His heroics in the post season earned him the fitting nickname of “Mr. October.” The Hall of Famer is a legendary figure for sure, but so is his car collection, which consists of more than 100 vehicles valued at $8 million.
Reggie’s collection, featuring muscle cars, Corvettes, and low-mileage originals, is always evolving. Here’s one that was once in his collection that caught his eye due to its low mileage (22,489), original factory paint, and a V8 with a four-on-the-floor. Reggie seems to have a soft spot for “Plain Janes with some get-up-and-go” as is represented in this ’59 Ford. For a late 50’s-era car, it is very restrained as far as chrome, brightwork, and gadgets. It’s currently located in LaFollette, Tennessee, and is listed here on craigslist for $30,000. Another thank you to our pal, Tony Primo, for spotting this one and sending it our way.
The seller says the Ford is wearing its original factory Code C Wedgewood Blue paint and it looks very presentable and shiny. The body is described as “rust-free and straight as an arrow” and the photos back that up. The chrome bumpers and trim look great as does the glass, trim, and lenses (dig those outrageously huge round taillights that resemble jet afterburners).
Inside, the tasteful two-tone blue interior is a great complement to the Wedgewood Blue paint. Everything looks to be in great shape and I really like the clear blue gear shift knob. The dash, instrument panel, seats, and door panels look exceptional, and I’m also spotting an aftermarket radio under the dash.
Although the base engine in ’59 Fords was the Mileage Maker Inline-Six, this one came from the factory with a 292-cubic-inch Y-block V8 (which generated about 200 horsepower when new). It only has 22,489 miles on the clock and it’s mated to a 4-speed floor-shifting manual transmission. The seller claims that the Ford “runs and drives great.” Although the car is listed as a Galaxie in the ad, it looks more like the entry level Custom 300 Tudor Sedan based on the exterior trim and interior. Overall it’s a nice-looking, low-mileage “Plain Jane” ’59 Ford that once caught the eye – and checkbook – of Reggie Jackson. What do you think of it?
Nice car. Second one recently with ’62 Dodge Lancer wheel covers. They looked real good on my ’54 Chevy too.
I agree it’s a 300. I would prefer an automatic in a car like this. I mean, are you gonna hot-rod a ’59 300 with a 292?
Another “home run” find by Tony Primo!
There’s a lot you can say about these basic beauties. They took you from A to B, and they did it with an odd sense of style. No
chrome laden kitsch the era was
known for, just a dollop of the bright stuff to accent a body style
that would beat Chevy for top spot in sales that year. But sadly
though, these basic beauties were the first to see the scrapyard by the mid to late ’60s
as they had less value than their
more glittery siblings. I’m sure that maybe some of us did their part to send a plain jane car, whatever it was, to the crusher at
some point in our young lives. And yeah Rex, guys did hotrod them. They used to call them
moonshiners here in Florida, Georgia, and most anywhere else
from Ohio southward. And a car like this one stood out less to a
reenuer than a flashier model did.
And since there were very few jobs in this region that paid well
enough to raise a family back then in this part of the country,
running moonshine was the going thing if you wanted to put your kids through college in those days and I’m quite sure that a Ford like this one carried more than it’s share of “shine before meeting it’s end. Face it, there
just aren’t that many of these cars left today and this one is indeed a refreshing sight for this
old man to see!
🎵…Oh let me tell a story.
I can tell it all.
About the mountain boy
that ran illegal alcohol.
Daddy made the whiskey,
Son he drove the load.
Ad when his engine roared
they called the highway
Thunder Road….🎵🎶
A nice, clean `59 but way too many questions without answers on this one. For 22K miles, they felt they had to reupholster the seats already? And the baby blue paint looks a little too shiny & spotless for being ‘original’. Overall very nice, but alot has changed on this `59. (Not positive, but I don’t think a floor-mounted 4-speed was available by FoMoCo then.) If anything, originally it was probably a 3-on-the-tree.