Ford introduced its variation of “ponton” styling in 1949, beating Chevy to the punch. With sleek, integrated fenders and no running boards, the new cars were sensational, serving to boost Ford to the top of the sales stack. Ford sold well over 1.1 million cars in 1949. Available in multiple body styles, this generation of Ford eventually became known as the “shoebox”. Curvette found this tidy 1951 Ford Crestliner for us, advertised here in craigslist and located in Bremerton, Washington. The selling dealer wants $16,999; let’s evaluate that price.
This generation of Fords represented several firsts for the company, including the first key-turn ignition system and the first automatic transmission in a production car – both arriving in 1951. The suspension was all-new. This post-war design was the first Ford launched after both Henry and Edsel had passed. On the other hand, the engine options were holdovers from earlier days: buyers could choose either the 226 cid six, or the 239 cid V8. The Crestliner “sport sedan” was a premium vehicle, offered only with the V8. This example has a three-speed column-shift manual with overdrive; the seller says it runs and drives well.
Befitting the Crestliner’s station in life, upholstery was swankier than in lesser models, with special fabrics and colors available. This example is in decent condition, though the passenger’s rear door card is stained and the windlace has seen better days. The trunk contains a few parts as well as a shop manual. A radio and Magic-Air under-dash heater are part of this car’s original equipment.
The Crestliner was distinguished by its two-tone paint job, vinyl roof, and extra exterior brightwork. The two-door styling and rounded roofline were meant to mimic a convertible – the company hadn’t come up with a hardtop yet, but the Crestliner was a good substitute. The windshield was in two parts still; single panes rolled around for 1952. It’s worth mentioning that the seller erroneously identifies this car as a “Crestline”, which was a top trim level on the 1952 Ford. Perusing historical sales results reveals that these cars sold for much more during the 2015-2017 time frame. This handsome bronze ’51 brought over $31k at RM Sotheby’s Hershey auction in 2017; five years later, an even better example sold for $17,300. My hunch is that it’ll take a bit of a discount to shift today’s Crestliner to a new garage.
So, another “war orphan”? Anytime I see a car like this from this era, in this condition,, I can’t help but think of Korea, June 25, 1950-July 27, 1953, we can’t forget that,,,,someone could have easily ordered a new Ford and anchors aweigh. The car looks like something a young man would order, and someone put 40K miles on it. I bet this car sat inside for a long time and refurbished much later. This is really a sharp car.
At 18 my uncle was in Korea for the whole 3 years of the war,but had no car waiting for him.I finally met in in 67′ when in left Alaska to report to Camp Drum NY and didn’t see him again till after his tour in Vietnam ended in 71′
This is a really great looking Ford. The two tone paint in a great color combination, the vinyl top, swanky interior. If this is original, then its in impressive condition!!! As always, a great, well researched writeup Michelle, I enjoyed it. I wonder what it will sell for?
What’s that huge appendage on the back bumper?
There’s one on the front too. Have never seen kangaroo bars on a car like this.
Hi Dalton, aftermarket bumper/grill guards. My grandfather had something similar on his ’48 Packard, but these are the most extravagant ones I’ve seen. Not sure they really did anything, though.
I’ve seen similar after market bumper guards on cars of that era. They were called Van Auken bumper and grill guards. Here’s what AI has to say about it.
Van Auken bumper guards are vintage, aftermarket vertical accessories popular in the 1940s and 1950s, designed to protect a car’s bumpers, grille, and fenders from low-speed impacts and scratches. These, often chrome-plated, metal guards were frequently used on brands like Hudson, Studebaker, Buick, Plymouth, and Ford, serving as both functional protection and a stylish accessory to prevent bumper locking.
back in the 50s in lite rear end bumps it was easy to lock bumpers and cars where locked or hitched to each other had to stand on rear car jump up and down as front car tried to move remember it well these guards prevented that
I recently sold a 51 Ford Convertible from my fathers estate for $12k. This is a nice car but the collector market for these vehicles is shrinking rapidly. Will be interesting to see what the final sale price is however those mainly interested in these cars are slowly entering “assisted living” and are highly unlikely to be shelling out big dollars on cars like this.
Very sorry for your loss BMH. A lot of us are in the same boat as you, or timeframe with aged parents needing our help. And you’re absolutely right about the market and the age bracket too.
Thank you! He had several like cars to include 53 Buick Convertible that a reader on Barn Finds ultimately wound up with via CL. I tried to get him to part with these cars years ago when the market was stronger for them however “sentimental reasons” forced him to keep them. At the end of the day the he ultimately missed the prime sale window.
BMH, I’m going out on a limb here: your Dad didn’t buy his cars to make money, and he enjoyed them as long as he wanted. The condition of the car market is inconsequential from his perspective. My condolences. May he rest in peace
very true 1951 one of my favorite fords love the one year dash rode in many even tried to but a 51 dash in my 1950 Ford back in 1960 but I am now 80 years old and hate to say it but a 1951 Ford isn’t that easy to drive remember they still even had manual chocks no I would miss my back up camera and power steering but like to ride in it
Always a favorite car of mine. Great Creastliner & color.
I was about 8 yrs old when these were new. I was already turning into a car guy, I would identify every car by make and year as I rode in the car. But anytime one of these was in traffic ,I went crazy because I thought they were the coolest car ever!
Nice looking vehicle 👌
The selling dealer also has a 48 ford for the same price, $16,999 so maybe that’s just their starting price for old cars.
When I was a kid, the neighbors down the street had 4 boys. The father had a new 49 or 50 Ford. He took me and his sons to a baseball game at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, to see the Angels play. There used to be a Pacific Coast league, before the Dodgers and the Angels arrived. It was the farthest south on the Harbor Fwy that I’d been to that time.
I don’t remember vinyl roofs coming along until MUCH later.
fords first vinyl roof was in 1950 on the first year crestliner only did this model one and a half years till mid 51 when the Victoria 2dr ht came out it to compete with the new 50 Chevy bel aire hard top
Sorry, those “bumper guards” destroy the look of the car !! I have seen the Van Aukens before…these look to be of more recent vintage. The horizontal bar sits too high and are WAY too “bulky” looking, IMHO.
Love these shoebox Fords. The two tone and vinyl roof really separate this from the rest of the pack. Although I really like the Club Coupe a bit more I don’t think it was offered in this trim.
I’m wondering whats up with the thermostat housing gaskets? Needs trimmed up and why would they be used in the first place?
They must have used a one-fits-everything version and let it go at that.
Washington state used to use letter codes for counties. The first letter in the license plate of this old ford is an E which means it started its life in the high desert county of Yakima. Average precipitation of less than 7” a year and no road salt. Probably a good sign for a car currently living near the ocean.
Sweet !
How about some photo’s of the undercarriage? Would like to see suspension, chassis and so on.
Didn’t Ford come out with the Victoria hardtop coupe this year?
yes half way into 1951 it came out with a 2dr hardtop and dropped the crestliner
Comes across as a cheap way for ford to admit that “we don’t have a hardtop yet, so we’ve blinged up a 2 dr sedan and hope no one notices”
At least they’d ditched the buggy springs and solid axles.
That’s very true Chevy beat than in 1950 with the new bel aire which was their new 2dr ht Ford got caught sleeping