1951 Ford Club Coupe

Description

This gorgeous two-tone 1951 Ford coupe is one of the slickest semi-customs we've ever seen. Built a few years ago, it was obviously a labor of love and retains the beautiful original lines and gives them a traditional custom makeover to create something truly special.

The "shoebox" Fords were groundbreaking cars, and this club coupe is arguably the most attractive model. The shape is delightfully modern and retro at the same time and the clean look is tough for customizers to improve. So when this one was built, they focused on making what was already there as nice as possible and then cleaned it up a bit, and the results are amazing. The hood and trunk badges were shaved, as were the door handles, the headlights were frenched, and the hood was punched full of lovers, all custom tricks that work very well here. A Pontiac donated the side trim that separates the maroon and white paint, and the grille up front is a Ford piece, albeit from a 1954 model. The gorgeous two-tone paint is extremely well done and captures the perfect '50s pastel look that works quite well on the Ford's simple shape. The doors open and close with the precision that only comes from a lot of tedious hand-fitting and adjusting and the gaps are so even it's likely that this car has never been wrecked or rusty. All the trim was restored, which probably cost a fortune, and the gleaming bumpers and grille are testament to quality workmanship.

The white pleated interior is definitely a product of the '50s custom movement, 21st century style. The factory split bench was upholstered in white and burgundy leather and given traditional patterns, but it's obvious they weren't shooting for absolute authenticity. The modifications are minimal here, focusing on comfort rather than modifications for their own sake. Remarkably, a Jeep speedometer takes the place of the original, and the fit is rather remarkable, along with a set of aftermarket dials neatly installed in the original switch openings. A restored stock steering wheel looks so cool that there's no point in trying to reinvent it, and as a club coupe, there's a spacious back seat that's been trimmed to match. They kept things simple and the A/C system is the most neatly integrated setup we've ever seen. New carpets, a fresh headliner and an enormous trunk wearing burgundy carpets and carrying a full-sized spare make this a car that you can actually use regularly.

A 283 cubic inch Chevrolet V8 replaces the venerable flathead and it's remarkable what adding 100 or so horsepower will do for a car like this. The engine bay is nicely done, and by using a stock Ford radiator and air cleaner assembly, some folks may not even notice the Chevy powerplant. The firewall and inner fenders were painted satin black to keep with the OEM theme, and even the block itself wears Ford Red paint to make it look like a Y-block. There's an upgraded 4-barrel carburetor and intake manifold up top, but that's the only highly visible modification. It's backed by a 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission and what appears to be a Ford 8-inch rear end. A custom dual exhaust system gives it that traditional performance sound and the stance is exactly right on those beautiful wide whites with Cadillac sombrero hubcaps.

Fans of both the traditional custom look and traditional custom workmanship will love this car. Beautiful, well-sorted, and so beautiful that it catches you by surprise, it has quickly become one of our favorites. Call today!