1951 Ford Custom Deluxe

Description

This 1951 Ford Custom Deluxe Tudor is a lot of restored Flathead V8 fun for not a lot of money. The "Shoe Box" body style is credited for saving Ford after the war and revolutionizing the way Americans looked at family cars, realizing that style was just as important as substance. The dual 'spinner' look on the front fascia of the '51 remain immensely popular with Ford lovers today, and given the quality of this faithful restoration, this slick Seafoam Green Ford will be a hit as well.

The all-new Ford was introduced for the 1949 model year, and by 1951 the Blue Oval was selling like hot cakes. Like many post-war designs, this 2-door was ideally suited for travelling salesmen, a job that was quite popular in the early post-war years, but with a spacious backseat the whole family could pack in for a quick weekend trip to the lake. Finished in a shade of Seafoam Green that's a preview of the bright colors to come in the next decade, the unusual shape makes a lot of folks do a double-take as they're not used to seeing these cars with 2-door coupe bodies. Actually, Ford offered two different two-doors, with this more common model being basically a 4-door with the rear doors welded closed, so you get the cool look of a 2-door with the space of a 4-door sedan. Someone spent a lot of effort whipping this one into shape and the deep, glossy paint makes it look far more expensive than it is, with a sheen that will certainly turn heads at the cruise-in. All the original chrome was either restored or polished up nicely, including the bumpers, grille, and hood ornament, and it all does a great job sparkling up against the green paint. Period accessories like the windshield visor and oversized bumper guards help with the upscale look, and the side-exhaust set-up is cool shout out to old-school hot rodders from the era, giving this Shoe Box a little more attitude out on the streets.

Interior styling was only just graduating to fashion rather than function, and this 1951 Ford definitely delivers with a swooping instrument panel that's more driver-oriented than most previous designs. Contrasting pewter paint and a bright gold insert keep it from being too somber inside, and the two-tone upholstery inside looks and feels period-perfect. The front seat is wide enough for three and quite comfortable, while the rear bench is just as spacious, once again benefiting from the added leg room the Tudor provides. The stylish steering wheel hints at the jet age to come, and all the gauges are housed in their own round pods, including the large speedometer front and center. Centered factory dials are arranged beautifully to the right of the speedometer, and a trio of aftermarket unit was added to the left of the steering wheel to help keep an eye on the Flathead under the hood. AM radios were still optional, although is due for an upgrade, and the under-dash A/C unit is blowing hard and cold! Out back, the trunk is very spacious, carrying a full-sized spare and a complete set of carpeted mats that make everything look tidy.

The 239 cubic inch flathead V8 is dressed in the same copper engine paint as all later Ford flatheads and it's obvious that a good deal of energy went into getting it detailed correctly. Not many wild upgrades or modifications, just a rock-solid reliable flatty with an upgraded air cleaner, Holley 4-barrel carburetor, and twin coolant hoses emerging from the fronts of the cylinder heads and into the big aluminum radiator up front. Note that the little stuff is right, including period hose clamps, shiny acorn nuts on the heads, and an accessory oil filter on the firewall. It starts with that characteristic flathead chatter and settles into a bouncy V8 idle that sounds great through twin glasspack mufflers underneath. A 3-speed manual transmission with overdrive means it'll cruise effortlessly at modern highway speeds, and by 1951, even Ford was hip to the times with an independent suspension and reasonably powerful brakes. Painted steel wheels with deluxe wheel covers are wrapped in flashy whitewalls that look period-perfect and finish off the look perfectly.

A fun flathead Ford with a lot of performance and style for not a lot of money. Call today!