Vehicle Description
Some 50 years after the first Ford rolled out of its Mack Avenue,
Detroit plant, this 1953 Ford Sunliner Convertible emerged,
stylistically bridging the gap between the boundless curvature of
the models before it and the more squared off appearances of those
to follow. This is a coveted classic seldom seen on the road, and
it pairs its outstanding aesthetics with a more modern engine under
its hood for more power and increased reliability.
The entire Sunliner line got a freshening the year before this '53
first set rubber to road, including a more modern wrap around
windshield for increased visibility. Thoroughly revitalized and
wearing a coat of green that nicely accentuates its form, this
vintage Ford cuts quite an appearance and it's pretty easy to see
why it was called upon to pace the Indy 500 field the year it
debuted - with William Clay Ford behind the wheel, no less. There's
a world class display of chrome featured on the exterior that
includes a signature bullet sitting at the center of a beefy front
grille and bumper, as well as prominent side trim and awesome
accenting adjacent to the skirted rear wheels. The paint itself is
in fine shape - it's a very distinctive shade and holds a nice,
deep shine and a smooth texture. Neatly tucked beneath the tonneau
cover in back sits a white convertible top that's ready to rise up
for protection in the event of darkening skies.
This vintage Ford features a great looking interior. The pair of
white leather bucket seats at its center were originally from a
Lincoln and fit nicely in this setting, with door panels to each
side and quarter trim in back featuring period appropriate tuck and
roll surfaces. A plush center console sits between the buckets,
offering additional interior storage space. The dash area remains
in largely original configuration and it's looking as clean as can
be, with its fan shaped instrument cluster clear and readable, an
analog clock that actually works, and all switches and control
knobs securely in place. The original AM radio is still positioned
at the center of the dash, but there's also an AM/FM/Cassette
stereo mounted in the glove box to provide an enhanced audio
soundtrack while you're on the road. The spacious trunk area is
well prepped and harbors a full-size spare inside.
In place of the original vintage engine, a 302 cubic inch V8 now
sits beneath the hood, surrounded by cleanly painted inner fenders
and a matte black fire wall, wearing a blue-tinged, open element
air cleaner and surrounded by fresh plug wires. It was only
recently rebuilt, so it's running in top form, and pairs with a 4
speed automatic transmission whose overdrive gear provides low RPM
cruising at highway speeds. Farther forward, there's a sizable
aluminum radiator on board to help keep engine temperatures under
control during more demanding driving conditions. This pivotal
classic rides on a set of 15" wheels with chrome hub cabs wearing
6.70-15 whitewall tires to top off its thoroughly authentic
appearance. A glance below will reveal an undercarriage that's in
impressively solid shape and from that vantage point you can see
the X bracing Ford employed to maximize structural rigidity.
Rarely encountered and endlessly impressive, this 1953 Ford
Sunliner Convertible is a skillfully restored classic that features
a number of well-chosen upgrades to make for a fine vintage driving
experience. Call today!