Vehicle Description
1953 Ford Crestline Victoria
There is something wonderful, disquieting, and in the end,
embarrassing about America's cars in the 1950's: the lunkers, the
dreamboats, the befinned, the be-chromed behemoths that lurked in
the driveways of our suburban ranch homes in the burbs... only
because they were too big for the garage! These were so American it
drove Europeans to the brink of envy with their excesses in
horsepower, and gadgetry. Throw caution to the wind as gas was
super cheap, and was sold by the gallon, not the liter, so drive
on! (Thanks to Karl Ann Marling from Autoeroticism)
For consignment the example so defining of the era of car
manufacturing it would be an example in the dictionary under the
word excess. This fully restored example of a 1953 Ford Victoria is
certainly dripping with all the trappings of the era, and then
some. Pristine condition, and an amalgamation of various models all
put together for this total custom creation begging the question
"Who's your daddy?!"
Exterior
Up front and center we start with a re-chromed Corvette grille (ah
you thought it looked familiar) all mirror-like and framed with a
chrome trim piece on top fastened with a gaggle of round chromed
bolts. Below is the bumper, showing off just as nice as the grille.
Flanking on either side are a single headlight complete with the
chromed visor and round chrome trim piece embedded smoothly into
the front quarters. These are side by side with a bulbous long
rounded hood with a painted pinstripe flourish in white, which is a
very nice contrast to the gorgeous red paint seen on all the
straight steel panels. On the mid front quarters, is a trim spear
which starts and ends on the quarters, and is topped with a round
half sphere. On the rockers are lake pipes with a trio of dummy
outlets, all in a background of beautiful miles deep red paint.
Fender skirts hold the curved line from the lake pipes to the rear
bumper, and show just a hint of wide white sidewall. On back are
nose cone-esque Olds pointy taillights, and another pristine
bumper. On the trunk lid is a contrasting red pinstripe flourish
and on the rear quarters are twin angled rearward antenna. A large
curved rear glass is framed with a massive chrome trimming wrapping
around the "B" pillar with the glass. 15 inch Cragar like chromed 5
spokes with knockoff hubs blaze the wide whites on all 4 corners,
and sport red inner hubs.
Interior
Not to be outdone by the exterior, a mixed use of red vinyl and
white leather covers all the door panel surfaces and seats. The
seats are white tuck and roll inserts with red bolsters, and we
note a large front split back bench in front and a solid bench in
the rear. The original steering wheel has been modified in the
center for "safety' (sic) with bullet trimmings protruding towards
the driver, and a red center taillight replacing the usual Ford
badging. The steering wheel is white bakelite and has no cracks or
marks. Upfront is the original dash with arched speedometer, with
various gauges arching above it within the red dash top. Super
shiny chromed bezels throughout house white crystal topped knobs
and a neatly inserted AM/FM/Cassette player also with crystal
knobs. On top of the dash is more flourish pinstripes in black and
white, and center mounted temperature gauge now in lieu of the
original clock. Beautiful red carpet floods the floors, and a
perfect white headliner floats above all this 50's splendor and
excess. Speaking of excess a shout out to the trunk which is
covered in black carpet, houses an original ribbed chromed wheel
cover and tire, a fire extinguisher, and chromed Victoria badging
with a lower V spear...excellent!
Drivetrain
Everywhere one turns their eye, you can feast on excess and eye
candy, and the engined bay is no exception. Making use of brass,
chrome, red paint, and black background, it's a 239ci V8 complete
with Edmunds red painted silver ribbed heads. Topping it are a trio
of brass plated Offenhauser 2-barrel carburetors and intake. On
back is a smooth Ford-O-Matic 3-speed automatic transmission. You
must see this fine mix of metals and painted surfaces to believe
how nice it really is finished off. All rebuilt approximately 5
years ago including the rear.
Undercarriage
I'm in process of grabbing my knife and fork and my plan is to turn
this car upside down and eat off it, its that clean. All straight
steel painted a nice black, and structurally solid as a rock.
Independent coil spring suspension for the front, and leaf springs
for the rear, along with drum brakes all around. Sound construction
topped off with clean rust-free exhaust pipes combining with the
headers, and Smitty mufflers to give this car a low rumble upon
approach of it.
Drive-Ability
Obviously, it fired up immediately, and that low rumble is a bit
menacing, but is kept at bay with all the trimmings and excess on
this car. A flip of the gear shift lever (topped with crystal of
course!) and I'm off to the test track. She performed excellently,
with great acceleration and handling, power steering for those
tight spaces, and excellent braking. All controls were in working
order. Honestly, I could not get enough of this beautiful blinged
out Crestline. I would love to have this in my driveway, even
though it would fit in my garage, I'd want to show it off to the
neighbors a bit.
This writer is a sucker for these 50's pieces of Detroit iron, and
with all the trimmings I'm in LOVE! A fantastic build producing a
Crestline for the ages, a show winner fer sur. Every detail just
beautifully finished, and no stone left unturned for this excellent
build.
B3MV108547
B-V8
3-1953
M-Memphis, TN Assy Plant
108547-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.