For almost 70 years, the Ford Motor Company has used the Courier nameplate on a variety of vehicles marketed all over the world. Probably the most well-known in the United States are the compact pickup trucks produced in partnership with Mazda in the 1970’s and 1980’s but the first time the company used that name for a vehicle was in 1952 for a commercial vehicle, a sedan delivery based on Ford’s two door station wagons. Those vehicles continued to be in the Ford vehicle line-up through the 1960 model year when the company introduced the Econoline cargo van.
Ford created the Courier by taking a two door station wagon and creating a cargo area where the rear seat would be. Painted steel panels replaced the rear side windows. That created a fairly spacious area for hauling boxes cargo which was out of sight and secure.
Commercial vehicles are often produced in relatively small numbers when compared to passenger vehicles and this vehicle follows that rule. This 1954 Ford Courier is one of only 6,404 built in that model year and was one of the vehicles to debut the company’s new “Y block” V8 engine. Ford had initially planned to introduce the replacement for their tried and true flathead V8 in 1953, but a shortage of nickel brought on by the Korean War forced them to push that back until materials were able to be sourced.
The new powerplant displaced 239 cubic inches, the same as the flathead it replaced. However, Ford achieved this with a larger cylinder bore and shorter crankshaft stroke creating an additional 20 horsepower over its predecessor. The shorter stroke also helped the engine sustain higher RPM’s than the flathead. In later years the Y block would grow to 272 cubic inches, 292 cubic inches and 312 cubic inches until being replaced by the FE engine series.
This 1954 Ford Courier was recently acquired by the present owner and appears to be in overall good condition. The 239 cubic inch V8 runs smoothly and is well-detailed down to the oil bath air cleaner. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a three speed manual transmission with overdrive which shifts smoothly. The vehicle retains the factory six volt electrical system.
Obviously an older restoration, the paint has imperfections one would expect from a vehicle that has been driven and enjoyed by previous owners. The most glaring deficiency is an area near the lower passenger side of the tailgate where some paint has come off. The vehicle is absent of visible rust and the chrome is driver quality or better with some minor issues on the front bumper.
The bench seat has been covered in brown vinyl and presents in excellent condition. It sits well and puts the driver in a comfortable position to handle the driving chores of a vehicle with manual steering and transmission. With just over 6,400 Couriers built in 1954 and the fact that many commercial vehicles are subject to rigorous use it’s rare to find one of these vehicles, much less one in this condition. It’s a safe bet you will not see another one of these at your local cruise night or car show! This would make an excellent addition to a collector of commercial vehicles or a unique cornerstone for an individual beginning a collection to build around.
Evergreen Digital Showroom offers this 1954 Ford Courier for $25,900 USD. Pre-purchase inspections are welcomed and encouraged. We would gladly assist in arranging shipping at buyer’s expense. To discuss this vehicle or to make an offer, call sales manager Steve Russell at 417-532-8000.
NOTICE
Because of the number of vehicles we represent we cannot drive every vehicle for long distances. These vehicles have been part of static displays for long periods of time, in some cases for decades, and are subject to the flaws and imperfections consistent with that. While we do our best to disclose all issues we known about a vehicle in our advertising, these are old cars and something that has always worked in the past might not function properly today. Please check the requirements of your state regarding the licensing and registration of classic vehicles and make sure the vehicle you are looking at meets those if applicable. Unless otherwise noted, all vehicles represented by Evergreen Digital Showroom possess a clean (non-branded) title which will be provided the new buyer when purchase funds clear our financial institution. Virtually all our vehicles are sold as mileage exempt due to their age. We do not warranty any vehicle, nor any part of the vehicle including air conditioning systems, brake systems, electrical systems and gauges, fuel systems, accessories or powertrain components.
These are old vehicles and it is very common for them to require certain maintenance and upkeep for them to be operational. In many cases issues with leaks may develop when being driven after a long period of not being used. This is common, as classic cars at some point will leak fluids. For this reason, we do not encourage buyers to attempt driving their purchase home as we cannot guarantee functional reliability of these vehicles. We strongly encourage prospective buyers to be sure they are comfortable with these issues before purchasing a classic car.
Descriptions of vehicles represented by Evergreen Digital Showroom are intended to be informational in nature and do not in any way constitute any sort of warranty, expressed or implied. Again, these vehicles are presented “as-is, where-is” without guarantee or warranty. Vehicles manufactured prior to 1981 will likely not be included in the databases of companies such as CarFax and AutoCheck that provide vehicle history information to consumers. If you have specific questions regarding a vehicle we urge you to contact us at 417-532-8000.
