Vehicle Description
This 1954 Ford Crestline Skyliner represents the end of the line
for the compact 'shoebox' sedan (with the big-body Tri-5 offerings
set to enter the market the following year), but Ford seems to have
saved the best for last. This incredibly attractive car is a
gorgeous example of the sheer beauty of early '50s American design,
when Art Deco was still King and bright, pastel-colored ruled the
roads. With its unique Skyliner roof (a feature that's made a
roaring comeback in modern cars of late), sharp two-tone paint,
comfortable A/C interior, and Ford's introductory 239 'Y-Block'
drivetrain, this '54 Skyliner is an incredibly special car and a
screaming bargain at this price point.
Restored sometime in the not-too-distant past, this is a very stock
Ford. With so many becoming customs with chopped tops and
suspension-dragging lowering jobs, this 2-door sedan has a
refreshing honesty about it. The period-perfect Sandstone White
over Cameo Coral paint isn't what this car was born with, but it
sure looks fantastic on the curvy '50s Ford bodywork today. It's
not perfect, but why would you want it to be, you are going to
drive this aren't you? Instead, it has a super-clean, high-end
driver-quality look that's always ready to have fun and you can
happily take this car anywhere because it fits right in regardless
of the situation. The laser-straight sheetmetal reflects
beautifully and the body gaps are precise, suggesting that this car
was never wrecked or rusty. And whatever minor imperfections you
may find can be counted on one hand - the majority of which could
likely be eradicated with a high-speed buff-and-wax job. There's
plenty of brightwork to make it seem upscale, including a handsome
grille that recalls the "bulletnose" Fords of just a few years
earlier. The stainless side trim is in excellent shape, there hood
and decklid ornaments are early Ford staples, the heavy bumpers
look big enough to go through a brick wall, and the round
taillights are arguably the beginning of Ford's fascination with
jets. Add in the super-cool yellow fog lights, the rear fender
skirts, and of course, that amazing glass-top roof and you have one
of the coolest Skyliners (and there aren't many of these left on
the road to compare) that we've ever seen.
The wonderful interior remains period-correct and almost 100%
stock, with a bright 1950s sensibility that perfectly complements
the high-impact exterior. Uniquely designed seat covers show
practically zero use and age and those matching tri-colored door
panels are a lot more dramatic than you might expect from a vehicle
of this vintage. All the original gauges remain in the dash,
including the domed speedometer up top, and they're joined by a
trio of familiar aftermarket dials hanging underneath. The
engine-turned dash insert adds some contrast, just like the
stainless side trim on the exterior, and it works just as well here
to bring the bling. The original AM radio is still in place
(although due for an upgrade if you want tunes), as is the clock,
and a modern A/C system was discretely added underneath and doesn't
draw too much attention to itself. That's the original, dual-ring
steering wheel at the helm, which has a rather nice heft to it when
you're cruising, and with on-the-column automatic shifting this is
a car just about anyone can drive and enjoy. Out back the rear seat
has carried nothing more than those neatly stitched pillows, and
the spacious trunk was finished correctly with a black mat and
matching whitewall spare.
1954 was the first year for Ford's 'Y-block' series of OHV V8s,
with this one displacing 239 cubic inches. The newly designed
engine makes great torque and nice V8 sounds and with its bright
orange valve covers and matching air cleaner it looks perfectly
stock under the hoof. Even the oil bath air cleaner's decals, Ford
carburetor, intake, and exhaust manifolds are pretty much as they
were in 1954. The unique exhaust manifolds wrap around the top of
the exhaust ports and feed a throaty dual exhaust system with
chubby glasspack-style mufflers, so it certainly sounds the part of
a '50s custom but with a little added 'oomph'. Power steering and
power front disc brakes are a rather rare sight to behold in a
1954, but they're certainly welcomed as this Skyliner is just a joy
to drive. The 2-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and
handles the V8's power with ease, and the undercarriage has
obviously been well-attended to and is extremely solid everywhere
you look. That awesome stance is set atop Coral-colored steelies
adorned with period-perfect Ford hubcaps, all of which are wrapped
in 205/75/15 Coker Classics wide whitewall radials that finish off
the look perfectly.
No surprises, just a super-clean, honest Ford Skyliner. If you've
never owned one, you don't know what you're missing and if you're
already one of the faithful, this is a fun, inexpensive way to
enjoy an old favorite with a unique twist. Call today!
