Vehicle Description
1950 Ford Custom Deluxe Crestliner Hardtop
"Called Crestliner, it was a trimmed up Tudor with vinyl roof,
sweeping two tone paint treatment, rear fender skirts, and a luxury
interior. It was also Ford's hurried response to GM's phenomenally
popular 1949-1950 hardtop convertibles. Though the Crestliner was
decidedly elegant, the formal look wasn't big that year. And at
$1,711, it was a good $200 more expensive than the Custom Tudor,
which partly explains why only 17,601 were built that year.
Apparently, 1950 buyers were hungry for true hardtops, not fancy
sedans." Thxauto.howstuffworks.com
For consignment, a 1950 Ford Custom Deluxe Crestliner hardtop with
24,146 miles showing on the odometer, but the true mileage is
unknown. This car was the recipient of a ground up restoration
including engine and transmission and a two time AACA First Place
winner of a National Senior award.
Exterior
Color aside, the design and layout of the lower cove and vinyl top
is stupendous, unique, and immediately eye-catching. Here, it is
presented in two stage brown metallic framed in lightbrown metallic
and topped by a dark brown vinyl roof for a tasty profile that must
have felt like a million bucks in 1950! Beginning on the back
fender, a contoured body line evolves into the housing for the rear
tail lights with a small rise to the fender lined with a careful
piping like detail. These oval tail lights are small compared to
the large chrome bumper and deco style bumper guards but even that
detail is dwarfed in impact by the front grille, fully chromed and
adorned with a center torpedo shaped aesthetic accessory that makes
us want to stare, and get out of the way at the same time! Here
again, an attractive bumper makes its presence known. The hood
ornament, gold emblems, painted wheels and white walls, paint,
chrome, vinyl top, and endless special details are all in fantastic
condition on this flaw free exterior.
Interior
Quality migrates to the inside too where handsome door panels start
with painted headers and then let cloth and vinyl mimic the outside
cove pattern in a clean presentation. This patterned cloth covers
the split bench, framed in mottled brown vinyl with tan piping to
create a visual delineation between the materials. All of this
tidiness spills to the back which is smartly dressed in all the
same patterns and materials. If the grille is showy on the outside,
so too is the aspiration of the steering wheel, an X-patterned,
four spoke beauty with a polished horn ring that hugs each spoke.
The painted dashboard glistens enough to make the switchgear and
gauges mere appendages to the surface, but even they are in
fantastic condition. A push button AM radio sits below a clock in
the middle where it has been contoured into the dash, as inviting
as the tabletop jukebox buttons of the era. The looped brown carpet
with its tan trim is perfect, the headliner is tight and intact and
the trunk is a time capsule from 1950, rubber mat, spare tire, and
jack included.
Drivetrain
AACA judging includes the bay, of course, and here we have a 239ci
flathead V8 with a 2-barrel carburetor and rated at an even 100
horsepower. It's in stock configuration with the exception of the
Pertronix ignition, even the hoses and clamps are period correct.
It's all mated to a 3-speed manual transmission with overdrive,
sending power to the rear axle with 4.11 gears. Drum brakes occupy
the front and rear.
Drive-ability
We check the weather report before taking this one around the loop
and we get the all clear from AccuWeather. Clean and well sorted,
the flathead rumbles to life without issue and rolls this car right
back to 1950, leaving the showroom floor while the salesman waves
goodbye and our car glistens with two stage glory that hasn't been
invented yet. Needless to say, the car runs well, tracks straight,
and all functional items on board operate just as they did on that
proud day in 1950. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these
functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot
guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your
purchase.
Here's a collection grade Crestliner from a year when less than
18,000 were produced. The two tone coverage, the Ford V8, and
details like the trim around the door handle and that amazing
grille, all gave an outward proclamation that you have arrived. And
75 years later, in this condition, it means the exact same thing.
We never guarantee show wins, but this shoebox shaped beauty might
be a shoe in!
B0NR172953
B-239ci Flathead V8
0-1950
NR-Norfolk, VA Assy Plant
172953-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
