For Sale: 1951 Ford Victoria in Cleveland, Ohio

Superb restoration in excellent condition. Unusual Canadian-market car. Stunning correct interior. Smooth-running flathead V8 with 3-speed manual and overdrive. Highly detailed throughout. A superb Shoebox Ford ready to tour or show.This lovely 1951 Ford Victoria was reportedly restored by the late Don Gibson and went on to score a perfect 1000 points at an Early Ford V8 Club national meet in Dearborn, MI. It's an unusual Canadian-market car, which means the unique paint combination and tan engine are 100% correct. It has been driven about 1400 miles since it was completed and the only signs of use are those that could be wiped away with a damp cloth. It is simply superb in every way. Paint and bodywork are exemplary with fit and finish at least equal to whatever the factory was doing in 1951. The doors swing closed without a heavy slam and there's a deep reflection in the paint that only comes from a lot of tedious manual labor. And as Ford's first hardtop, there's a lot of unique ornamentation on the car, all of which has been restored. The chrome and stainless trim is excellent, the glass is unmarked, and the only real demerit we can find is some paint has rubbed off on the 'Victoria' badges on the front fenders. This is a seriously nice car.The interior has been correctly restored with proper striped cloth and leather seating surfaces, new carpets, and matching door panels. The beautiful instrument panel is brightly finished with correct switches and gauges, all of which are fully functional. The big steering wheel makes the little Ford easy to handle around town and the 3-speed manual transmission shifts cleanly with easy clutch action. You'll also note the 'OVERDRIVE' knob under the dash, which manages the factory Borg-Warner overdrive unit that makes this an easy cruiser under almost any circumstances. Like the exterior, finish quality is excellent and detailing is exact-there's a reason this car apparently scored 1000 points in competition. Even the package shelf by the rear window and the headliner are taut and wrinkle-free. The trunk is outfitted with a correct mat, full-sized spare, and factory jack assembly.The engine is Ford's familiar 239 cubic inch flathead V8, which in 1951 made a nice, round 100 horsepower. But the numbers don't tell the full story, as the torquey V8 makes the Victoria feel lively on the road and it makes such wonderful V8 sounds. The tan engine enamel is correct for a Canadian-built Ford, and given the car's pedigree, everything around it is accurate. There's a new wiring harness, a proper oil bath air cleaner, an accessory oil filter, and Ford script hoses for the cooling system-there's even a reproduction battery. It spins over easily and starts quickly with a bit of choke, and settles into a familiar flathead burble from the single tailpipe. Brakes and suspension have obviously been rebuilt, there's a fresh reproduction exhaust system, and we can find no traces of floor or rocker panel patches, so if anything was repaired, it was expertly done. A new gas tank hangs out back and it sits on correct 15-inch steel wheels with factory hubcaps and a set of 6.70-15 Firestone wide whites that look exactly right.We're extremely impressed with this car. Someone was sweating the details when it went together and it's more than just a trailer queen-it works properly. It's also a very useful, practical hobby car with plenty of space for the family and performance that won't make it a rolling roadblock on today's streets. If you love vintage Fords, this is a special one. Call today!Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.