Vehicle Description
31,733 original miles. 332 cubic inch V8, automatic. Gorgeous Raven Black with new black and white interior, new black power top. Runs and drives superbly.
Code A Raven Black is this car’s original color and we believe that the car has been repainted once, perhaps 10-12 years ago. It still looks fantastic, and as you know, black is notoriously difficult to get right. Fortunately, it looks like this one has all its original bodywork and has never been wrecked or rusty, so the doors fit well and the big expanses of black paint on the quarter panels and hood are smooth and ripple-free. The stainless and chrome pieces are likely original and in excellent shape, with a nice shine and notably few issues. The car arrived in our shop without its center grille bar, which was a popular modification when the car was relatively new, but we found the original piece in the trunk and reinstalled it for a correct look. You’ll also note that the car includes an accessory continental kit that lends it a dramatic look and is fully outfitted with a hard-shell tire cover and proper filler pieces around the bumper.
The gorgeous black and white interior is a mixture of old and new, with fresh seat covers front and rear. It’s handsomely appointed and big enough for six passengers, again reinforcing the Ford’s upscale image. Ford’s arching speedometer offers crisp markings and bright orange pointers, and all the dials are fully functional. In fact, everything works except the clock, which isn’t surprising, and the while the original AM radio is still in the dash, it has been supplanted by an AM/FM/cassette head unit neatly installed underneath and powering a set of removable speakers in the top well. The black convertible top is new, folding easily with the touch of a button, and features a matching black boot. The massive trunk is outfitted with a new mat set as well as a brand new spare tire that’s never been used and a full jack assembly (note that there is also a spare tire in the continental kit).
The engine is the original G-code 332 cubic inch “Interceptor” V8, which was the mid-range offering in 1958 and by far the most popular. The G-code featured a 4-barrel carburetor and 265 horsepower, so the big ragtop is plenty fleet of foot on the road. With so few miles, we believe the engine has never been rebuilt or out of the car, although I’m informed that the gentleman who cared for the car was fanatical about leaks and spent considerable time chasing them down one by one. The engine has obviously been painted and detailed, so it’s not 100% correct, but it does use a factory air cleaner for a proper look and you can’t argue with how it runs. A single turn of the key and it lights off easily, settling into a smooth, easy idle even when it’s ice cold. On the road, it pulls smoothly without a hitch in the flow of torque and thanks to a pair of glasspack-style mufflers, it has a wonderful ‘50s V8 sound that gets even better with the top down.
The engine is backed by a 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission, which was likely installed 5-6 years ago, as the door tag decodes as a 3-speed manual transmission. We’re very impressed by the installation, which was done using 100% factory components so that the change is undetectable—even the shifter quadrant on the instrument panel was correctly installed. It shifts cleanly through all three gears and with 2.69 gears out back, this car just loafs along at highway speeds. The undercarriage is unquestionably original but in remarkably good shape with solid floors, a straight frame, and no signs of rust or rot anywhere on the critical sheetmetal components. Please review the photos and note that the car includes two sets of wheels and tires as well. It is currently wearing its original 14-inch steel wheels with hubcaps and new wide whitewall radials for a correct look.
This car’s story is its originality and the care it received with a very passionate owner. It’s an absolutely wonderful car to drive and for fans of low-mileage cars, it has that intangible factory feel that’s impossible to restore back into a car. Very nicely sorted and ready to enjoy at any level, this handsome Sunliner is a rather rare find that will be the center of attention wherever it goes.
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
