1953 Ford Crestline Victoria
For consignment, a 1953 Ford Crestline Victoria with an upgraded powerplant and features that are a long way from the cover car in 1953. This one has been chopped, stretched, sectioned, tunneled and customized in ways that make this a one of one configuration of a once common car.
Exterior
Striking metal flake red makes this car look like a candy apple with wheels, and those wheels are staggered sized Cragars with white wall tires and bullet center caps. The chopped top rides low and the car opens with amazing gullwing doors taking with them the narrow side windows. A custom grille has been formed by precisely bent metal, like ripples from the center under deeply tunneled headlights. It's been nosed and decked as well and the molded in third brake light is mirrored by the trunk lid's custom body lines which waterfall into a license plate cove between heavily smoked LED taillights from a 1956 Chevy. The shoulder line shoots straight back from the tip of the headlight tunnel to the finned tail lights and the entire body sits low over the wheels which tuck up into the wells. Intake ducts on the hood and square exhaust tips exiting under the body add subtle aggressiveness to this custom ride. Red LED lights create a showy, somewhat devilish display at night. The only imperfection we note is some of the metal flake unevenly distributed in the paint.
Interior
No door handles, no worries! These are power doors that open with the push of a button and they rise gullwing style to welcome occupants. Chesterfield style button backed design in black painted velour lines the doors above your head and repeats on the low back front bucket seats and the two rear seats which are separated by a custom center console that flows from the front and is prominent in the back. The steering wheel and dash cover also wear this charcoal soft cloth and buttons and the custom center console houses an AM/FM/Cassette player and equalizer and where it goes horizontal between the seats, numerous unmarked toggle switches and two white faced gauges. Low pile black carpet covers the floor loosely and more velour makes up the headliner. The trunk, which also is power operated, is covered with black carpet and houses the battery.
Drivetrain
Press a button and the hood opens automatically toward the front and reveals a chrome filled engine bay where we find a 350ci V8 with three 2-barrel carburetors. A TH350 3-speed automatic transmission sends power to the Ford 9" in the rear. Drum brakes occupy all four corners.
Undercarriage
Super clean underneath where the fuel cell shines brightly and includes a cut off switch. The dual exhaust travels the length of the car and has no mufflers before exiting at those rectangle tips. The rear axle has been shortened and fat tires fit into the tubs. Coil spring and leaf spring setup occupies the front and back respectively. We note some residual oil on the pan and a few drips at the rear differential which may be emanating from the fill hole. No rust and no grease or road build up.
Drive-Ability
As you might hear on Monty Python, and now for something completely different. There's something batmobile like about this car and the inside feels like a well padded bat cave. The big low car slithers onto the test loop, reflecting the sun in the metal flakes causing it to practically illuminate in broad daylight. The engine runs well, the automatic shifts are smooth, and with the exception of the A/C not working and the radio going on but not producing sound, all other functions on board operate. 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.
Custom cars like this are truly works of art, the interpretation of someone's vision being realized in a three dimensional feast for the eyes. You will have the only one like this and be ready for crowds to gather wherever you go. In the battle of gullwing equipped cars, this one would garner more attention than a DeLorean, a Bricklin, and maybe even a 300 SL.
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.
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!
