@@johnboydTxthat Sax Player is the great Rudy Pompelli! Even though Bill Haley passed in the 1980s, the original core band stayed together and those old Cats were STILL playing live every night in Branson, Mo... Up until maybe 2006-7! AND they were still as great as they were on those mid Fifties recordings 😁
1954, what a great year. My father bought a brand new 54 Mainline todor and a few months later I was born. I can still remember this as my father had this car for many years. It was our only car, and he was a rural mailman driving it in mostly dirt, an cinder roads in the countryside in Ohio. Does anyone know what a cinder road is? Anyway, I was born in Feb. of 54 in a small hospital that used to be a horsebarn in a snowstorm when my parents drove me home in it. I already had two older sisters and one older brother. 15 months later my little brother was born so 7 of us would pile into this car. I always loved to lay out on the back window shelf, three in the back seats, and my bady brother would sit on my moms lap. No seat belts. Can you imagine doing that now. My mother promised my father to learn to drive so he purchased a new 1959 Chevy stationwagon. Mom got her license and my father drove the 54 another few years on his route until it was wornout. This video brings back wonderful memories to me as we were and still are are a close family. My parents are long gone, as well is my oldest brother, but the rest of us remember and ocasionlly talk about the old blue 54 Ford. We have old movies and pictures of it as well. Great show, you made my day. I will be 70 in Feb. and will think about this car. What a grateful life I have had.
I try not to correct others too often, but, I feel you would want to know; The belt line is at the top of the door, it separates the main (sheetmetal) body of the car from the greenhouse. It is where the metal ends and the glass begins. The chrome strip down the side is often called the rub strip. It is to keep other doors from rubbing the side of your car. It also affords the stylist something extra with which to embellish the car. Enjoy the videos very much. Your delivery is improved from earlier on.
Thank you so much I need to learn how to describe things better it has come along way but there’s still definitely room for improvement.. Thank s again glad you dig this episode =)
@@What.its.like. Jay, you're getting better and better are using the appropriate lingo. The most important thing is that you notice the design details - how the curves meet, the varying textures and lines, and so forth. That's the most important thing to me. Dig it. Andy
I have a '54 Crestline fordor sedan, C-kit on rear, all original Y-block 239, 6v, has OD also. Dual exhaust, nice 8 tube Super Fringe AM radio, good heater also. We live in central MN, have driven this car to NYC, TN, also ND, MT and Canada, a tremendous road car, those ball joints did the trick. Cruises at 80 mph.
5:07 As a kid, my folks had a '54 Ford station wagon, with that 6-cyl engine, automatic transmission (mom never learned to drive a stick). What fun we kids had sitting in the back, on the flat area behind the rear seat, sliding around, banging our heads on the rear-widow mechanisms ... none of that would be allowed today.
7:24 Oddly, we had TWO of these wagons, the 1st was a two-door ... which mom HATED. With three kids under 5, it must have been a pain in the rump for her. Later we had the SAME wagon model (even the same green color!), but 4-door. That's probably kind of an odd situation.
Beautiful Ford Skyliner. I'm surprised this Dealer Car wasn't heavily optioned w/power assists because of the added cost of the Skyliner option itself. My first cousin's best friends mother owned a loaded, Colonial White, '57 Skyliner with Black & White fabric and vinyl interior. Everything including AC. She kept us after school until our parents picked us up. I played in it often and told everyone that when I got my license, I'd buy it. Unfortunately when she stopped driving her daughter sold it before I became of age. I'd pick the Chevy. My fav 50's Ford is a Raven Black '57 Thunderbird. Great post. 👍🏾
WYR: Ford Crestline for both. My parents has a Skyliner before I came along and my mother said it really WOULD bake you in the summer, even in NY state. I have a smart car with a plexiglas roof and keep the sunshade in use most of the time; and I have air conditioning. Ford offered a clear roof in the Mustang coupe through 2014, but I can't say I've ever seen it. My favorite 1950s Ford would be the first year Ranchero "Ute". Thunderbirds looked cool, but Man, are the '55 - '57 cramped!
Man this car is so cool, I tried to buy one with the glass top so many times but I just never could come up with the money. Out of all the 50s Ford's 54 to 56 are my favorite.
A neighbor of my Grandmother had a 2 door custom line I was 5 or 6 so mid 60's she'd take mom and my brothers home when we'd visit we lived a few miles away. I remember she'd start out in first rev it up some and jump to 3rd, mom always ask her about 2nd and she'd always say I use on the big hills so don't need it.
My father in law restored a custom line four door model. When he passed I was given the job of caretaker for the car until his niece picked it up. I loved driving that car. V-8 3 speed manual with overdrive.
The taillights on the '54 Ford were a carryover from '53, but the 1952 Ford had different taillights. Glad you are referring to the windshield wipers as opposing, rather than suicide. As for picks I would choose the '54 Plymouth and Nash. My most liked Ford of the fifties would be 1956.
I didn't even know these Dealership Cars existed. That's what I love about your channel- so much new stuff learned! BTW: I ended up doing some research on these Dealership Cars and these cars were built to a higher standard than regular production cars. These cars tended to have a higher level of fit and finish to convince the customer to buy it.
54 Ford Crestline 54 Custom Club 57 Ford two door hardtop. What a beautiful automobile. I love that color. The 54 Ford was miles ahead of what Chevrolet was offering in 54. Ever since as a young boy seeing a Salmon red and Cream two-tone 50's Ford hardtop pass us on a vacation trip, I've loved the Fords of that era. These Fords look small at first glance but they're really a roomy full size car. Also, what were the Ford engineers thinking when they decided to run those exhaust manifolds right up there on the top of the engine and all the way around it? I'll bet the mechanics hated that because it was easy to get burned when you're working on the car.
That's Cool Jay 😎! See your engine running while you drive down the road!! My only experience with Fords of this era would be Grandpa's Galaxy 500, "ya,that car's got zip! Mach schnell!" 🚀
I do like 52 - 54 Ford's. They were made in Australia, in 4 door and ute (pickup) form, with the sedans being Customlines and the utes being Mainlines. The transparent top made the cars thus fitted bakingly hot any time the sun was out, hot climate or cold, which is why it was only on offer for 3 years.
Great idea. The Mercury had their version called "SUN VALLEY." Beautiful, but oh, those HOT days ! The 1955 Mercury Montclaire Sun Valley was truly GEORGEOUS! The 1956 was its final year.
This is a cool episode =) I didn’t get done with it until late last night so I figured I’d just post it regular time I might move posting time back in the winter time instead of the videos coming out around 420 have them come out later on in the evening I need to find the mercury version =)
We got the "so called 1954 " Ford down under, but it was the previous years facelift with Ford disposing of its over supply of flat head engines, We only got the new V8 in 55.
The jury is still out whether or not the continental spare tire kit looks good or bad on this car I personally like it but without it it makes the car look more streamlined if that makes any sense but the spare tire never bothered me
Wish you would have filmed the roof from the inside back seats to see the view forward and upward from the rear seats. Also, could you in future videos show the rear leg room with the front seats all the way back and all the way forward. I'm a 50-53 bel air guy, but this is a very close second. Great video, thanks.
I will try I don’t move the seats because they can be cumbersome to move if they haven’t been moved for years if that makes any sense.. glad you dig this video
A great episode for a truly great car. I will be looking forward to your '54 Mercury Monterey Sun Valley follow up sometime in the future. As for WYR. Not much of a challenge here as I would take the '54 Ford Crestline in both instances. Who wouldn't? As for my favorite Ford of the '50's. First off I would like to state that EVERY '50's Ford is a great looking car. But if I had my choice I think I would pick a Colonial White 1959 Ford Thunderbird. 😀
@@What.its.like. There are probably not too many of those Sun Valley’s left out in the wild as I would imagine that most of them are in car museums or else private collections. But they are not a particularly rare car, as there were almost 10,000 sold in their maiden year. Surprisingly, they came in just two colors: Parklane Green and Yosemite Yellow. I saw one at car show once back in the mid 1980’s and was quite impressed by what I saw. The 1955 Mercury Montclair Sun Valley however is indeed a rare car as only around 1,500 were sold even though they were offered in at least six different colors. The reason for the unexpected decline in sales was that the plexiglass top tended to make the car more hotter inside than it normally would be and as a result word soon got around and sales plummeted. I’ve got a feeling that you will come across one in the not too distant future. It will make a great ‘What’s It Like’ episode for sure!
This car is beautiful! I have heard of the "see through" hood but never actually seen one. I'll take the '54 Crestline Skyliner in both cases. And I like the '59 Fords best.
With Christmas coming up I thought JAY IS RIGHT DAMN IT. I am going to take my significant other and bring them to see all the classics at the mall. That’s all I can afford. 😅
What I find fascinating is the number of options that were offered…..but honestly, I wonder just how many were ever installed. You never see power windows and seats in a Ford of this era! Ditto to the glass roof, which had to be an ass burner getting in on a hot sunny day with no AC.
I like the dash of the 54 better. Never knew of the "dealership sample" cars. always good to learn things 😊 The "Y block" was certainly an improvement over the flathead, but it would soon show it's weaknesses in the top-end oiling. I've always said to never buy any new engineering on cars, but to instead wait a year or two to see how well it goes IRL. The transitional styling of these cars has it's own appeal but most folks seem to like earlier or later ,models; I know I do. WYR I like the mid-50's Chevy's, and around here at last you see them on the road occasionally but never any Chrysler or Ford cars from the era. The Rambler Custom Club is neat and nobody else would have one but the Crestline is far better looking. Very hard to pick a favorite 50's Ford. I've always liked the 57 Fairlane, but the 50 shoebox with the bullet nose is super neat, and the 56 is also beautiful, plus there's the early T-birds. And there's the pickups through mid-decade which are also cool. Though I usually like something different and rare, if I could pick only one it would be a 56 T-bird even though the 57 had 12V electrics, a bigger engine, and an optional Paxton supercharger. Maybe I've watched "American Graffiti" to many times, but that white T-bird with a young Suzanne Somers at the wheel is the prettiest thing the 50's ever had going for it.
'52 thru '54 Fords were very handsome designs. Like the '54 dash better with the window over the speedometer & engine turned instrument panel. Imagine that the 6-cylinder didn't make too much sense to most buyers since the MPG was nearly the same with both engines, although I hear that the I-6 lasted longer the Y-Block. Love the "radiused" rear seat side glass. Did this car come with a factory 12-Volt option? WYR: -1- 54 Crestline -2- 54 Ramber Custom Club. Like the '57 Ford best....styling won out vs Chevy that year in sales figures.
The 55 and 56 Ford are by far the most beautiful big Fords of the 1950s. The 1954 is kind of just a transitional year btwn the far more interesting shoe box Fords of 49-51 and the later 55 and on Fords
Awesome reasoning behind your picks for me I like the 52 2 door sedan There is tons of space everywhere in the front back trunk is huge I would take the six cylinder over the flathead V-8.. The six cylinders didn’t have the problems the flathead V-8 had..
One of the most beautiful Fords ever designed IMO! This one is a real stunner! The details are awesome and the color scheme is absolutely gorgeous!🤩 I love the dash and steering wheel design also. The WYR''s are all great automobiles, but after seeing this beauty in detail, I'd go with it! I have always really liked the '57&'58 models as well, but still wouldn't pass this one over! 😎
Hi Jay!: LOVE the 1950's Fords! Probably the least successful design was probably the 1958. Just so happens, my Daddy was a paint and body man at the local Ford dealership in the 1950's, up until about the early 1960's. He told me of the intense competition with the Chevy dealer across Main St. from the Ford dealership. He said they even painted out the showroom windows until the new models came out, so the rival across the street couldn't see the new ones until release day! Anyway, the 1954 Skyliner is a COOL machine (up north at least!) and the see through hood was interesting! I believe that Ford did that for several years during the period. The 1954 kind of gets overshadowed by the 1953 (nice design , last of the flatties) and the 1955 a REALLY NICE design. WYR#1 1954 FORD, #2 1954 FORD. Bonus question ALL OF THEM! Even the homely 1958!!
My father put one of these plexiglass tops into a 1952 Ford hardtop for a friend of his. The owner saved the metal, and plexiglass from a rusty car. The owner went around telling everyone it was factory experimental.
@@What.its.like. Ford made the glass top cars all the way through 1956. The 1956 Crown Victoria Glass top was somehing to see. It almost seemed like it was to much, with the stainless roof band, and all the extra trim. My favorite 50s Ford is either the 1951 Victoria hardtop, or the 1956 Victoria hardtop.
Great find as promised . Being more into Mercurys, if I went classic car shopping since I like 59 Chevys, I would pick the 59 Ford Skyliner or other Ford hardtops as a favorite. First choice 54 Ford (The Plymouth pictured is part of a 4 car Plymouth collection including a blue 4 door sedan, green 2 door wagon, and a yellow convertible, a set of showroom cars still in the same family that had a Chrysler dealership) the 2nd the Nash Country Club. Went to one of my Oldsmobile books and found a picture of a 49 Olds with a plexiglas insert hood they provided for some dealership display cars.
Awesome choices and insight I want to cover a Nash country club before the year is over don’t think it’s going to happen tho.. airflow as well but eh there is always next year
Interesting! I’d have expected a dealer sample to have every last option, but I did not see power brakes or steering. My first car was a Y block, 1961 Fairlane with 292. As a native of the Pacific NorthWET, I think the ultimate PNW convertible would be the Skyliner retractable hardtop, preferably 1959 - lowest production numbers but improved roof mechanism.
@@What.its.like. Jay, unless one lives in California, the Pacific Northwet is best thought of as In Back of Beyond. There are beautiful landscapes past the west side of the Rocky Mountains. The distances are huge. Denver to Salt Lake City is 530 miles. Salt Lake to Portland 770 miles. Seattle to Portland 170 miles. Seattle to Los Angeles 1260 miles. I live south of Portland. It's 70 miles to the beach from here. It's 120 miles to Bend. That's a ski town near several volcanos. Thesre are huge deserts in the western states. All this means lots of very long, yet enjoyable drives.
I did one but it’s been a little wild the format of the channel totally changed I would love to do another one I would love to compare the Mark II with the El Dorado brougham but that’s like a hell Mary I know where there is an El Dorado brougham forsale finding those two would be really hard ua-cam.com/video/iDudLvVpuaA/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared
This car is very beautiful, minus the hood with the window. One of the best looking 50's Ford's, but I think the shoebox version is better. I would take the 54 Bel-Air, as a sentimental favorite; it's the first car I remember riding in.
This is a beauty, and a great color. I like the '54 dash better than the '53. I'm just a little surprised this isn't an automatic given this was top-of-the-line. Anyway, for WYR I'll take the Crestline for the first two scenarios. For the last I'm leaning with the '59, largely because it was one of the better looking cars that year.
In both cases, I rather have the Crestline. In comparison to the 53, the headlights were the same size. There was only one standard lamp for all cars at that time, it fit every make and model and year, up to 1958 when duel headlights were used with separate lamps for high and low beam. Those were a different size than the single lamp that included both high and low beams, which is what this car has. The camera angle or lighting was causing that impression of different sizes. The same holds true for the trunk logos. They were both the same.
Great video once again jay, I love that color also. I always found it interesting that the 54’s were built on a 115 inch wheel base and by 62 the midsize fairlane and meteors were on a 115 inch wheelbase? . For the would you rather I’ll take the Chevy and then in the 2nd round it’s the 54 ford and for the nicest ford it’s the 57 then the 56 both are beautiful but the 57 is too cool and underrated IMO, thanks jay keep em coming please
I am not sure if this is an original "Skyliner" or not, since the C pillar does not have the Skyliner's golden waffle pattern plastic background with the Ford crest mounted in it, but rather the Victoria's stamped Stainless Steel background with the Ford Crest insert.
I’m suprised by the hp rating of the Y block being 130. The engine in my 1970 Holden is a 186 cu in inline 6 fed by a single throat Stromberg carby. The engine was released in 1966 model year, and it also produces 130 hp apparently, yet it’s 53 cubic inches smaller. But the Sunliner is a beautiful car!
@@CreatorCade I’m not suprised the bigger engines made more hp, but I don’t know how much hp a Holden 6 got to, I guess a 202 cu in fed with triple SU carbs in a GTR XU-1 was the peak of their engines. Then there’s the Chrysler hemi 6 with triple Webers also, not really a hemi, they just used the parent company’s name. But 10 - 20 years after 1954 of course!
WYR 1 and 2? Ford. Hint the "V8 "badge is actually a Y8 Badge, Also, the "rear fender" is actually the 1/4 panel. Rear Fender? Bolted on. Favorite of the 50's Fords 57 and 59. Hint? the headlights were exactly the same size, part number 6006 the "6" indicates 6 volt, 6012 the "12" indicates 12 volt.. The only size used until quad headlights.
LOL... the way you did the intro, I was waiting for you to break into Billy Joel's "We didn't start the fire"... Other than saying you have an 8, I don't see the advantage of paying for it. That 15 extra horsepower give you, maybe, 4 extra MPH and almost identical mileage. Unless you could ONLY get an auto with the 8? And although it doesn't come out for another year, as the previous owner of two of them ('85 and '88 winter beaters), any idea on how Ford ever came up with the name "Crown Victoria"? Love the color of this! WYR: 1) Ford! 2) Ford! 3) The '56 (make mine a Vicki, please!)... I love that side "swoop" trim on it!
Awesome choices very true 53 was the last year of the flatheads.. The overhead valve six in my opinion is the better engine of the two.. you could add a four barrel carburetor today at six cylinder and be at the same horsepower figure.. or there abouts and it doesn’t have the issues that the Y block V-8 head
I might do an episode on it it’s doing OK it needs king pens and a few other things really needs a tuneup the stupid exhaust won’t stay on the driver side I’ve taken it to the mechanic once a week it seems it only takes a week for it to come free and I don’t even drive it that far or that often this time of year Sweet choices
The hood wasn't an option, it was for dealerships to show off the new ohv V8 without having to open & close the hood all the time. It's not a real Skyliner either, it's a Victoria (the only other 2-door hardtop offered). Someone took the glass top and upper door chrome (that says Skyliner) off of a real Skyliner, and transplanted them to a Victoria. All Skyliners have a gold anodized trim piece on the C- pillars, Victorias are stainless, like on that car. The upper chrome trim across the top of the back window is supposed to have long black recessed rectangles across it, like around the taillight bezels. The interior trim & upholstery is also too plain for a Skyliner which was Fords top of the line model. Look up other '54 Skyliners, you'll see what I mean.
Poor Ford … For ‘54, they dropped an already outdated stone of an engine into a warmed-over shell that was arguable the ugliest generation of vehicles they’d had on offer for 20 years. In the early 50’s Ford was desperately clawing for more time to be struck with an inspiration that would save the company, which came in the form of a two-part blessing called the T-bird and the FE engine family …
Korea. Not Vietnam. Sorry. Not sorry. *E: Korea was until 1953. Vietnam started in 1955. So really it was just a bad first word choice to start a video about a car from 1954
1954 Vietnam was in the news b/c of French defeat at Dien Bien Phu which was the end of French conrol and which set the stage for US involvment. Truman actually sent the first US advisers in 50 - but even as late as 61 we had only about 3000 troops there. The big escalation of course was under Johnson.
🤞See you later Alligator 🐊 by Bill Haley and the Comets 🤷✌️
Bingo we got a winner =)
I used to listen to that song all the time
@@What.its.like. same sax 🎷 player 😂
Shake Rattle and Roll is very similar 👍
Great Early Rock Roll ❤️. ✌️
Great trivia =)
Ole John's on a role
@@johnboydTxthat Sax Player is the great Rudy Pompelli!
Even though Bill Haley passed in the 1980s, the original core band stayed together and those old Cats were STILL playing live every night in Branson, Mo... Up until maybe 2006-7!
AND they were still as great as they were on those mid Fifties recordings 😁
1954, what a great year. My father bought a brand new 54 Mainline todor and a few months later I was born. I can still remember this as my father had this car for many years. It was our only car, and he was a rural mailman driving it in mostly dirt, an cinder roads in the countryside in Ohio. Does anyone know what a cinder road is? Anyway, I was born in Feb. of 54 in a small hospital that used to be a horsebarn
in a snowstorm when my parents drove me home in it. I already had two older sisters and one older brother. 15 months later my little brother was born so 7 of us would pile into this car. I always loved to lay out on the back window shelf, three in the back seats, and my bady brother would sit on my moms lap. No seat belts. Can you imagine doing that now. My mother promised my father to learn to drive so he purchased a new 1959 Chevy stationwagon. Mom got her license and my father drove the 54 another few years on his route until it was wornout. This video brings back wonderful memories to me as we were and still are are a close family. My parents are long gone, as well is my oldest brother, but the rest of us remember and ocasionlly talk about the old blue 54 Ford. We have old movies and pictures of it as well. Great show, you made my day. I will be 70 in Feb. and will think about this car. What a grateful life I have had.
Great story thank you so much for sharing those memories with us
I try not to correct others too often, but, I feel you would want to know; The belt line is at the top of the door, it separates the main (sheetmetal) body of the car from the greenhouse. It is where the metal ends and the glass begins. The chrome strip down the side is often called the rub strip. It is to keep other doors from rubbing the side of your car. It also affords the stylist something extra with which to embellish the car. Enjoy the videos very much. Your delivery is improved from earlier on.
Thank you so much I need to learn how to describe things better it has come along way but there’s still definitely room for improvement..
Thank s again glad you dig this episode =)
@@What.its.like. Jay, you're getting better and better are using the appropriate lingo. The most important thing is that you notice the design details - how the curves meet, the varying textures and lines, and so forth. That's the most important thing to me. Dig it. Andy
My Dad had a 54,It was one of the quicker cars in a small town in southern Missouri Untill the 55 Chevy came out
Just a gorgeous example of what American car companies could design and build. Today plastic junk all look the same. Great review!
Glad you dig this episode =)
Everything is plastic and junk... feels like the plastic fisher price cars I had when I was a kid.
Beautiful Skyliner!!
I have a '54 Crestline fordor sedan, C-kit on rear, all original Y-block 239, 6v, has OD also.
Dual exhaust, nice 8 tube Super Fringe AM radio, good heater also. We live in central MN, have driven this car to NYC, TN, also ND, MT and Canada, a tremendous road car, those ball joints did the trick. Cruises at 80 mph.
Awesome thank you so much for sharing your car with us
Excellent presentation Jay!! Nice car - love all the chrome & stainless pieces!!
Glad you dig this episode =)
Neat. Unique ride.
5:07 As a kid, my folks had a '54 Ford station wagon, with that 6-cyl engine, automatic transmission (mom never learned to drive a stick).
What fun we kids had sitting in the back, on the flat area behind the rear seat, sliding around, banging our heads on the rear-widow mechanisms ... none of that would be allowed today.
7:24 Oddly, we had TWO of these wagons, the 1st was a two-door ... which mom HATED. With three kids under 5, it must have been a pain in the rump for her.
Later we had the SAME wagon model (even the same green color!), but 4-door. That's probably kind of an odd situation.
Awesome thank you so much for sharing your experience =)
Great vintage auto pics and commercials
=) glad you dig this episode
Beautiful Ford Skyliner. I'm surprised this Dealer Car wasn't heavily optioned w/power assists because of the added cost of the Skyliner option itself.
My first cousin's best friends mother owned a loaded, Colonial White, '57 Skyliner with Black & White fabric and vinyl interior. Everything including AC. She kept us after school until our parents picked us up. I played in it often and told everyone that when I got my license, I'd buy it. Unfortunately when she stopped driving her daughter sold it before I became of age.
I'd pick the Chevy. My fav 50's Ford is a Raven Black '57 Thunderbird. Great post. 👍🏾
Great story thank you for sharing those memories =)
WYR: Ford Crestline for both. My parents has a Skyliner before I came along and my mother said it really WOULD bake you in the summer, even in NY state. I have a smart car with a plexiglas roof and keep the sunshade in use most of the time; and I have air conditioning. Ford offered a clear roof in the Mustang coupe through 2014, but I can't say I've ever seen it. My favorite 1950s Ford would be the first year Ranchero "Ute". Thunderbirds looked cool, but Man, are the '55 - '57 cramped!
A awesome Ford, the year I was born. So what's not to like. Keep up the great work. Good day. 🇺🇸🍺
Thank you glad you dig this episode =)
Man this car is so cool, I tried to buy one with the glass top so many times but I just never could come up with the money. Out of all the 50s Ford's 54 to 56 are my favorite.
A neighbor of my Grandmother had a 2 door custom line I was 5 or 6 so mid 60's she'd take mom and my brothers home when we'd visit we lived a few miles away. I remember she'd start out in first rev it up some and jump to 3rd, mom always ask her about 2nd and she'd always say I use on the big hills so don't need it.
My father in law restored a custom line four door model. When he passed I was given the job of caretaker for the car until his niece picked it up. I loved driving that car. V-8 3 speed manual with overdrive.
_... V-8 3 speed manual with overdrive._
What a great combination.
Thanks dude, nice work. BTW I love that color too!
Glad you dig this video I absolutely love the color as well
Great job, Jay. Really enjoy the vintage commercials.
=) happy you dig this episode
I have seen those online, but never in person.
I like the engine view.
=) we’ve done a couple Crestline models on the channel can’t wait to find a wagon.
The taillights on the '54 Ford were a carryover from '53, but the 1952 Ford had different taillights. Glad you are referring to the windshield wipers as opposing, rather than suicide. As for picks I would choose the '54 Plymouth and Nash. My most liked Ford of the fifties would be 1956.
Both Beautiful Cars,Hard to choose
The 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 was always the best looking too me.
Sweet =)
I didn't even know these Dealership Cars existed. That's what I love about your channel- so much new stuff learned! BTW: I ended up doing some research on these Dealership Cars and these cars were built to a higher standard than regular production cars. These cars tended to have a higher level of fit and finish to convince the customer to buy it.
=) try and do the unique stuff on here. Great insight on the dealership samples
54 Ford Crestline
54 Custom Club
57 Ford two door hardtop.
What a beautiful automobile. I love that color. The 54 Ford was miles ahead of what Chevrolet was offering in 54. Ever since as a young boy seeing a Salmon red and Cream two-tone 50's Ford hardtop pass us on a vacation trip, I've loved the Fords of that era.
These Fords look small at first glance but they're really a roomy full size car.
Also, what were the Ford engineers thinking when they decided to run those exhaust manifolds right up there on the top of the engine and all the way around it? I'll bet the mechanics hated that because it was easy to get burned when you're working on the car.
The Ford is the one I would pick in both scenarios and my favorite year is 1959 in Galaxie trim.
Sweet choices =)
An excellent video on a really nice car. Ford all the way on this one. 1950 is my favorite.
Awesome choices glad you dig this video =)
That's Cool Jay 😎! See your engine running while you drive down the road!! My only experience with Fords of this era would be Grandpa's Galaxy 500, "ya,that car's got zip! Mach schnell!" 🚀
54 Plymouth with a Hemi 👍1st
But I like them all 🥰
Great Episode 👏👏👏
Happy Motoring ✌️🤠
Awesome choices glad you dig this episode =)
I'd go for a 1954 Plymouth too. I like KT Keller mopars.
I do like 52 - 54 Ford's. They were made in Australia, in 4 door and ute (pickup) form, with the sedans being Customlines and the utes being Mainlines. The transparent top made the cars thus fitted bakingly hot any time the sun was out, hot climate or cold, which is why it was only on offer for 3 years.
Great idea. The Mercury had their version called "SUN VALLEY." Beautiful, but oh, those HOT days ! The 1955 Mercury Montclaire Sun Valley was truly GEORGEOUS! The 1956 was its final year.
This is a cool episode =) I didn’t get done with it until late last night so I figured I’d just post it regular time
I might move posting time back in the winter time instead of the videos coming out around 420 have them come out later on in the evening
I need to find the mercury version =)
@@What.its.like. I dunno, 420 is an easy time to remember!
I know right see you at the flag pole lol =)
😂😂
Uh huh huh huh He said 420. 🇺🇸🍺
We got the "so called 1954 " Ford down under, but it was the previous years facelift with Ford disposing of its over supply of flat head engines, We only got the new V8 in 55.
That’s crazy
The continental spare tire kit with extended back bumper made that into a respectably long car that was eye catching and rare.
The jury is still out whether or not the continental spare tire kit looks good or bad on this car I personally like it but without it it makes the car look more streamlined if that makes any sense but the spare tire never bothered me
WYR: Crestline, Crestline, and then the 57 Fairlane 500 of all 50's Fords.
Awesome choices
54 Chev and the Ford Crest line. I think the 63 Ford Thunderbird would be my favorite. Thx Jay until next time.
Sweet =) awesome write in
Ah but that's not a 50's Ford so it doesn't really count. Would you settle for a small bird or square bird instead?
Ford and Chevy used to trade places as number one sellers of standard sized sedans
Very true
Wish you would have filmed the roof from the inside back seats to see the view forward and upward from the rear seats.
Also, could you in future videos show the rear leg room with the front seats all the way back and all the way forward.
I'm a 50-53 bel air guy, but this is a very close second. Great video, thanks.
I will try I don’t move the seats because they can be cumbersome to move if they haven’t been moved for years if that makes any sense.. glad you dig this video
@@What.its.like.
Yes, makes sense. Especially if worried that something breaks.
Yeah that’s the biggest reason I don’t want to break anything I’m really ginger with stuff
A great episode for a truly great car. I will be looking forward to your '54 Mercury Monterey Sun Valley follow up sometime in the future. As for WYR. Not much of a challenge here as I would take the '54 Ford Crestline in both instances. Who wouldn't? As for my favorite Ford of the '50's. First off I would like to state that EVERY '50's Ford is a great looking car. But if I had my choice I think I would pick a Colonial White 1959 Ford Thunderbird. 😀
Glad you dig this episode =)
I need to find a Sun Valley it’s been two decades since I’ve seen one in the wild
Great choices
@@What.its.like. There are probably not too many of those Sun Valley’s left out in the wild as I would imagine that most of them are in car museums or else private collections. But they are not a particularly rare car, as there were almost 10,000 sold in their maiden year. Surprisingly, they came in just two colors: Parklane Green and Yosemite Yellow. I saw one at car show once back in the mid 1980’s and was quite impressed by what I saw. The 1955 Mercury Montclair Sun Valley however is indeed a rare car as only around 1,500 were sold even though they were offered in at least six different colors. The reason for the unexpected decline in sales was that the plexiglass top tended to make the car more hotter inside than it normally would be and as a result word soon got around and sales plummeted. I’ve got a feeling that you will come across one in the not too distant future. It will make a great ‘What’s It Like’ episode for sure!
This car is beautiful! I have heard of the "see through" hood but never actually seen one. I'll take the '54 Crestline Skyliner in both cases. And I like the '59 Fords best.
I pick the 54 ford and I really like the 49 and 50 and also 52 through 56
With Christmas coming up I thought JAY IS RIGHT DAMN IT. I am going to take my significant other and bring them to see all the classics at the mall. That’s all I can afford. 😅
Hahaha I’m going to try and go there next Wednesday =)
What I find fascinating is the number of options that were offered…..but honestly, I wonder just how many were ever installed. You never see power windows and seats in a Ford of this era! Ditto to the glass roof, which had to be an ass burner getting in on a hot sunny day with no AC.
I like the dash of the 54 better. Never knew of the "dealership sample" cars. always good to learn things 😊 The "Y block" was certainly an improvement over the flathead, but it would soon show it's weaknesses in the top-end oiling. I've always said to never buy any new engineering on cars, but to instead wait a year or two to see how well it goes IRL. The transitional styling of these cars has it's own appeal but most folks seem to like earlier or later ,models; I know I do.
WYR I like the mid-50's Chevy's, and around here at last you see them on the road occasionally but never any Chrysler or Ford cars from the era. The Rambler Custom Club is neat and nobody else would have one but the Crestline is far better looking.
Very hard to pick a favorite 50's Ford. I've always liked the 57 Fairlane, but the 50 shoebox with the bullet nose is super neat, and the 56 is also beautiful, plus there's the early T-birds. And there's the pickups through mid-decade which are also cool. Though I usually like something different and rare, if I could pick only one it would be a 56 T-bird even though the 57 had 12V electrics, a bigger engine, and an optional Paxton supercharger. Maybe I've watched "American Graffiti" to many times, but that white T-bird with a young Suzanne Somers at the wheel is the prettiest thing the 50's ever had going for it.
Great choices thank you so much for including your insight to reasoning behind your favorite Ford or the 50s =)
'52 thru '54 Fords were very handsome designs. Like the '54 dash better with the window over the speedometer & engine turned instrument panel. Imagine that the 6-cylinder didn't make too much sense to most buyers since the MPG was nearly the same with both engines, although I hear that the I-6 lasted longer the Y-Block. Love the "radiused" rear seat side glass. Did this car come with a factory 12-Volt option? WYR: -1- 54 Crestline -2- 54 Ramber Custom Club. Like the '57 Ford best....styling won out vs Chevy that year in sales figures.
At the time there was a price war going on between the cheapest Fords and the lowest price Chevrolet.
Great insight
The 55 and 56 Ford are by far the most beautiful big Fords of the 1950s. The 1954 is kind of just a transitional year btwn the far more interesting shoe box Fords of 49-51 and the later 55 and on Fords
Awesome reasoning behind your picks for me I like the 52 2 door sedan
There is tons of space everywhere in the front back trunk is huge I would take the six cylinder over the flathead V-8.. The six cylinders didn’t have the problems the flathead V-8 had..
Oh, man, what a Delima. I want all three.
Hahaha =)
One of the most beautiful Fords ever designed IMO! This one is a real stunner! The details are awesome and the color scheme is absolutely gorgeous!🤩 I love the dash and steering wheel design also. The WYR''s are all great automobiles, but after seeing this beauty in detail, I'd go with it! I have always really liked the '57&'58 models as well, but still wouldn't pass this one over! 😎
Great choices =)
The Bel Air or Crestline. My favorites are 1958-59 Fords
Sweet =)
Hi Jay!: LOVE the 1950's Fords! Probably the least successful design was probably the 1958. Just so happens, my Daddy was a paint and body man at the local Ford dealership in the 1950's, up until about the early 1960's. He told me of the intense competition with the Chevy dealer across Main St. from the Ford dealership. He said they even painted out the showroom windows until the new models came out, so the rival across the street couldn't see the new ones until release day! Anyway, the 1954 Skyliner is a COOL machine (up north at least!) and the see through hood was interesting! I believe that Ford did that for several years during the period. The 1954 kind of gets overshadowed by the 1953 (nice design , last of the flatties) and the 1955 a REALLY NICE design.
WYR#1 1954 FORD, #2 1954 FORD. Bonus question ALL OF THEM! Even the homely 1958!!
My father put one of these plexiglass tops into a 1952 Ford hardtop for a friend of his. The owner saved the metal, and plexiglass from a rusty car. The owner went around telling everyone it was factory experimental.
Awesome story. Thank you so much for sharing those incredible memories.
@@What.its.like. Ford made the glass top cars all the way through 1956.
The 1956 Crown Victoria Glass top was somehing to see.
It almost seemed like it was to much, with the stainless roof band, and all the extra trim. My favorite 50s Ford is either the 1951 Victoria hardtop, or the 1956 Victoria hardtop.
Can you imagine the noise from those General Tire "Winter Cleat" tires!? 😂
Great find as promised . Being more into Mercurys, if I went classic car shopping since I like 59 Chevys, I would pick the 59 Ford Skyliner or other Ford hardtops as a favorite. First choice 54 Ford (The Plymouth pictured is part of a 4 car Plymouth collection including a blue 4 door sedan, green 2 door wagon, and a yellow convertible, a set of showroom cars still in the same family that had a Chrysler dealership) the 2nd the Nash Country Club. Went to one of my Oldsmobile books and found a picture of a 49 Olds with a plexiglas insert hood they provided for some dealership display cars.
Awesome choices and insight I want to cover a Nash country club before the year is over don’t think it’s going to happen tho.. airflow as well but eh there is always next year
Interesting! I’d have expected a dealer sample to have every last option, but I did not see power brakes or steering. My first car was a Y block, 1961 Fairlane with 292. As a native of the Pacific NorthWET, I think the ultimate PNW convertible would be the Skyliner retractable hardtop, preferably 1959 - lowest production numbers but improved roof mechanism.
I also call this area the
Pacific Northwet.
Greetings from Eugene/Springfield
Haha I’ve never been to the pacific north wet it’s pretty wet here too lots of overcast days
@@What.its.like.
Jay, unless one lives in California, the
Pacific Northwet is best thought of as
In Back of Beyond.
There are beautiful landscapes past the west side of the Rocky Mountains.
The distances are huge.
Denver to Salt Lake City is 530 miles.
Salt Lake to Portland 770 miles.
Seattle to Portland 170 miles.
Seattle to Los Angeles 1260 miles.
I live south of Portland.
It's 70 miles to the beach from here.
It's 120 miles to Bend. That's a ski town near several volcanos.
Thesre are huge deserts in the western states.
All this means lots of very long, yet enjoyable drives.
How about a video on the 1956 Lincoln Continetal Mark II ?
I did one but it’s been a little wild the format of the channel totally changed I would love to do another one I would love to compare the Mark II with the El Dorado brougham but that’s like a hell Mary I know where there is an El Dorado brougham forsale finding those two would be really hard
ua-cam.com/video/iDudLvVpuaA/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared
This car is very beautiful, minus the hood with the window. One of the best looking 50's Ford's, but I think the shoebox version is better. I would take the 54 Bel-Air, as a sentimental favorite; it's the first car I remember riding in.
1954 Chevrolet Belair, 1954 Ford , 1955,56.
Awesome choices
This is a beauty, and a great color. I like the '54 dash better than the '53. I'm just a little surprised this isn't an automatic given this was top-of-the-line.
Anyway, for WYR I'll take the Crestline for the first two scenarios. For the last I'm leaning with the '59, largely because it was one of the better looking cars that year.
Sweet choices =) I too dig this color
Actually the artists were always billed as , “ Bill Haley and HIS Comets “
Never saw the straight 6 in a Customline body down under, only V8. did not know they existed.
I think the six is the better engine personally
@@What.its.like. Easier to work on than the flat head.
In both cases, I rather have the Crestline. In comparison to the 53, the headlights were the same size. There was only one standard lamp for all cars at that time, it fit every make and model and year, up to 1958 when duel headlights were used with separate lamps for high and low beam. Those were a different size than the single lamp that included both high and low beams, which is what this car has. The camera angle or lighting was causing that impression of different sizes. The same holds true for the trunk logos. They were both the same.
Awesome choices thank you so much for sharing that insight =)
Great video once again jay, I love that color also. I always found it interesting that the 54’s were built on a 115 inch wheel base and by 62 the midsize fairlane and meteors were on a 115 inch wheelbase? . For the would you rather I’ll take the Chevy and then in the 2nd round it’s the 54 ford and for the nicest ford it’s the 57 then the 56 both are beautiful but the 57 is too cool and underrated IMO, thanks jay keep em coming please
I am not sure if this is an original "Skyliner" or not, since the C pillar does not have the Skyliner's golden waffle pattern plastic background with the Ford crest mounted in it, but rather the Victoria's stamped Stainless Steel background with the Ford Crest insert.
Rock around the Clock by bill Haley and the comets 🤔
You’re on the right track
Came out in 1955
I see at the end, there is the movie poster for the 1954 White Chrismas Movie in German. ❄
Just for the record.. this car is NOT a "Crescent" line.. it's a CRESTLINE.. there's a big difference!
Thank you for That correction
1954 Plymouth
1954 Nash
1955 Canadian Meteor
Sweet choices =)
WYR #1; the Ford.
Sweet choice =)
That's an absolutely beautiful Ford I'd love to buy that I wonder what Ford called that color
Totally agree
I found this just now on Pinterest if I was to guess what color that car is I would say sea sprite green
pin.it/4bQlUlg
I’m suprised by the hp rating of the Y block being 130.
The engine in my 1970 Holden is a 186 cu in inline 6 fed by a single throat Stromberg carby.
The engine was released in 1966 model year, and it also produces 130 hp apparently, yet it’s 53 cubic inches smaller.
But the Sunliner is a beautiful car!
The 239cu made about 130hp but the 272 and 292 made closer to 200hp if not a bit over especially if tuned properly.
@@CreatorCade I’m not suprised the bigger engines made more hp, but I don’t know how much hp a Holden 6 got to, I guess a 202 cu in fed with triple SU carbs in a GTR XU-1 was the peak of their engines.
Then there’s the Chrysler hemi 6 with triple Webers also, not really a hemi, they just used the parent company’s name.
But 10 - 20 years after 1954 of course!
Chevy - Ford and skyline
Sweet choices =)
WYR 1 and 2? Ford. Hint the "V8 "badge is actually a Y8 Badge, Also, the "rear fender" is actually the 1/4 panel. Rear Fender? Bolted on. Favorite of the 50's Fords 57 and 59. Hint? the headlights were exactly the same size, part number 6006 the "6" indicates 6 volt, 6012 the "12" indicates 12 volt.. The only size used until quad headlights.
Sweet choices thank you so much for the insight
LOL... the way you did the intro, I was waiting for you to break into Billy Joel's "We didn't start the fire"... Other than saying you have an 8, I don't see the advantage of paying for it. That 15 extra horsepower give you, maybe, 4 extra MPH and almost identical mileage. Unless you could ONLY get an auto with the 8? And although it doesn't come out for another year, as the previous owner of two of them ('85 and '88 winter beaters), any idea on how Ford ever came up with the name "Crown Victoria"? Love the color of this! WYR: 1) Ford! 2) Ford! 3) The '56 (make mine a Vicki, please!)... I love that side "swoop" trim on it!
Haha need to mix it up from time to time
I totally agree the six was the better engine great choices =)
Got a lot of options for the Money 💴
=)
53 Dash
54 Ford
54 Nash
53 Ford, last of the flatheads...
Awesome choices very true 53 was the last year of the flatheads.. The overhead valve six in my opinion is the better engine of the two.. you could add a four barrel carburetor today at six cylinder and be at the same horsepower figure.. or there abouts and it doesn’t have the issues that the Y block V-8 head
I guess it would be kind of a greenhouse effect .
It was cool in there
WYR: All of them.
How's your truck holding up?
I might do an episode on it it’s doing OK it needs king pens and a few other things really needs a tuneup the stupid exhaust won’t stay on the driver side I’ve taken it to the mechanic once a week it seems it only takes a week for it to come free and I don’t even drive it that far or that often this time of year
Sweet choices
@@What.its.like. Alrighty.
The car has horrible paint match for the glass hood. That being said it is very valuable as it is 1 of the 107 Dealer additions.
The hood wasn't an option, it was for dealerships to show off the new ohv V8 without having to open & close the hood all the time. It's not a real Skyliner either, it's a Victoria (the only other 2-door hardtop offered). Someone took the glass top and upper door chrome (that says Skyliner) off of a real Skyliner, and transplanted them to a Victoria. All Skyliners have a gold anodized trim piece on the C- pillars, Victorias are stainless, like on that car. The upper chrome trim across the top of the back window is supposed to have long black recessed rectangles across it, like around the taillight bezels. The interior trim & upholstery is also too plain for a Skyliner which was Fords top of the line model. Look up other '54 Skyliners, you'll see what I mean.
.
Poor Ford … For ‘54, they dropped an already outdated stone of an engine into a warmed-over shell that was arguable the ugliest generation of vehicles they’d had on offer for 20 years.
In the early 50’s Ford was desperately clawing for more time to be struck with an inspiration that would save the company, which came in the form of a two-part blessing called the T-bird and the FE engine family …
Korea. Not Vietnam. Sorry. Not sorry.
*E: Korea was until 1953. Vietnam started in 1955.
So really it was just a bad first word choice to start a video about a car from 1954
Geneva conference 1954 Vietnam
Started sending advisors to Vietnam according to this
www.britannica.com/event/Vietnam-War
If you're referring to the Korean war that ended 1953
1954 Vietnam was in the news b/c of French defeat at Dien Bien Phu which was the end of French conrol and which set the stage for US involvment. Truman actually sent the first US advisers in 50 - but even as late as 61 we had only about 3000 troops there. The big escalation of course was under Johnson.
I like the 52 to 54 better than the 55 to 56 models.People are bigger a d taller,hence the decline in sedans and the rise of suvs and trucks.
People like to sit up higher now some of those cars 450 sl Mercedes are hard to get in and out of