Technical Old cars: Cool design vs. ACTUALLY DRIVING THEM...

All coupes below have 50s-60s motors, 40s brakes, 30s suspension, cowl steering...

Cruised at 80 all day long for six days to and from Austin (3k miles round trip) with occasional periods higher (private roads only of course officer).

Running Buick drums which provide more than enough stopping power and T5s which provide the gearing.

 

'56 Ford with either V8

 

I am 63 years old & have owned hundreds of cars as daily drivers ranging from model A's, 50's & 60's Chevs & Pontiacs to late model full size Fords. My all time favourite of the lot was a '53 Chrysler New Yorker with 331 Hemi & 2 speed tranny. Although the fuel consumption left a bit to be desired. LOL

 

Back in 1967 after completing my Army training school at Fort Eustis, Va. a soldier friend of mine (who happened to be a drag car guy) offered to take along four of us who wanted to go to California if any one was headed that way. He had a stock mordor '54 Ford mileage unknown.
That old Ford went 60+ mph for hours on end for a good day and a half until the engine let go! He then managed to trade it and a little cash for a '55 Buick V8, mordor, mileage unknown, that also went 60+ mph for another day and a half that did get us home to California!
So, yes, those 50's cars can and will do highway speeds!

 

...as long as you are on a one-way trip!

 

I can vouch for that,I've seen most of them including the New Yorker!..

 

54 Fords had overhead valve engines,both 6 cylinder & V8,with the exception of the Canadian models that used the Flathead. HRP

 

In 1954 - 3 speed cars came with a 3.09 gear,while cars with overdrive had a 4.10 to 1 ratio and the Ford-O-Matic came with 3.31 to 1 gears.

The 6 cylinder was 223 cubic inch.

The passenger car and truck was a 239 cubic inch.

The Police Interceptor option was 256 cubic inch. HRP

 

That's a typo. it should say 3.90, not 3.09

 

My bad,you might be right.
My only excuse is a 4:30 AM typo. HRP

 

HRP you were right at 3.09 for the stick. The OD cars were the ones that got the taller gears. In 56 the 6 cyl stick wagon was 4.27

 

you can do a web search. It was 3.90, not 3.09

Hemming website:
Quote:"REAR AXLE
The semi-floating hypoid differential in 1954 Ford cars was equipped with three different rear axle ratios, depending on the transmission fitted to the car; those using the basic three-speed got 3.90-gearing, while overdrive-equipped cars had a 4.10:1 ratio and Ford-O-Matic cars got a more relaxed 3.31:1 ratio. These rear ends are considered well built, and replacement parts are easily located." END QUOTE

As you can see, A/T in 1954 had 3.31, and sticks never had a lower number than A/T, it was always a higher number