What year is officially the last year of the "Shoebox" Ford? My car is a 53 Customline and I have always considered that body still in the Shoebox body era, but some consider 51 being the last year of the shoebox. Just curious if there is an "official" last year of what is considered that era.
The reason I ask, is my actual "era" are Model A era, and also P15 Plymouth era. My 53 is the first I've owned of the flathead Ford era, and just wanted to find out what the cut off is, so I don't end up sounded like a fool calling it a shoebox, if in fact it isn't. Another question I have for this era Fords, is: Did ALL Fords from 1953 have the "50th Anniversary" horn buttons? Or is that something just on specific models?
I hear ya brother. I don't know about the horn button, but I'm sure there is someone who has first hand experience with them. I remember reading a book in grade school, entitled "Ford at Fifty", and it was a literary documentary of the Ford story. Good reading if you can find a copy. Stu
I always heard '49-'51 fords referred to as shoebox fords. I imagine The terminology was largely dependent on where you were from, and in modern times we have all adopted the terms used in magazines from the west coast back in the day. That seems to be the way most of this stuff goes, be it cheater pipes or Any of that stuff. I've owned two '53 fords and they were different trim levels and both had the same wheel, so I would guess it was universal in passenger cars but I'm not an expert and can't say for sure. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
When I was young (11 in '53), I remember one of the neighbors got a new '53 Ford. The first thing he did was point out the "50th Anniversary" steering wheel.
My '53 is a Mainline and it had the 50th anniversary horn button, but without a horn ring. The higher trim levels had a horn ring but with the same center medallion. Typically, 49-51 Fords are considered shoeboxes, but I did have a Tex Smith book back in the day that was called "how to build shoebox Fords and Mercs" and it covered 1949-1954. I think that's the only time I've heard 52-54 Ford cars referred to as shoeboxes.
When I was 7, my Mom and her friends called the new '49 Fords 'crackerboxes'. I heard them called that for years after...(regional thing? Santa Clara, CA) Never heard 'shoebox' until mid to late '70s. (I was in the trade since '55, so if there were slang terms, I would hear them...) Pregnant roller skates, stovebolts, cornbinders, flivvers, and on and on... '53 Mainline Fords had a simple horn button, no '50th anniversary'. Just the Customlines sported those.
Mine is a customline, but I think the Vics both have them. Not sure about if it was all Fords including 53 trucks also had them.
the term shoebox comes from the slab sides with no fender bumps. the cars look like shoeboxes when compared to 48 and earlier cars. 53 has bumps so it is not a shoebox.
My 53' Mainline has the 50th anniversary horn button, but not the additional trim ring. I was under the impression that all 53s had the button.
I LOVED THESE FORDS SINCE 1949. I HAD THE COLOR AD FROM THE SUNDAY COMICS ON MY WALL... I WAS 7 THAN. MY FIRST CAR IN 58 WAS A 50 COUPE. A CAR I'V OWNED FOR 27 YEARS, A CHOPPED 51 COUPE..... LATE 70'S EARLY 80'S THE SLANG TERM CAME OUT... 1949 T0 1951 FORD CARS.....ABOUT THE SAME TIME DUDES HAD TO SAY "POST" TO TELL A HARD TOP FROM A SEDAN......MARSHALL
As everyone else has pointed out the 49 to 51 Fords are referred to shoeboxes. I believe all the '53 Fords had the 50th anniversary horn button. HRP
The Jalopy Journal
