Customs Mild Kustom 1955 Ford Customline

So a few weeks back I picked up my first 50's car. It's a 1955 Ford Customline 2 door sedan. One of those to cheap to p*** up cars. It's a pretty decent little car, but it needs some love and attention. It's a 6 cylinder automatic car. Most everything is original. Story goes that the wife got it in the divorce, let it sit outside for 3 years collecting dirt. Couldn't sell it. Gave it back to the ex husband and he just wanted it gone after she "ruined" it....

I looked at the car a few times. Finally made a offer and it was accepted. Drove it home and started detailing...

I stupidly didn't take any pictures of it all dirty. But trust me. It was gross. I'm actually surprised by how well it cleaned up. I have some more to do, but it's usable.




Anyways. It's gonna get a bunch of little tweaks. It needs all the interior molding and stuff screwed down, door locks fixed, tires and that sort of stuff. I'm messing with that stuff now...

I'm currently looking at tires. Wide whites for sure. I'd like to lower it. I'll probably start with the rear. I'm not gonna get to crazy on this one. Just a mild cruiser with a working heater and radio. I want something that I call the "date car" haha. Anyways, follow along on my first 50's car.


Sent from my SM-G900T using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Pretty car! Of course traditional hotrods or customs dont have visors. My uncle had a 55 Ford that color when I was a kid and he didnt like Continental kit and took it off but simply removing the visor will leave your car very very nice

 

Pretty car... that color blue always looks good on these. Yeah, lose the visor; makes it look too much like a Grampa car. The skirts and connie kit... looks pretty pretentious on a near-stock Customline IMO; lowered, nosed and decked, and maybe some mild scallops would make it all work. Nice car!

 

I ***ume you know about the Aerostar coil spring swap? $55 gets you a 3" lowering in the front, matches a set of blocks in the rear real nice. Nice looking car, looks really clean.

 

I definitely want to pull the visor. It will need a little paint touch up, so I haven't pulled it yet. I'm not in love with the continental kit either. Both of these are on the things to do list. But rather far down. I also want to change the side trim. Loose the hood ornament. etc.

I did hear about the Aerostar coils. I didn't realize it was so cheap. I'll have to do that soon.

 

I like this one a lot.

This one too.



Sent from my SM-G900T using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

You said it was priced right and couldn't p*** it up, so sell the continental kit and visor. To some they are wanted, needed, and will sell. Good luck.
PS: Aerostars on my avitar

 

A contintental kit on a mild custom can look good.

 

Congrats

 

It's a really nice car. I offered him a quick-flip profit--'cause I'm generous that way--and for some reason he wouldn't take it.

 

Yep, that Continental kit on that Customline 2 dr., IF it was a '55 Dealer Install - as opposed to an "owner install" - would have been unusual in that time period. On a Fairlane Hd.Tp. or Convt. it would have been a no-brainer, but on a Customline not so much.

BUT, I love your car ! You can make it a uber-cool driver without much trouble. Lower it, bolt-on a split manifold for that trusty 6, keep those Olds hubcaps that are on the front and get 'em all the way around, get your wide-whites, do a few other minor things (after getting rid of the visor), and you'll be ready to roll by next Spring !
Best of luck, give us some new pix as you go...
Jonnie
www.legends.thewwbc.net

 

I keep seeing posts about swapping in Aerostar springs in these cars. Why not just cut a coil or 2 off the stock springs to lower the ride height? That also increases spring rate slightly, improving the ride quality.

 

There are many threads about the Aerostar springs-cutting a coil gives a harsher ride and is not desirable

 

Drop in here too,tons of information from fellow Ford guys! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/social-forums/1952-59-ford-social-group.282/

 

I'll have to read those threads to get the "low down". Usually, those old cars suffered from too soft spring rates resulting in poor handling. Increasing the spring rate should be just what you want.

 

Here is mine love these cars..

 

The Aerostar coils have a progressive spring rate and they ride really great, I have them in my 52 Ford, vs my 53 lowered the old time way which doesn't ride nearly as well. I'll be swapping them out in a future redo of that car.

 

Nice looking car, I like your plans for it.

 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/iconic-1955-ford-customs.1022331/#post-11561426

 

Oh, believe me. I've already thought of pulling them and selling them to fund other parts.

I'm not horribly opposed to it. It just gives me a poodle skirts and cry baby dolls feeling. I'm certainly seeing a decent bit of cars with them though.

Trade ya for that old torpedo looking thing ya got in the garage. ; )

Thanks

Sent from my SM-G900T using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I thought it was pretty well decked out for a 6cylinder middle of the road car.

Thanks. Will do

Beautiful.

Thanks!

Cool! I think yours is the first thread I saw when I looked up custom 55 fords

Sent from my SM-G900T using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I worked for a long time in brake and suspension shops. I just can't bring myself to do it the old school way. I've never driven a car with cut coils or heated springs that road worth a **** anymore. But truth be told I'm also pretty picky about that ****. It's definitely getting a full front end rebuild with a spring swap in the near future.

Sent from my SM-G900T using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

So today I decoded my data plate. The car was built in San Jose on April 19th 1955. Originally Neptune Green with medium turquoise vinyl and dark turquoise body cloth interior.

I'm pretty set on Firestone wide whites in either 6.70x15 or 7.10x15. Does anyone have any opinions on those sizes? I don't want to get into the radial/bias ply debate.

Also as far as lowering, can someone with Aerostar coils post a fullsize side profile picture?

Sent from my SM-G900T using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

HA! I had an identical 55 in 1966. Mine had a 272/3 speed O.D. but colors were the same. I bought a set of chrome reversed wheels and cheater slicks for it. I was 18 years old.

 

That's a great picture Rocky!

Sent from my SM-G900T using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Well, that's how **** Guldstrand and Herb Adams did back in the day, their cars seemed to ride pretty well.

 

"Pretty well" to you, maybe "pretty ****py" to me...

I'm not saying it doesn't work. I just 100 percent sure there is a better option. It's my money, I'll spend it how I like.


Sent from my SM-G900T using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Ha, I never personally drove any of their cars, those 2 guys were the top of the industry for modified suspensions.

 

So why bring it up? Do either of these guys have a 60 year old ford that they are fixing up? Comparing a corvette spe******t from back in the day to now is ridiculous. How the hell do you even know they "cut coils"

Things completely changed since they were top of the league.

Sent from my SM-G900T using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I was just curious why the Aerostar springs was such a popular mod instead of the old method, that's all. I got my answer above, that's cool. I just find your comments about 2 guys that ruled the suspension world, whose cars proved their worth on the track, but you say they ride like ****. OK.