Art & Inspiration Forgotten Fords - Love for a '59 Custom 300?

I've noticed I have an affinity for 'orphan' Fords (see below) and it got me wondering why some years of a similar body style are more popular (for aftermarket vendors)? The '59 Ford seems to be a third wheel on date night. I ***ume this is due to one-year-only designs that were not shared between years. Makes sense, but the '57s and '58s are the same one-year-design and I'm curious why it seems they were adopted and the '59 stayed at the orphanage? Gimme all you got, opinions comments, love, hate...I wanna hear it!

The '59 by 59'er F100 posted Jul 8, 2022 at 11:45 AM

 

Dad liked the looks of the '59 Ford, and I've always like the looks of the '59 Ranchero. I think Dad almost bought a '59 new, but decided to wait to see how the 1960 looked, I was 9 years old and still remember how disappointed he was once he saw a '60 Ford. Things changed in 1960 and he bought a 4Door hardtop. Good memories with that car, took my drivers license test in it years later.

Bob

 

Like a lot of cars, they didn't seem to be a big hit when new, but as time has gone by, they seem to have received their due respect.

 

I like them as well, but I also sure don’t see many around. Maybe that is what I like them...

Edit: Just saw that you are pretty close to me actually...so, I may see yours around.

 

I never cared for them, probably due to the rear end.
However, as said above in recent years I have come to really like them, and would be happy to have one.
Your Tudor sedan is a great example of what I would be proud to have.
Keep us in progress pics..

 

I wonder if it the mythical 57/58 years that the media has created through movies/music/tv? What cars were around in 59/60/61/62? Also, Ford does tend to do some odd things for one year only hear and a year there. I am beginning to like them more and more though as well.

Mike

 

I was there when they were new and we didn't like them then.

Styling is a personal preference, but one can get a lot of votes for 1959 being the all-time worst of the post-WWII era for all of the big three, but GM especially (Cadillac and Corvette excepted). Some guys get off on differences; those of you who go to those **** sites know who you are.

jack vines

 

I had one not all that long ago, I like the giant round tail lights and the reverse lights that form rounded fins, they can make nice customs. These are some of the rare bargains in 50's cars.

 

My personal opinion is the earlier '50s cars made better 'blank canvases' for the customizers, by the late '50s/early '60s the offerings from Detroit featured such distinctive styling that radically customizing them became more difficult. The '59/60 Fords were especially challenging. With that said, the '59 does respond well as a relatively mild custom and I've always had a soft spot for them.

 

I was 16 when they came out and was a car crazy kid (and already a "Ford Guy"). Ford advertised them as "The world's most beautifully proportioned car". It was seen as a big joke then, and I don't think things have changed much since then.

 

Well one 59 is solidly I'm bedded in my memory. Not long after graduation in 1965, one of the group took his 1959 Custom 300, enter to Bill Stopped in Long Beach, bought a 427 camber in the crate and installed it in the car. He also installed a gl*** 427 high rise teardrop hood, added a 4 speed, painted it a dark maroon sort of like the Moselle Maroon Ford used in the 40's. He capped it off with a beautiful set of American 5 spokes. If you lived in San Diego around that time , you probably remember the car. It was a terror to be sure.

 

Almost bought one but noticed holes in the floors in the pictures plus it was in Minnesota and starting to get cold,seller said it would probably not make it to Ohio so I p***ed and the original front seat was missing.

 

My Dad bought a 59 Galaxie 500 XL. It was a couple of years old when he got it . It was a Gold and White 4 door …..with Chrome skirts and the antenna mounted mid trunk lid. He thought his **** didn’t stink with that car. It got traded in in 1964. A white Malibu SS with red interior….bucket seats, 283, 2 barrel, 3 on the column. Cool but an embarr***ment for a 16 year old boy.
I have a picture of the 59 somewhere

 

Afterburner tail lights, couches for front and back seats, y-block goodness...geez, what's not to love!!! Best I can tell these are as prone to rust as the Shoe Boxes so my current project is floor replacement - Fred Flinstone is more of a man than I. I found it in a local salvage yard parked under a tree...and yes, was truly affordable initially...and now it needs one of everything! Pics below:

Holy Floors by 59'er F100 posted Aug 12, 2022 at 1:57 PM

new floor pans by 59'er F100 posted Aug 12, 2022 at 1:57 PM

Current situation by 59'er F100 posted Aug 12, 2022 at 1:57 PM

dash by 59'er F100 posted Aug 12, 2022 at 1:57 PM

@Jeff Norwell - Thanks for that bit of history, much appreciated. I love your '57 build thread! There are definitely not many around and I'm sure not many batted an eye crushing them and many others
@guthriesmith - The wife and I love Guthrie! I enjoyed stopping in at Sid's when he was located in town. Hope to make mine reliable enough to send her up 44 & 35 real soon.

Thanks everyone for the discussion!

 

A '59 Ford next to a '59 Chevy looks pretty much like a square box. Add to that, you could get a 4 speed in the Chevy plus 3 carburetors so any hot rod hoodlum would have opted for the Chevy when new. Nowdays since most of the Fords as well as Chevys have gone to the s****per, it's a little different story.

 

You just need to get it back together in the next month or so and come on our 100 mile reliability run ending at Sid’s. Would fit in well with my 56 and my son’s 59 Edsel (and a couple hundred other old cars).

http://www.hotrodhundred.com/oklahoma-city.html

 

I can park all 3 of them side by side and my 57 is still my favorite. The 58 is okay as long as I don't walk around the back. And then there's that 59, ya 59, what was I thinking?

 

59 Rancheros are where it's at, as long as they're low. I find them better proportioned than the 57/8.

 

Hey, I'm ok with them being not so popular. Only problem is finding parts sometimes....
Here's mine I've been working on for far to long!

 

I was an 11 year old kid when the 59's came out. I thought they were sooooo-so cool!!
I've gotten older and wiser now.
6sally6

 

random pic here.
A guy here locally has one. Super cool car.
a nice drop, stock interior. really looks great.
I dig em.
But I’m odd anyway. I’d take a 57-60 f100 over a 56.

 

Anthony, I've been saying a Watson style Panel job is exactly what my 59 needs,, well that and a new address. Can you see it in your Driveway yet? This is a True One Owner low mile survivor. That is even Factory paint.

 

Second pic is a 63 1/2. And yes, the 63-63 1/2 are the best looking of the Fords. Alot of similarities with the 64, but still different.

 

In 2004 i had a fairlane 500, today i have a costom 300, iv always liked them 59s

 

My great aunt had a 59 Galaxy 500 xl retractable. It was blue and white. As a 4 or 5 year old kid with all that chrome I thought they were the neatest thing since sliced bread. But it was blown away with rust. It has holes where no holes should be on a low mileage garage kept car or a high mileage car for that matter and I never saw it dirty! Her 65 custom was the same way. Completely blown away with rust. Me being a Chevy guy I still think the 59 fords were beautiful. Kind of far out looking.

 

I love the look of '57 Fords..oh '59's?..er, ah, never mind.

 

Late 50s early 60s Detroit creations are customs from the factory. Explains why some folks hate em.
Wild fins, crazy taillights., most have dual quads.
And most sit low, or lower than their predecessors
A cut coil. lowering block, and paint. Instant mild custom.
I could see yours with the existing paint scheme.
gold with darker gold scallops on the side.
Pearl white with gold pinstripes, possibly thin gold scallops to replace the white.
gold top with lace panels.
Chrome steelies