History The Futuristic Ford

I love those old articles but... they drive me crazy. Show us the car! Not a front shot anywhere except the close-up of the grill and all that talk about rear quarter manipulation with no photos that adequately illustrate it.

No wonder car shows became so popular back then. These articles are a tease! It's amazing how spoiled to good photography we've become.

 

Though I have been reading car mags since the mid-fifties, I do not recal ever seeing this Custom. My loss....until now!

Really nicely done..... a period piece that still looks good today !!

Thanks for featuring it.

 

For a minute I thought a friend may have it stashed in his survivor pile... close but no cigar. Lunga's vert might have inspired the rear quarter and continental treatment

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=799194

 

I think I'll make a panel of 11 light up switches under the dash of the 40 and just let people wonder about them.

 

That is very cool.

 

Interesting point.

 

Ryan...

Thanks for this ! This is one I also missed at that time...and my mags. go back to '53.

Price estimated in the article for the car, and the work done, roughly $2,700.00. To Clone it today with purchase price for the car, body work, paint, upholstery, chrome, drivetrain, etc., would probably be, conservatively, in the $35-40 + Grand range.

But it is a true Time Capsule of what was being built in that era.

Jonnie www.legends.thewwbc.net

 

Thanks Ryan, that's a cool little vert that I don't remember seeing before either.

 

She's a beaut Clark!

 

this was one of the first cars to get me interested in customs.

 

Thanks for sharing this, what a cool car. I just love the fact that a color photo from the cover shot exists. That two tone must have really stood out when it was first built. I love the side trim treatment too. Looks like something Ford should have done - which is the mark of a perfectly executed custom in my mind. Make improvements to the original design that appear as though the factory had done them while remaining completely unique. Very cool.

 

You mean "safety control panel"....

 

Wow, a tasteful custom from the east coast...who would have thought?
just kidding
The sidetrim break of the two-tone really creates a beautifully balanced shape and totally 'makes' that car