Hey everybody, I'm getting around to posting some pictures of my 1959 Ford Custom 300. I have big plans for it, but this summer I'll just keep it going well enough to attend my rockabilly events and cruise-ins. I daily drive it for now also. Sure feels good to snag one of your dream cars! To be honest; when I started going to The Road Rocket Rumble years ago I thought I'd never be able to get one... and just look how lucky I am! Very grateful to be a part of such a vast and knowledgeable community of like-minded folks. Enjoy some pictures!
Having owned an ex state police car when I was in high school. I have fond memories of a 59 Ford. Congrats on your find.
Congrats!! A beautiful car and great pix too! If you haven’t already, consider joining the 52-59 Ford Social group. Lots of great info to be had. Enjoy! Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Very Kool ride, you have been blessed. Keep us posted on your progress. Sometimes progress is driving it every day.
I know how you feel. Here's mine. They sure get a lot of comments and you don't see that many of them. It often times wares my original American 5 spokes.
Thank you! I'd love to hear some stories. I've only had it a few months but I have already had some crazy stories.
That is beautiful!!! I have the original hubcaps but I'm looking for a set of '61 Mercury Parklane caps. I'll get the firestone coker WW's too.
I agree. I feel like I need to build a strong connection with the car before I modify it. I would like to consider this my Research Time Period. haha I want to make sure to keep things in-line of how they should be.
I love 1959 Ford styling. It is over the top but not gaudy, a little scary looking, beautiful. My only issue with the body style is that only a few people built famous ones back in the day. The amount of builds to draw inspiration from is on the lower end. That could also be a silver lining though, as a good '59 Ford stands out because of this. I feel completely satisfied with the car so far, and what things it needs excite me due to the possibilities rather than stress me out.
Most 59's only get minor clean up mods. There was one sectioned back in the 60's. It is still around and painted Blue. Sometimes less is more. Glad your getting the feel of the car instead of just tearing into it. Good move. I've had a few ideas for mine but have enough other stuff going on it has managed to stay stock. It's the only Virgin I have. It's almost out of place here but it's uniqueness is what makes it Okay. The Wizzard
I'll make a build thread when my carport/garage situation comes to fruition. So far planned mods are: 1. repair rust. 2. '57 Desoto front bumper. (I've seen some '57 Fords and a '59 Ranchero with this. it looks AWESOME. 3. '57 Fairlane Hardtop. I plan on using the whole roof, including the windshield and rear windscreen. just swapping the roof should lower it quite a bit...I have seen several chopped '57 Fords however and I might take it a little bit lower if I can. Mostly though I think that was the roofline this body should have been offered with, but Ford went with an edsel-looking style instead. 4. Mercury Parklane hubcaps and Coker Firestone wide-white bias-plies. 5. new exhaust, possibly lake pipes or side-exit pipes. 6. I have a race-built 351w and a Borg-Warner T10 that I'll put in it after I sort out the tired brakes and suspension. I never make one go faster than it'll stop. 7. Blue is my color, big time. but I have always wanted gloss black with traditional fire flames. We'll see. back-up color choice is Tahoe Turquoise with a Black roof. 8. all white tuck-n-roll interior 9. I don't want to go too low because I live in the mountains, but I would like the stance to come down a bit. I'll have to get the tires first though to get my starting height. Maybe aerostar springs and blocks. 10. I am interested in shaving the door handles, but I avoid electronics. I am researching pull-knobs in the front fenderwells with cables. some kind of reliable manual way to pull the latches. I'm living with the car for now, I'll see what is suitable in time.
Looks like you have it all mapped out!59 Fords are so cool and advent guarde looking!The two tone turquoise and black seems like the best choice!
The blue sectioned car was my blue heaven. Super killer car. Check out @Tuck ranchero. That thing is so killer
Drew; I like your ideas and your enthusiasm. The 57 Roof and a Chop is something I'm just a little familiar with. I think you may have the idea that 57-58 and 59 are of the same family with only minor changes. That would be incorrect. The 59 Ford is about the same to 57-58 as a 58 Chevy is to it's 55-56-57 cousins. I'm the last to ever say it can't be done rather prefer to say let's look this over a little closer. I just happen to have my 57 H.T. currently in pieces sitting right next to my 59. Too start with if you think the 57 windshield will sit in place on the 59 Cowel your incorrect. The contour is different and that's just the start. Any info you would like from here just ask. I'm in no way trying to dampen your drive, rather Help you understand what's needed to pull this off. The Wizzard
I agree with Pist-N- Broke About the top differences. I think that you will find that the 59 is wider then the 57 as well. Not to mention the fact that your car is a sedan and you want to use a hardtop roof. What would be your plans for the doors? You may want to look at just chopping the stock roof. If you use a 59 Hardtop wind shield it should give you around 2" drop and not require cutting the curved glass. The hardtop and convertible wind sheilds are lower from the factory The rear window could then be slid forward and possibly up into the roof to eliminate the need for cutting as well. Like Pist-N-Broke said. Not trying to discourage you, but I have seen too many first time chops gone awry. Plan ahead. Measure 3 times and hopefully only cut once. Good luck. Enjoy your car and keep us posted. Torchie
Pist-n-Broke, since you have the two right there could you do me a huge favor? I wonder what the o.d. of the a-pillars is. I know the cowl is different, I was going to use the '57 cowl or as much as I can. I'm planning on using hardtop doors or door-guts and windows to do it right. I just don't like the Formal roof with it's flat rear window for my build. I also don't care much for my stock rear window though haha! So... This is why the HAMB is so great! I would otherwise never get the advice and help and words of encouragement that all of you provide. Thank you so much.
width from inside the car I think would give me the best idea of the width difference. I'm not worried if the roof is shorter or longer in length, I'll probably use or take away metal at the bottom of the rear window too. I have a small group of friends that helps me from time to time. when I got this car they each said something to the effect of "guess I'm moving into your spare room" haha
At the top of windshield post the 59 is 55-3/4" and at the bottom of glass is 61-3/4" The 57 is 54-1/2" and 60". The body of the 59 from sill plate to door weather strip seal point is 24-1/2" tall while the 57 at the same point is 25-1/2" tall. Door length at the same point on each the 59 is 47-1/2" while the 57 is 46-1/2". Making the 59 Door shorter and longer than the 57 both in the Hardtop body model. Your working with a Coupe or Post car. These numbers will be different for you. You should also know the bottom edge of the windshield glass on the 59 is much straighter (Flatter) in the center section than the 57, the corners have more radius than the 57 and the wing back to the door is longer than the 57. The angle top to bottom of the wing window is totally different between the two Cars. Here is something I learned about Chopping a 57 and making the front glass look correct. It means cutting all 4 sides of the Glass as well as moving the lower body lip for the weather strip inboard to adjust for the Glass getting narrower. This also ends up involving work on the Dash as well as the S.S. trim. Hope this helps ya and we didn't even talk about the Wing Window frames. The Wizzard
Like you I don't like the custom 300 roof on my 59 but I have a 59 Fairlane with the formal roof that I can use. I hope to get other ideas from you
My 59 was a Michigan state police car that had a police interceptor 352 with automatic . 4door post car with heavy duty suspension . Big brakes . It wasn't much off the line, but from about 30 to 120 it was hard to handle. It would bury the needle without too much effort. Traded it in on a 62 Galaxie 500 XL 2 door hardtop with a 406.
If you wanna run a T10, im in the middle of doing that in my 59 but with a FE. I was able to use a T10 from a full size 62 Galaxie, modified 62 tranny mount, and stock crossmember. Went together real well I thought.....
Still have to weld tunnel in. I had to make the tunnel a little wider for clearance for the shift linkage....hope this helps you a little
Congratulations! And double congratulations for it being your daily driver!!! I look fwd to seeing what all you do with your 59! Sent from my SM-G550T using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
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