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

I have always loved the 59 convertible s and Rancheros, but the roof lines of the hardtop and sedans look boxy and top heavy. Always wonder what one would have looked like with the 60/61 Starliner roof. But then if I had a 60 Starliner roof I would restore the car underneath.

 

I like em!

 

I like the way you're thinking. I've had both First gen American Torque Thrust and Chrome wheels on it. Hard to tell what ones I liked best. When it leaves here it will be wearing it's O.E. hubcaps. It's a Fly in and Drive home kind of car no matter where you live, and I'll pick you up at the Airport.

 

Rory's Meteor Version with 428 4-Speed

 

I like the 59s over the 58s

 

Here's mine, wife's grandpa's car. It's way down the project list. Straight, solid old car.

 

These two are on marketplace

a comparison to ponder

 

If you asked the younger me - no, absolutely not, Yuk. If you ask me now, I can see it in a very deep non-metallic blue grey color, black wheels with no caps, sitting right over some wide black walls, lots of horsepower, and a four speed in front of a bench seat. I guess you’d call it a moonshiner look.

 

57's are great looking; 58's are ok, 59's are... anyone up for a boat ride? IMHO they look like a tank next to a 57.
My uncle bought a 59 Custom two-door new; six cylinder, three speed, no radio. I thought it was cool when we drove it across country to the Worlds Fair in '62. Gutless but cool.
My dad had a 59 Galaxie four-door, 332 and automatic; nice car; but it was a dog.
My mom had a 59 Wagon that I drove a lot and managed to blow-up the 292 in.
My first mother-in-law had a 59 Custom four-door with a blown up six that I inherited and put a warmed over Y-block in.
This doesn't count the wrecked ones I got cheap, pulled the rear ends out of and junked the rest. Think I was overexposed to them in my teens and twenties, and don't ever want one again...

 

Mine was originally a 332 and a Ford-O-Matic 2 speed....2.91 rear. The 332 only came with a 2bbl I think.

I made mine a 352 with a 3.5" crank, and put a Granada 3+OD Toploader in it.

The mid 70s Autolite 2100 runs so well on it, and the 4bbl intakes are fetching big coin. So I left the boat anchor iron intake and 2bbl 2100 on it. Moves along plenty for me. Buy rowing the wide ratio 3 speed is definatly not a hot rod.

 

Yeah, two barrel on the 332. After I graduated from high school I went back to my dad's place in the Midwest and finally got to drive his Galaxie with the 332 and Cruisomatic. What a disappointment! My mom's 59 wagon with a 292 and 2-speed Fordomatic had more get up and go than that Galaxie.

 

59s are an acquired taste I suppose. Buddy had one in high school. Started knocking like crazy. Put 90w in the old 6 cylinder and got another 100 miles before it threw a rod. Never cared for em myself.

 

As a kid there was a red and white Galaxie that sat out front of a house what a beautiful car. I always liked the *** end of the 59 were Ford missed the boat was the front end and the roof line. If they would of put that 60 Starliner roof on it and tweeked the grill a little bit it would of changed everything.

 

I like the grille and front of them the best. It looks like it’s pissed off and wants to eat you. Just like the Dodges, and all the others in 58-59.

 

I bought mine 8 years ago, been driving it for 6 years. In for a little work here.

 

Speaking my language here Anthony!

 

Loving all the comments and discussion! Popular opinion says Detroit Customs are an acquired taste. Fortunately, I like it and and will drive it soon...after I fix some rust. Thanks for sharing!

 

My best friends mom and dad had a '59 retractable when we were growing up, fell in love with them then. They still have it, they bought it in '60. I don't care for the lead sled look really, but I like the hot rod look on them, as I said in the Ranchero thread, the Keith Black Ranchero is killer. I'd like to do the same treatment to a 300 or sedan. I don't think the retractables or convertibles look as good with Halibrands, black steel wheels or 5 Spoke Americans, but can still be cl***y cruisers with a nose down look verses a tail dragger.

 

This makes me want to go find a 59...

 

I totally get why some folks don’t like these type cars.
The first time I saw a 59 dodge I thought it was the ugliest custom ever built. Mind blown when I figured out it was factory. I guess it was designed during the LSD experiments.
That being said, I drive the wheels off one.
At shows with students or my kids, these late 50s,early 60s rides get the biggest reactions.
They look like space ships.

 

I always hated them because they're so weird...now I want one because they're so weird.

 

quarter panels on 57/58/59 retractables looked like box cars, covertibles looked much better

 

Yeah, the body proportions on the retractables just wasn't quite right given the packaging issues involved. I always felt that out of the three, the '59 carried it off better.

 

You guys don't have to look very far. Go back to post 26 here. This is an unadvertised special. I really will sell this car and pick you up at the Airport in it. If you're for Real send me a P,M.

Please excuse the dirty quarter window.

 

And! I think the roofline with the top up looks better on a ragtop. The picture I Ps'ed was to show how it would look with a nose down look verses the taildragger look.

 

Hey, now I like it!!

 

I actually did go look up your ad. Nice car but out of my price range. Would be a fun road trip home though.

 

That's a super nice 59!
I think that the 59 Ford looks like a direct successor to the 57 Ford with the round taillights and everything. I like it, while the 58 does not fit in there and is not my favourite.
Generally in 59 Ford had not the best line with the Ford being ok, the Thunderbird, while nice, was taken over from 58 and the Mercury and Lincoln looking strange.
On the other hand GM had the iconic 59 Cadillac and Chevy, the Olds and Pontiac being also quite nice and with the 59 Buick one of the best looking cars ever IMHO.

 

I remember posting the add several years ago. The 59 hasn't been driven near enough since then. I don't remember if all this info was with the add or not. What the add did do back then was attract a lot of Piss-Whistlers and Wise-Crackers. I don't need that stuff and is why it never got listed again. The dollar value isn't going to change my lifestyle. A true buyer isn't going to pick the Car apart from phots online and I don't need the entertainment. On top of that I like seeing it even if it isn't my favorite. It really is a stand up car. More info below. If you think it will work for you P.M. me.

Car has 78,500 original miles.
Sold new at Gardner Ford sales on North Lombard street Portland Oregon
Built at San Jose Ford plant.
Has lived in Clark Co. WA all its life. has only spent 2 nights outside it's entire life
I have removed Motor/Trans.
Motor compartment cleaned and detailed.
New motor/trans mounts
Trans completely rebuilt including new converter.
Motor had all soft plugs removed and water chamber power washed out.
Rebuilt Radiator,@ Mac's of Portland
New water pump
New heater core and valve.
Temp sender receiver 58/59 only. N.O.S.
All belts and hoses new
Front and rear oil seals replaced
New valve guide seals.
New timing chain and gears.
New fuel pump
Gas tank cleaned and flushed.
New gas sending unit
Rebuilt Carb.
Complete exhaust system
Complete brake system rebuilt
All new wheel bearings
Power steering pump and ram rebuilt.
Seat covers were removed and New padding and foam was installed to get rid of the Aged Old Foam Stink.
Car still has 100% factory upholstery, carpet and Headliner.
Special attention was taken to use all correct hardware and as much factory parts as possible.
This is not a restored car just well kept.
Car was solid white from factory and the 1959 Aztec Gold was added in the Ford dealer body shop prior to first delivery to new owner.

 

You guys with the 59 Galaxie XLs have some really rare cars, since the first year Ford produced an XL was 1962!

There were Galaxies in 59, but not XLs.