As Ford historians already know, 1953 was the final year of the venerable flathead V8. In production for 21 years, it was being upstaged by newer OHV designs and the small block Chevy V8 was on the horizon. But when it went out of production, the automotive world lost something special, and as many flathead fans will acknowledge, there’s just nothing like it. Rugged, easy to maintain, and simple, yet smooth enough to be a luxury car engine and playful on the street with great road manners. And as they were when new, most flathead V8-powered cars remain eminently affordable, representing fantastic old car fun with huge club support and great parts availability. As the saying goes, the bad flatheads are good, and the good ones are great.

Look beyond the mild lowering on this ’53 Ford Customline 2-door and you’ll see a really nice entry-level hobby car with a lot of originality. The two-tone paint combination appears to be the original specification of Sheridan Blue over Glacier Blue, an ideal ‘50s look. The bodywork is quite straight and aside from the accessory fender skirts and continental kit, it’s completely unmodified. Fit and finish are very good with doors that line up nicely and don’t need a heavy slam to close, wave-free quarter panels, and a soft gloss to the paint that’s entirely appropriate for a ‘50s cruiser like this. There’s also got to be a sizeable pile of cash tied up in the chrome and stainless, which is all very good including the grille and front bumper which show crisp details and a deep shine. A few pieces like the hood ornament and front emblem might be good originals, as they show some very minor pitting, but that only reinforces the fact that this is a super-clean original car. The quarter panel trim emulates jet intakes, which was a fascination of the auto industry at the time, and the continental kit is quite nicely integrated into the overall design, giving the compact Ford a lot more presence. It also wears teardrop dummy spotlights that were popular dress-up features in-period and the bullet-shaped taillights are in excellent shape.

The gray striped cloth interior (which Ford called “Craftcord”) is unquestionably all original and in good condition as well. Aside from a single split on the lower front seat cushion, it shows quite well and I think I would aim for preservation and cleaning rather than replacement. The cushions underneath are still comfortable enough for all-day cruising and in typical Ford fashion, the floor coverings are durable rubber mats front and rear, and again, we strongly suspect it’s all original stuff. The rear seat area remains in almost new condition and all the hardware shines up nicely. The instrument panel is likewise quite well preserved with a full array of functional gauges around a half-round speedometer, all of which sport crisp markings, bright needles, and a clear lens. Ford’s 50th Anniversary was in 1953, and it’s called out on the horn button but with little additional fanfare. Secondary controls are arrayed to either side of the speedometer and everything works (although the wipers are a little sluggish). Of note, there’s a modern Kenwood AM/FM/CD stereo in the middle of the dash, and there’s surely a 12-volt inverter somewhere in the car, as it still runs its original 6-volt electrical system. The headliner shows no rips or tears and the trunk area is tidy, if not detailed for show (apologies for no trunk photos, but that was when our camera decided to kill its batteries).

The engine is a correct 56AB flathead displacing 239 cubic inches. With a recent detailing in the original corporate bronze paint, it has the right look and all the original equipment is intact, from the downdraft carburetor and oil bath air cleaner to the top-mounted generator. Recent service work includes a full tune-up with new plugs, wires, cap, and rotor, plus a rebuilt fuel pump, so it starts easily and runs well without any “flathead fever” issues or vapor lock. In fact, despite the somewhat throaty dual exhaust system, it runs so smoothly and silently at idle that even I accidentally tried to start it once it was already running. Embarrassing, but a testament to how well-sorted these flatheads can be. It doesn’t get hot, it pulls smoothly through all the gears, and few engines are as delightful on the road. The suspension uses lowering springs up front and blocks out back to give it that stance, but if it’s not to your taste, taking it back to stock would be a few hours’ work. Original steel wheels with “fipper” wheel covers adds to the ‘50s custom look and carry relatively recent 205/75/15 whitewall radials that ride and handle great.

This is a great entry-level hobby car that simply works as intended. Lots of fun at cruise nights and to take to work on sunny days, it is easy to drive and quite competent out on the road. Isn’t it time you found out why flathead Fords have been so popular for the past 80 years?