1953 Ford crestline Victoria, The new standard of the American road.

Today on what’s it’s like back at classic auto mall to take a closer look at the 1953 ford, comparison would you rather name that tune enjoy this episode
This car is currently for sale at classic auto mall in Morgantown Pennsylvania for more information pricing and pictures pertaining to this very car click link below after the show.
www.classicautomall.com/vehic...

[@ahoorakia]

Ain't that A shame,Fats domino

[@What.its.like.]

Man your just too good.. congratulations you got it, shot some really cool stuff this week, I’m on vacation too I’m going to try and do an episode a day.. might not be ready at 430 but really cool stuff coming =)

[@johnboydTx]

👏👏👏 well done 🍻🤠✌️

[@allenwayne2033]

Congrats ahoorakia!

[@ernielaw]

That song was played in American Graffiti. It was played while riding in a 1949 Mercury.

[@andreamills5852]

Good Job

[@I00kingin]

thanks for the video, I learned to drive in a 53 ford with a three on the tree. I have nothing but good memories of that car and my grandpa who taught me how to drive it.

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for sharing those memories I hope one day to get to drive one but I’ve always been afraid of that because if I love it that much you probably follow me home lol

[@rayfridley6649]

The horn button shown is a special 50 year comitative for Ford Motor Company, which was formed in 1903.

[@What.its.like.]

Good to know thank you so much for that information

[@Batman-wv5ng]

Very nice old Ford and the colour in beautiful.

[@TheClintb17]

Quality craftsmanship on these old cars, unlike todays cars are slapped together with more plastic than ever, but still good , cheers CB Australia 🇦🇺

[@What.its.like.]

Totally agree =)

[@tombrown1898]

1953 was a great year for American cars...too many iconic models to list. Seminal year for me, too. I was born in 1953. Couldn't resist the "seminal" descriptor! Adam from Rare Classic Cars and Automotive History uses the word for practically every car he likes. Great job on the '53 Ford. An uncle of mine had a '53 Ford convertible. Loved to ride in that car; the mix of the leather upholstery and the lingering aroma of his cigars was one of the great smells you never forget. I'd pick the Mercury from that year. One of the truly great cars of the Fifties.

[@What.its.like.]

I totally agree with everything that you said and yes I hear Adam say that a lot. =) One day I hope me and Adam can collaborate he doesn’t live that far away I would love to get a car from the 50s and compare it with one of his 60s or 70s cars I think that would be awesome if he did a bit on my car and I did a bit on His and we came together in someway I think it would be awesome

[@tombrown1898]

@@What.its.like. Yes, it would. He is really good about working with other KZbin car guys. I'd try to arrange something.

[@stephenholland5930]

What a beautiful Crestline Victoria that is. The '53 Chevy looks so old fashioned in comparison. Another great video, Jay. Looking forward to seeing the Mercury.

[@What.its.like.]

The mercury is coming I don’t know when I showed a lot of cool stuff it’s hard to decipher what I want to go next 41 Packard Woody’s coming tonight what a rare car only 58 were made that year

[@jsat5609]

This car looks like it's going 60 miles an hour even when it's standing still.

[@JefferyHall-ct2tr]

Jay! That is ONE SWEET Ford!! Like the color scheme A LOT! A convertible was pace car for the 1953 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. I always liked the front end design of the '53 as well. WYR#1 1953 Ford! #2 Man! That Lincoln is SO PRETTY!

[@josephgaviota]

Agree, that was a nice lookin' car.

[@carlmontney7916]

53 Ford 53 Merc the teal on that Ford is awesome. The brightwork is refined and truly accents the auto's styling.

[@What.its.like.]

Totally agree I loved this car I still think about it sometimes the Mercury that’s coming later is even more incredible.. One day I would love to compare the Lincoln Capri to the mercury

[@captaccordion]

I'm very fond of the last of the flathead Ford's and have had a couple. The flathead V8 was pretty refined after 20 years of development. The '53 was also known as the Anniversary model, for Ford's 50 years in business, and will have said so in the badge in the centre of the steering wheel. The glovebox and speaker grille are standard and correct. On grille bullets/rockets, 49 and 50 had a single one, 51 had two, and 52 had 3 if you count the parking lights. 53 was a single bullet, and I turned one into a Viking helmet as a kid. Another way to refer to that style of wipers is 'clap-hand wipers'. Cheers.

[@davidmccaffery7977]

Ford had a winner

[@craigjorgensen4637]

I typically despise Continental Kits but I could live with this one since it isn’t extended. You are correct on the Ford six cylinder engines of that era. They had about the same amount of power and were a much better engine in several different ways.

[@What.its.like.]

I like the continental kit on this is tastefully done I wish we could’ve gotten in there trying to get a better look at what it looks like on the inside I didn’t have access to the keys I plan on going out there in another month if it’s still there I would definitely do that.. I didn’t have a whole Lotta time that day generally I go there and I spend the whole entire day there I didn’t spend the whole day there that time I went to multiple places

[@joeseeking3572]

Agree about the Ford Six - there were a number of contemporary road tests where it beat the V8. However speed equipment was readily available for the V8 and I'd imagine most of the younger crowd hopped them up even if only slightly. (I know my Dad's crowd did) Before the Chevy small block this was still probably the ride of choice b/c the 88 had gotten big by then - well unless you could get a Hornet, but those were considerably more expensive.

[@josephgaviota]

Ford has _so many_ overheating issues back then. Really a shame they couldn't "cure" that. A decade later it was "it won't stay in Park" problems.

[@charlesdalton985]

Simply stunning, love all the design elements. 53 Ford and 53 Ford for the choices. Thank you as always ~ Chuck

[@What.its.like.]

Sweet choices glad you dig this episode =)

[@josephpiskac2781]

Again I was born in 1953 and my dad had the 1949 bullet nose Tudor Ford. He would get groceries for the relatives and I would ride along. I was crazy about cars and counted the number of Chevys virs Fords on the streets. I loved the Ford we drove it across Nebraska on old State highways on vacation. Truly an ancient experience. I think on cold winter mornings it as really ify if it would start or not. You call it the "bullet" nose however even as a child I thought it looked like our vacuum cleaner. The instrument cluster looks like a parking meter.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome story thank you so much for sharing those memories

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Great vid, very cool have always liked the Crestline!

[@What.its.like.]

Glad you did this episode I totally agree

[@danielcheatham3400]

That car TRULY is showroom condition. I was a bit disappointed you didn't show how to get into the trunk, and the trunk Interior

[@denislandry7577]

Stunning !

[@tigre7739]

This is one of my favorites of the '50's Ford products!! The smooth, sleek design is incredible! I love that color too!🤩 Interior is equally awesome! I would definitely pick the Ford in the first scenario. In the second, any of them would be awesome, I tend to lean toward the Lincoln as first, but the Mercury is a very close second, but would still be blissfully happy with the Ford! 😎 Video

[@What.its.like.]

Totally agree if I had the money I’d buy this one

[@ernielaw]

The 1952 model year marked the first year for Ford having round taillights, a long lived tradition. There was a taillight change in '53, which was used once more in '54. The 1953 Ford had rectangular parking lights for that one year. Yet '52 and '54 models had round parking lights of different design.,though there were grill changes for all 3 years. If Ford were to offer a compact car in '53 it would have to look like the Hudson Jet. My favorite cars shown here would be the 1953 Plymouth and 1953 Lincoln.

[@jamesmooney8933]

Our family's first car was a '53 Ford. We got it in '56 and drove it until '62. It was the best car we ever had. Now I have a '06 Toyota Corolla, which I consider just as good.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome memory =) thank you so much for sharing

[@dicksanders8206]

Not much room in the back seat, but a very nice looking car. Thanks for showing, Jay.

[@DSP1968]

That's another nice Ford, Jay! Great condition and color combination. That spare tire on the back was called a Coronado Kit and was marketed as a Ford accessory. Note it does not require an extended bumper that a Continental kit would. Those were marketed by a non-Ford affiliated company.

[@craigjorgensen4637]

@Eric Ruud it’s too small to hold a conventional spare tire. Just for looks. In my opinion it adds nothing. It’s more of a distraction but MUCH better than a Mickey Mouse added on extended one.

[@danielulz1640]

​@Eric Ruud no, just an applique on top of the trunk lid.

[@What.its.like.]

I wish I had access to the truck I would’ve really loved to see how that works I’m going to make it into a short if I can get down there before that car sells but I’m not planning on going there until sometime in July..

[@TheMuskokaman]

My old mentor had 2 Mainlines one two tone green the other dark red, both with flathead 8's & a red 53 F100 all in stock restored condition. It was also the year he got married so I guess there was a sentimental attachment as well. 1953 Ford, 1953 Mercury

[@billolsen4360]

Like the 53 dashboard better. Yeah, teal is a good color for any car or truck. Don't think I've ever seen a 53 Crestline continental kit, which really isn't a true continental kit, but it looks good. My favorite thing about this vintage of Ford is that Crestline C-pillar. Love those contrasting colors in the interiors of 1950s cars. Looks like that speaker was original equipment after googling pics of 53 Ford dashboards. WYR -1- 53 Ford -2- 53 Lincoln

[@mjrchapin]

The V8 logo was around for quite a while. Chuck Berry immortalized his V8 Ford in his first hit, 1955, Maybellene, who was driving a Caddy. The song's really about the car, though. The first car I remember my family having was a basic used one of these; we drove it 2,000 miles on a trip, no problems.

[@What.its.like.]

Sweet I never knew that =)

[@ralphh.2200]

Had one of these...it ate door latches, and motor mounts too, which allowed the engine to lurch forward and hack up the radiator.Without electric fuel pumps,, these were prone to vapor lock in the summer.The Fordomatic transmission ate valve body check valves so often that I changed it to a manual set up..Got the parts from a '52 at the junkyard for $47...got it finished after school on the day Kennedy was murdered.I was 17.

[@What.its.like.]

That’s crazy thank you so much for sharing your car with us =)

[@flashesofblack4128]

These old body on frame cars were not only beautiful, but very sturdy. If properly taken care of they would last for years. I once had a 1965 Chevrolet four door post Belair. It was my commuter car. I drove it for almost 500.000 miles. I went through two engines, two power glide transmissions and two rear differentials. In those days a person who was a bit mechanically inclined could service those cars. I changed all of those major components myself saving me hundreds of dollars. I finally had to get rid of the car because the bottom side of the body was so rusted it could have been dangerous. When I sold it the engine I installed ran quite fine. I love this old ford. I am an old man but I used to see these cars all the time. I wish I would have appreciated them more back in the day. GREAT video Jay!!

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for sharing those memories with us I have such a fondness for this area of Ford it’s on the real a lot of people like what came before or what came after it I’m a huge fan of the style tons of room tons of headroom you could probably sit three across in the car no issue whatsoever.. I wish it came with the six.. tho mileage maker six with a big cam and two carburetors would be a pretty hot little engine.. it would definitely give the V-8 car is a run for their money, (and I totally love the underdog I love whenever a smaller more pathetic engines kicks ass). Not saying that my mileage maker six is pathetic but it’s small. Lol glad you dig this episode

[@jsat5609]

You overlooked an interesting feature about the steering wheel. Around the Ford 1950s crest trademark in the center of the wheel, are printed the words, "50 TH ANNIVERSARY 1903-1953," to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Ford motor company. When I was a kid, we had a 53 Ford very much like this one, a Victoria black top, cream body. There was no theoretical about that 85 mph; one day on a long straight stretch of road, devoid of any traffic at that time of day, my dad showed me, very briefly, 100 miles an hour on the speedometer.

[@chrisstoddard1144]

My dad's first new car was a '54 Mainline Fordor sedan. Interior trim was very spartan in that bottom trim level. Color: gray. No armrests on the doors. No sun visor on the passenger side.

[@rondye9398]

My 52 in this color is iconic with the V8. Just added a T5 stick to make it so much more drivable on todays highways. Beautiful car.

[@What.its.like.]

That car with a t-5 would be awesome =)

[@MisterMikeTexas]

Did you keep the Flathead, or go with a 5.0 from the Fox Mustang?

[@CreatorCade]

Awesome, I’d like to see some comparisons between the 53 and 54 next.

[@What.its.like.]

That will be coming when we do a 54..

[@gerrymcdonald6194]

14.3 MPG! My 2019 pickup truck gets 26 MPG and has 280 HP (standard). HOWEVER .. look at the torque on the 1953 Ford .. 128 LB-FT! Way short of my 2019 V6 truck but IMPRESSIVE. I had a used 1953 Ford Crestline Victoria when I was 16 years old in 1969. It was a worn out car my then, but the torque was amazing! That thing had heart and pulled like a champ! Sure do wish I had it 'now'.

[@garrisonnichols807]

It's amazing that the Flathead Ford which was first introduced in 1932 stayed in production all the way into the 50s. Imagine how fast airplane technology have come by then went from piston engine to jets. Or even radios in homes to television. Really Ford should have made these cars available with overhead value engine instead.

[@What.its.like.]

Yeah I know right.. don’t get me wrong there’s a place in history for the Flathead I think they’re a bit overrated they don’t read very high they have issues, with cooling and I heard the early version crackheads were prevalent as well as vapor lock.

[@richardmorse5307]

I’d take the 1953 Ford as it’s a beauty. I still like the looks of the ‘57 with the OHV V/8 engine I think. Thanks for the video.

[@What.its.like.]

Happy you dig this video

[@oscarblom4885]

My father had wagon with six cylinder and overdrive transmission. Awesome mileage.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome =)

[@calbob750]

I noticed the description that brake and clutch pedals were suspended. Older cars had the clutch and brake pedals supported through holes in the floorboard. Back in the “rust belt” these holes speeded up floorboard rust and cold air drifting in during the winter. The good really old days of the automobile. Don’t forget once the exhaust pipes rusted the floorboard was an entry point for exhaust fumes.

[@josephgaviota]

I'd often wondered what was the "feature" of the pedals hung from above vs through the floorboards. You just enlightened me about the rust in the cold climates.

[@franciscojuliangranadaescu3564]

Golden age of american car.

[@What.its.like.]

30s and 50s

[@rextownsend5101]

Your comment about the six being a good engine is right on. It was a new engine in 52, and was Ford’s first OHV engine. My folks had a 53 Customline with the six and overdrive. Nice car that they sold to my grandpa when they bought a 54 Crestline Victoria. Had the new 239 OHV V8 engine and Ford-o-matic. Great car and really good looking. And, the 54 had the new ball joint suspension.

[@What.its.like.]

It’s a bummer the crestline didn’t have the 6 minor tweaks and the 6 can have more power than the eight and more reliable than the flathead v8

[@avp217]

Love that car! When the Big Three introduced their postwar designs, Ford was the styling leader. GM trailed behind, and Chrysler was way behind. Then in '55, Virgil Exner's "Forward Look" cars were introduced, and Chrysler became the styling leader. By that time, GM had caught up with Ford. I definitely prefer the '53 Ford to its Plymouth and Chevy counterparts. I looked at some other pics of '53 Fords. That space between the radio and the glove compartment looks stock, and holds a speaker.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome information thank you so much for taking the time to share that insight =)

[@aaronwilliams6989]

That is a sharp car .my favorite 50's Fords are the late 50's.

[@What.its.like.]

Sweet those are cool as well =)

[@MisterMikeTexas]

I'd probably have both a 53 Ford and a same-year Chevy. The Chevy had its Blue Flame Six, and the Ford Mainlines and Customlines came standard with the "I-Block" Six. The Chevy and Ford Sixes were overhead-valve, while the Plymouth's Six was still an L-head. Btw, starting with the 1954, you could get the Six or the new Y-Block OHV V8 in all three Ford Series. The Crestline interior is gorgeous, and I noticed it has full instrumentation. I didn't see a lot of "idiot lights". I am surprised at the manual choke on the top end series.

[@hcombs0104]

I have to say this is a great looking car. I'm with you, it is a nice color. I was wondering if that spare tire on the trunk was like that originally? Anyway, I would choose the '53 Ford, and the '53 Mercury. Being an old movie buff, I thought I'd add this in. The Lucille Ball/Desi Arnaz movie The Long, Long Trailer used a '53 Mercury to haul the trailer. In most of it, anyway. They switched to a '53 Lincoln in the mountain-climbing scenes because it had the more powerful engine....the Mercury wouldn't have made it.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome information =) thank you so much for sharing great choices too

[@nygelmiller5293]

The black rear shelf on the Teal Blue car, goes with the black roof! You notice that through the large rear window! And I love the pleated seat upholstery' which is pleated wider than most. Quite honestly, if I bought a car TODAY , I would buy one of the cheapest model's and take it to a re-upholsterers. 1I think I would specicify pleated seats!

[@What.its.like.]

=)

[@rickfonte1423]

The glove box is not altered. The speaker was originally that size. My folks had a ‘53 Customline for 13 years. Seems that the rear seat was roomier on the Customline. Spent many, many hours in the back seat over those years.

[@dondieu3154]

Definitely the Ford! I had one once and would love to have the 1953 again. I also had a 1953 Chevvy. I prefer the Ford

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome =)

[@johntilt6726]

The 53 Crestline Victoria has the most balanced design in my view, with its pillarless side windows, wraparound "opera coupe" rear window, clean body lines and trim,...literally everything makes it more stylish and modern than the relatively old-fashioned Plymouth or Chevrolet styles! I think the 53 is an iconic design and I wouldn't be surprised if Ford had spent a lot of money developing such excellent designs for its 53 model year, especially since it was their 50th anniversary model lineup. The second best design in this video was the 54 Mercury...with the same basic body shape. Although it received major mechanical upgrades, more horsepower, etc. - the interior of the Mercury has less character than the 53 Crestline Victoria.

[@What.its.like.]

This is my favorite era of 50s Ford so much space I love the dashboards and the interiors I just wish they had a better V8 I would pick the six.. Thank you so much for sharing all the insight and information greatly appreciate it

[@edwardberwind8544]

That is one clean 53 a really nice example.

[@What.its.like.]

Totally agree

[@stevenquinn4641]

The back is on the coronado the rear on the option beautiful

[@lonn761]

The first car I drove was a 53 Mainline. I really love that Crestline Vicky Jay

[@What.its.like.]

Did you guys like your main line I’m absolutely engulfed with the cross line if I had the money these are my favorite color combinations I’ve never seen a car that was teal on the outside but black and white on the inside those are like my favorite color combinations black and white and teal

[@lonn761]

@@What.its.like. We took a lot of trips in that car my father worked for Chevrolet in St Louis but he never owned one as long as he lived . My buddy had a 49 Ford 6cyl that would beat me all the time I guess the 53 was a tired ol girl by the time I got to drive her

[@bobmccurdy8881]

Awesome car 53 Ford 53 Mercury

[@What.its.like.]

Sweet choices =)

[@yelyab1]

The DLO (day light opening) as seen in the side view is slightly larger in 53. I worked in Ford Body Engineering but not in 53. My dad did buy a 53 standard station wagon, 6-stick, it ran and ran and ran and ran. Things fell off, didn’t go back to get it unless the car stopped running. My dad worked at the Rouge ofc building of Ford. The fallout from steel making ate the paint off the roof. They had a deluge system to drive under when you left at night. Ahhh, the good old days before the EPA. Prevailing winds in the area are usually out of the west so most of the fallout went to Canada. Sorry bout that. Ford built several plants in Windsor, I guess in reparation for the Rouge fallout.

[@TheOzthewiz]

I have always been a FORD MAN, but I pick the '53 Plymouth, hands down because it WAS way more reliable! As for the best looking Fords of the '50s, I would pick the '55-'56 Fords. They had "T-Bird" styling elements!

[@josephgaviota]

We had a '54 Ford Wagon, in-line 6, Ford-O-matic transmission, California license plate IDA 437. The red/white/blue badging in the mid-'60s wasn't as bright RED and BLUE as it is in this vid. I'm assuming those must be remanufactured ... but they're pristine!

[@What.its.like.]

How did you like your 54 ford wagon?

[@josephgaviota]

@@What.its.like. I was just a kid, but mom drove us all over in it. We two oldest boys sat in the way back, which was just a flat area, so we'd slide around when mom went around corners, which we thought was great fun. It had the lift-up back (tailgate) window mechanism on the inside, and my younger brother was notorious for banging his head on it as we slid around. I remember it as _not_ being very powerful. I remember mom putting it in "low" when she had to make a quick left turn so she could really scoot quickly. PS, I was like 6 or 8 when this all happened.

[@What.its.like.]

That’s awesome I remember riding around in cars like that too when I was a kid it’s hard to believe that growing up in the 90s it was like growing up in the 70s I could imagine but these kids will never know what being a kid was and it’s really sad.. If I had a time machine I would take my daughter back to When I grew up as a kid to show her what being a kid is because I think it’s getting lost

[@richardwarren7492]

Just a small hint Jay - When you talk about seats being comfortable, remember that many times they have been re-done. (not just this car) Not using the materials of the day. Foam may have been added, webbing added, new srpings or re- tensioned. If re-done those may not be the original colors. Also, it's not a Stato V-8 it's a Strato V-8 as you show in you specs. And it's true name was Strato-Star V-8. WYR? 53 Ford WYR 2? 53 Merc.

[@dougabbott8261]

1953 Chevrolet for me although Ford or Merc would also be great. Nice cars in that time.

[@joeseeking3572]

That continental kit was the 'Coronado' and was Ford produced. There were aftermarket kits, but they did not fair into the deck like this one does. It was a neat styling solution to something which yielded unfortunately to the positively brobdingnagian (think 57 Merc kit). Oh, and the beltline is is the line where the windows meet the body - see for example how many of the 80's cars have quite a low beltine and airy cabins, where the 2000s often have slits (Chrysler 300). WYR: 1) 53 Ford, 2) 53 Lincoln

[@What.its.like.]

Great choices thank you so much for sharing that information I didn’t know what the technical term for that l Continental kit was but I definitely like this version.. better than the ones that protrude out words and take up 3 feet of space =) I think the Nash Metropolitan opera Continental kit similar to this but I could be wrong I don’t think Ford was the only one that did this

[@genewilson2705]

53 Merc Monterey hard top, i owned one and it did not leak

[@ROXSTARCorvette4371]

My vote is for the Lincoln with the Mercury a close second. I'd love to see what a convertible with a Continental kit looks like.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome choices =) I missed my opportunity to shoot a Capri over the weekend

[@ROXSTARCorvette4371]

@@What.its.like. Bummer! That's one car that is very interesting!

[@johnnyproctor]

A suggestion: please do a view of the dashboard in the dark with the dash lights on - one of the most important 'cool factor' considerations.

[@What.its.like.]

I’ll see about that

[@peterruddick1952]

Brings back memories of my bro's Black/white '53 Victoria. Even though I was only 13, I recognized the Crestline interior as rather plush... loved the stock orange/white rolled and pleated seats and the 3 "stars" on the rear side panels. IMO the Ford was so far superior to the dull '53 Chevy and Plymouth. Note that my bro's next car was a '55 Chevy, no more Fords, GM had caught up in style... and surpassed FoMoCo with far better OHV V8's

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for sharing those memories if I had the money I’d buy this one I almost did 16 candles at the end but didn’t I was going to make that a thing all the cars I’d buy sing that song Your the prettiest loviest girl I’ve ever seen

[@UNCFIPP]

That rear fender spear is the same shape/profile as the hood ornament

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome catch =)

[@michaelg7456]

In the hood ornament is a jet airplane instead of a rocket 🚀. This was the beginning of the jet age and many jet inspired themes made its way into designs. And you can see the two jet engines under the wings of the jet behind the rear door.

[@markchandler1130]

1953 Plymouth 1953 Mercury The Ford 6 actually performs better at lower and medium speeds. The car you reviewed has 1954 Mercury wheel covers.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome choices and observation =)

[@Radiowild]

I like that color myself. I absolutely agree with you that the six may be a better powerplant and would be enough to move that old girl around. I know someone with a 52 Customline and it's really a good car. In these scenarios, I'd take a 53 Chevy, and the 53 Merc. I love Chevy's 235 six powerplant, and I have a soft spot for the Merc's.

[@What.its.like.]

Great choices =) The downer is you can get the customline with a six cylinder but you can’t go to Crestline with a six cylinder and all of the good body options are available on the Crestline like the hard top the convertible the country Squire In other words you can’t get a hard top car in customline which is a bummer I wonder if anybody put a six cylinder in theirs after the fact or just put a Y block in instead.. like what the 54 had

[@1575murray]

I would agree that the 223 cubic inch 6 cylinder would be a better engine (and so would the Chevy 235) than the by then obsolete flathead V8 due to its more efficient OHV design. Ford replaced the flathead V8 the next model year with its Y block V8.

[@jamesrecknor6752]

Rolling art

[@jamesglenn6461]

Good cars. I had the 52' coup with milage maker 6 with 3 on the tree.. 6-cylinder had a 1- barrel carburetor with a glass bowl. Top speed 50-55. Good milage.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome thank you so much for sharing your experience with your car on here only 55 mph (4:11 rear)?

[@jamesglenn6461]

@@What.its.like. I don't know what the rear end gear was. It just stopped going faster than 50-55. Assumed it was the small 1-barrel carburetor limiting it.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

Probably had one or two fouled out sparkplugs...

[@craigjorgensen4637]

@@jamesglenn6461 something was VERY wrong! That six was good for at least 90mph.

[@davidmckinney6577]

I love those models I love most of them in the 50s but I don't care about the 51 grill.. everytime I see these models I think about barney fife on the Andy Griffith show buying his first car..good video bro good to hang out with you and hear you talk you sure know you're cars. I've got a emblem like that on the hood I have the hood ornament and the Ford emblem..I got a friend who has one that model and that color he is thinking about selling it to me I hope so. It's good to see you I think this is the first time I saw you in any of your videos. You do a great job narrating your videos Jay..take care buddy. I'd rather have the 53 ford. I'd still take the 53 Ford again, those Mercury's are nice I like the 57 mercury turnpike cruiser my uncle use to have one it was very fancy car..

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much if your close we can hang and talk cars =)

[@davidmckinney6577]

@@What.its.like. I would love to hang out with you and talk about cars I live in Kentucky not sure we're you live but I love to talk and you are a good talker very interesting man and very knowledgeable..you are super blessed my friend.

[@davidmckinney6577]

@@What.its.like. I have a Instagram account and also snapchat and I do have email also but KZbin seems to eat numbers and addresses if you try to send them it's some privacy rules it says.

[@What.its.like.]

Shoot me an email [e-mail]

[@davidmckinney6577]

@@What.its.like. ok I will try usually I type something in wrong but I'm going to write it down just like you texted it so hopefully you will hear from me in a few minutes

[@craigjorgensen4637]

This is a VERY nice car! If given a choice between no Continental Kit and the unobtrusive one this cars has I would go without BUT as much as I dislike them at least this one is subdued and something that I could live with.

[@What.its.like.]

There is a crest line sunliner in the pipeline it does not have the continental kit on the back I don’t think but it has the plexiglass roof not only the plexiglass roof but it’s one of 107 with the dealership see-through hood not sure when that’s coming next episode after today episode is 1932 Nash 8

[@finleyfendt3750]

1953, the last year for the flat head V8. Good engine. 👍👍👍. 6-21-2023

[@What.its.like.]

Y block it 54

[@dougharding5231]

Vent window was one name for them. We called them windwings.

[@leightonfarms4962]

Oh yeah!

[@mkernen]

I like the 52 styling better. Especially the grille.

[@8176morgan]

For the car choices, in the first selection I would pick the '53 Ford over the other two. The '53 Chevrolet is not a bad looking car, but I can't imagine anyone choosing the stodgy Plymouth. In the second selection I would definitely pick the '53 Lincoln. The '53 Mercury shown is actually a 1952 Mercury Monterey. It's maiden year as a stand alone model. I like it better than the '53 Merc, but the '54 Merc is the best of them all!

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome choices thank you so much for that I’m really good at placing the wrong year in that category google search that up for years and you still have to know the difference I might make an episode like that one day

[@8176morgan]

@@What.its.like. I look forward to you doing a What's It Like presentation on the '52-'54 Mercury. Such great cars! I love them even more than I do the '52-'54 Fords, and they are truly awesome cars.

[@yelyab1]

Take a look at the headliner. The material always shrank with time. There were about 8 lateral panels 8” wide. In 2 years they were 6” wide. Mom sewed them together but it looked sad. That headliner is not authentic. It looks good, that’s why it’s not authentic. Head room suffered in 57 or 58 when Ford went to a “step over” rocker panel to give the car a lower profile along with lowering the roof a little. Back seat occupancy was going down and it was usually kids.

[@Irishfan]

1st scenario, is easy the Ford, second scenario, is more difficult. I still like the Ford, but the Mercury looks great. The Mecury should be more luxurious than the Ford. The Lincoln should be the most luxurious of the three. All three have the same size bodies. They just have slight differences. If I were a collector, I would want all three. If I were shopping for a new car in 53, it would be a close rase, but then I might have chosen the Mercury. Then again, other factors that govern the sale of cars come into play, dealer inventory, and the negotiation of the sale. Most of the used cars I bought I looked till I found the exact car I had in mind. The two brand new cars I bought, my choice was limited to the dealer inventory and the price negotiation. In the case of the last Mercury that I bought, It was mostly decided by what was available at the time. I went out looking for the newest Ford Fusion I could find, and the only car close to that along a street filled with car dealerships was a Mercury Milan Premier. In 1955, my dad had a choice between a 53 Ford and a 54 Mercury. A neighbor that was a Machanic steered my dad toward the Ford. We has that 53 Ford until my dad traded it in on a 1960 Ford Falcon.

[@sportsterray66]

At 3:28 the '53 you're showing has '54 taillight lenses, and backup lights were optional for '52-'54.

[@ctd92dad]

Hi Jay. I like this period of Ford as well. Lots of styling, yet not overdone. Question: have you ever found a 1963 Ford Falcon. My dad bought one new, a four door hard top, either royal blue or midnight blue color. He loved it. I did not, because he left the plastic seat covers on. In the summer, wearing shorts, my legs would literally stick to the seat. LOL, but UGH! 🤣 So I would like to see a segment on this car, 1963 Ford Falcon.

[@What.its.like.]

Funny you should ask about the falcon I shot an episode of a 63 Ford falcon unfortunately that was one of the ones that got corrupted I lost all of it.. going to revisit that one

[@josephgaviota]

WYR #1: The Ford for sure.

[@What.its.like.]

Sweet =)

[@PatrickFoley-vf3lr]

Other than a one piecer rear window and a 50 year crest on the steering wheel, this was the same as a 52 ford with a little different chrome on the side..

[@PatrickFoley-vf3lr]

I had a 1953 Ford coupe, stick, six. paid $45.00 for it. Spotlights, 54 chevy grille an rolled and pleated interior. Happy days. I even had a record player in it.

[@jamesmcgowen1769]

Hi Jay, as for ‘would you rather’ for ‘53, I’ll go for the 1953 FJ Holden. Try and find one close to you! All the best mate Love your work

[@danielulz1640]

They were never imported into the US.

[@What.its.like.]

I never heard of the FJ Holden I will have to look that up lol you guys in Australia seem to get all the good cars that we never got here Japan was another one that released a bunch of cars in Japan that we didn’t get here

[@jamesmcgowen1769]

@@What.its.like. The big 3’s Australian made cars weren’t any better than US made cars, but head office never imported them into USA which is a shame.

[@tedlawrence4189]

My parents bought a new '53 Ford Crestline 4 dr. V8 with Fordomatic. It was baby blue in color. Kept it until nov.'59. It was a great car. 78,000 did not burn oil. I was 4 when my dad came home with it. I was 10 when he traded it for a '60 Fairlane 500. 6 cyl. Fordomatic. Piece of junk! Rusted out in 5 years. 73,000 miles the engine was getting weak. Attractive 4dr. but not same quality as the '53.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome thank you for sharing those memories =)

[@TigerDominic-uh1dv]

Like the 53 better than the 52.😊

[@ctd92dad]

Scenario 1: 1953 Chevy. I'm a GM guy. Scenario 2: 1953 Ford Crestline with the 6 cylinder, and added carburetor. There you go.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome choices =)

[@MisterMikeTexas]

The 52 and 53 Crestlines were Flathead V8 only. The 54 Crestline was available with the Six or brand new Y-Block V8.

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

Beautiful car. I prefer the 1953 Ford. Do you have a best of 1950's video? Thanks, John

[@What.its.like.]

I don’t I have a over rated under rated episode kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKasi6GQrsxgps0

[@johnboydTx]

53 mercury but 53 chevy convertible wins by a nose 😂👍🤠✌️

[@montymatilda]

I'll pick the 53 Ford and the 53 Lincoln in the second one.

[@What.its.like.]

Sweet choices =)

[@draggonsgate]

1) Ford! 2) Gotta go with the Mercury!!!! '53 was a gorgeous yer for them. Whata beauty! Still partial to Mercury, but this is a beautiful example of early 50's FoMoCo. And yes, the glove compartment door is twice the size of the one in this car... LOVE that '75/'76 Town Car behind the Ford too 🙂 Tell them they need the vacuum actuators for the headlights...

[@danielulz1640]

Nope, that is the original glove compartment and door. That is also the original size and placement of the radio speaker.

[@draggonsgate]

@@danielulz1640 oooops, I stand corrected, must have been looking at a different year... looking at it, the pic I saw didn't have the clock thing in the middle of the dash either...

[@danielulz1640]

@@draggonsgate that's o k, you may have been looking at a 54 55 Ford dash.

[@What.its.like.]

Glove box was small I should have been more clear about that in the video..

[@soco13466]

I wouldn't choose the Chevy, because I don't like the "dog haunches" rear fenders on any car. Ever since I was a kid, (born '54), I always called them that.

[@michaelg7456]

I call the oversized steering wheel " power steering ", because it uses your power to turn the front wheels unassisted!😂

[@What.its.like.]

I love the huge steering wheels =)

[@BenSHammonds]

there were no differences to the body on the 52 and 53, just grill differences were the biggest and most obvious, always thought the 53 grill was the prettiest of the three years of this body style, Sure like the color of this 53 in vid, if had money I would buy this one in a heat beat :) in 53 would take the Ford between first choices, but the Mercury always, most so 55-56, couple years ago I sold my 54 Merc, it was red and white like one in video, have had two, they are great cars, but the 55 and 56 Montclairs were really something

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for all of that insight it would be really hard to choose what is the best mercury between 54 and 56 they are so nice but the interior qualities of the 54 were just unbelievable it was a Monterey Dad episode is coming later this week I wanted to space them out so it was like watching the same thing twice back to back 1941 Packard coming today I don’t think it’s going to be at the set time 4:30 I’m currently on vacation so my schedule is getting mixed around but I will definitely before midnight lol

[@BenSHammonds]

@@What.its.like. I had an advantage of sorts growing up in a family where several members had Mercury cars, my dad had a 55 Montclair, a uncle had a 40 way back, two 51 coupes and a 53 Monterey, then he went to a 56 Ford :) A 54 was my first car in early 80s, but soon got my 55 along with it, I have a photo of them side by side could show :)

[@allenschmitz9644]

Chest into the steering wheel at 35mph is often fatal.

[@LlyleHunter]

A Ford is a strong car! I ran my EX over with one and it hardly dented.

[@bluecarlos65]

1953 ford

[@juliancrooks3031]

Is it sick that I would rather own one of these old ford's over a new one?

[@What.its.like.]

No your not sick.. new cars are appliances and are very eh in built quality some it seems like I’m in like tike plastic toys. One cars give me tin toy vibes sometimes and everything is build solid

[@user-xh2vd1gv2g]

53 Merc.....1st choice

[@goldenboy5500]

ha ha they got the pedal covers upside down

[@JamesAllmond]

52 53 Chevy (even if the Ford was the only one of these 3 to offer a V8) 53 Mercury

[@What.its.like.]

Wait until you see the episode on the 54 Merc I kind of want one it’s that good..

[@alanblanes2876]

1953 Plymouth

[@What.its.like.]

Sweet =)

[@allenwayne2033]

Sounds like something from Chubby Checker! No preferences on WYR. 53 anything just ain't my thing.

[@allenwayne2033]

Correction: a 53 Buick Skylark convertible would definitely be my thing!

[@ernielaw]

All 1953 Skylarks had the name of the original owner enscribed on the center of the steering wheel.

[@dougharding5231]

260 air conditioning was standard. Two windows down at sixty miles an hour!

[@What.its.like.]

I miss vent windows

[@bikabill5182]

1st WYR: '53 Ford 2nd WYR: '53 Mercury [If I had the $, tell ya what I'd do; go downtown and buy a Mercury or 2]

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome choices there is a 54 mercury coming probably maybe the end of this week I’m going to really try and do at least one episode every day or every other day they are going to be released in weird times because of my work situation I’m on vacation so it’s I do these episodes around various activities if that makes any sense I’m gonna be on vacation for the next week and a half