Rare Shoebox Ford

[RalphG]

This was an interesting video if a bit long. A 50 Ford that appears to have the police equipped "law enforcement engine" which is the Mercury 255. According to my research that equipment was not available to civilians and yet documentation with the car indicates it was a civilian car. Very well preserved. Got the rare dual exhaust option too.
https://youtu.be/Z3KGSrs5L2Q?si=wKDpyTFtbT5AorZb

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by RalphG

This was an interesting video if a bit long. A 50 Ford that appears to have the police equipped "law enforcement engine" which is the Mercury 255. According to my research that equipment was not available to civilians and yet documentation with the car indicates it was a civilian car. Very well preserved. Got the rare dual exhaust option too.
https://youtu.be/Z3KGSrs5L2Q?si=wKDpyTFtbT5AorZb

[Newc]

Police option included station wagon suspension, heavy duty seat, large generator, and a host of other options. Newc

[tubman]

Here's what I posted on the "YouTube" post :

"I call complete BS on this. All of the extra stuff (front fender trim, skirts, lower fender chrome) all scream of a car that someone has modified to their taste. The "EAB" ('52-'53) heads also point to someone modifying the car. I had a '51 Merc, and the oil filter canister was back, not Ford Bronze. If I had a better look at the restrictor fitting on it, I'd bet it was rounded and not square (Mercury). With the interior shots, it is obvious that the door panels are not original. The crap in the glove box means nothing. In the final analysis, this car has been so messed with that what's really going on is impossible to tell.

This is nothing but some guy trying to make a few extra bucks."

Did you know that "gullible" is not in the dictionary?

[38 coupe]

I clicked on the video with the sound turned off, and looked at the car. I skipped the parts where the presenter did a lot of talking, and paused the video when something interesting about the car was on screen. This way I can make my own judgement based on the vehicle only. To me it looks like a 1950 Ford tudor that was owned and driven by someone who liked 1950 Fords and collected some memorabilia. The mileage doesn't really matter, it is the condition that counts (and for all we know the odometer may be broken). The condition of the car is not special: the engine appears to have been replaced, the paint is poor, and the interior is very used. Some of the mechanical parts are interesting, particularly the oil pan with the clean-out.
My guess, and it is just a guess, is this was a police car. Then it was sold off and owned by someone who liked 1950 Fords. That person drove the car as transportation and added stuff like the extra trim and seat covers from J. C. Whitney or a similar establishment. At some point the engine got replaced with a 52-53 Ford long block, and the parts particular to this car like the intake, oil pan, and exhaust manifolds, got re-installed. All of this is typical of a used car driven by an owner that cared about their car. At some point the car was parked in a garage. Then this youtube person found the car and decided to make a video with claims that probably can't be substantiated. It is an interesting car, with parts that are not common (that doesn't mean valuable). That combination does not support the claim of rarest 1950 Ford. Youtube promotes dramatic claims, and this is one of many on that site.
These are just my observation. your observations will probably differ from mine, which keeps things interesting.

[rockfla]

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I saw the video yesterday....That is his tale, I am sitting on my tail!!!!

[RalphG]

Originally Posted by tubman

Here's what I posted on the "YouTube" post :


This is nothing but some guy trying to make a few extra bucks."

Did you know that "gullible" is not in the dictionary?

Sounds like pretty harsh judgement and a little insulting I would say. Young guys like that need a little encouragement and advice to help them get into saving these old cars. The car's past is obviously a mystery if you look close at some of the paperwork in it. He is not trying to sell the car. Just looking for some information on what he has got.

[Roger W Gerow]

I'm suspicious that this was ever a police vehicle. I was employed by the Washington State Patrol for 43 years. I do not recall every seeing a two door sedan being used for this purpose.

[Shoebox]

Originally Posted by RalphG

Sounds like pretty harsh judgement and a little insulting I would say. Young guys like that need a little encouragement and advice to help them get into saving these old cars. The car's past is obviously a mystery if you look close at some of the paperwork in it. He is not trying to sell the car. Just looking for some information on what he has got.

I agree with you Ralph, certainly could use some more young guys. It's interesting that the serial number started with a P. Not saying that proves anything, just saying.