Westchester Cruise Night 6-03-2013 Post

1950 Ford Ragtop

Great car show sponsored by Paul’s Pizza & Hot Dogs Restaurant and surely the clear weather contributed to a ‘packed house’. The Meteors performed so many great oldies; a few of which can be found here. Three special Fords struck me as interesting at the show. Click here to see my teaser photo gallery.

John’s uncle bought this 1950 Ford convertible the Tuesday after Labor Day in 1950; the car having been manufactured on 28 April 1950. This car has only 31,000 original miles and it is original except for the new top, which of course is the original color! John bought it in 1961 and it was garaged on jack stands for about twenty years. The motor is a 100 bhp flathead V-8 with 239 cu in.

1951 Crestliner

John says Chuck’s two-tone 1951 Ford Crestliner is a rarer vehicle. The ’51 is a beautiful car and it’s owner from 1988 to 1998 was ‘Big Daddy’ Don Garlits, the ‘father of drag racing; it was one of Garlis’ ‘personal drivers’. Garlits sold the car to an older lady in Pennsylvania who rarely drove it; then a Pa. State Trooper bought it before selling it to Chuck last fall. This was made in the second year of production and manufacture stopped due to falling sales when Chevrolet had introduced the Bel Air hardtop in 1950. Only 9000 Crestliners were made and then Ford introduced the Victoria in 1952. The motor is a flathead V-8 and like John’s green convertible, the displacement is 239 cu in V-8 putting out 100 bhp. The transmission is a three-speed; the car has a factory radio, fender skirts, heater and overdrive. This Ford has 103,000 original miles.