My 1953 Ford Customline Tudor

By Stan Stack

The brand new 50th Anniversary Edition 1953 Ford Customline Tudor must have look great as it’s Cascade Green body and Sungate Ivory top gleamed in the sun on the morning of Tuesday September 29, 1953.  The service crew at Henner Ford Sales at Dearborn and Lake Streets in Chicago had readied the car for its new owner, my widowed Great Aunt Helen Middono who had saved so long for this big purchase.   The total price, including accessories was $2,450.41. Aunt Helen would owe only $955.56 to be paid in 12 payments of $79.63 each. After signing the final papers my Aunt proudly drove her new 1953 Ford to her home in nearby suburban Berwyn.

Aunt Helen’s 1953 Ford became her pride and joy.  Kept safe in the garage during Chicago’s snowy winters it never developed any rust. Aunt Helen cleaned, washed, and waxed the car all summer and enjoyed driving it up to Wisconsin for her vacations.  Aunt Helen had 37 great years of driving and enjoying her 1953 Ford and it was the only car she would ever own.   Sadly in 1990, my Aunt broke her hip and had to go to an assisted living facility in Barrington.  She thought about selling the car but loved it so much that she asked if I would take it and give it a good home because she had a strong attachment to it.  

After picking up the car I started it and immediately drove it to my family’s summer home in Fox Lake.  It was not an easy drive for me as the engine was missing and it needed work.  Our garage in Fox Lake was new, dry and large.  I took the car not knowing what I would do with it as I felt it would need a lot of work.  My sisters, who now own the cottage, suggested I take it to Mike’s Auto in Spring Grove, Illinois and have Mike take a look at the car.  That was the best thing I ever did, as Mike liked to collect and rebuild cars from the 1950’s.  He tuned it up and said he would take the carburetor out for a bench-job over the winter and reinstall it for me by spring.  

Back then I used to swim at the Lattoff YMCA.  As fate would have it early one morning, I met Jack Nicholich.  Jack was a member of the Northern Illinois Regional Group of the early Ford V-8 Club. When he learned I had recently acquired the 1953 Ford he started talking to me about old cars and encouraged me to join the Early Ford V-8 Club and the regional group.  In the spring of 1992, I started driving the car and later joined the Northern Illinois Early Ford V-8 Club.  I really loved the regional group. I liked getting to know the members and especially enjoyed the tours.

After driving the car awhile, I decided to treat it to new tires.  My first mistake, in my opinion, was buying new bias ply tires.  I found that they were extremely hard driving.  I sold the tires and purchased Coker Whitewall Radials and could not believe what a great improvement they made.  Through the years I started to really improve the car mechanically.  I had the front end aligned and took a trip with the club to see an old-World War II bomber being restored in the Marengo area.  I had two World War II veterans in the back seat, and they enjoyed the car and seeing the bomber.  Soon I noticed the rear end was dragging so I had the springs re-bent and added two leaves.  Now the car rides as good as a new luxury car going over railroad tracks.

I drove my 1953 Ford on tours to Winona, Minnesota, twice on tours to South Bend, Indiana, a three-day trip to Michigan, one to Washington Island in Door County, Wisconsin and two trips to the Early Ford V-8 Museum in Indiana.  There were also many day trips held by our regional group that I attended through the years.  As time went on, I ended up having the entire car rebuilt. Now I call this great survivor a “coast to coast” driver.  The improvements allow the car to drive all day at 65 MPH even on hot days.  The car has great smooth power with the V8 now producing 150 HP.  

Fortunately for me this car has never been out in the winter or in salt and the body and undercarriage are like new.  The paint is 90 percent original. A new authentic upholstery kit has been installed. I have had all the major components rebuilt over the years.

The engine, Fordomatic transmission, rear-end, brakes, radiator, springs, shocks dual exhaust and manifold have all been authentically replaced or rebuilt.  My ’53 Ford now has a Mercury cam and crank, new pistons and lifters with hardened valves, new front wheel bearings and new wiring.  There is not much left undone with the car. I know my Aunt would be proud of the way it runs.  I turned to Foreign Car Rebuilding in Palatine for much of the mechanical work. Melo, the owner, has worked on flathead engines and their entire systems for over 40 years.  

When I first took ownership of my ‘53 Ford it ran a little hot and I always worried it could over heat on very hot days.  I never in all the years had that problem even with a 215-degree reading.  Since I always enjoyed tours, I had extensive work done to the car. I realized I wanted the flathead to still look like a flathead but have improved horsepower for touring. As you know, keeping these cars at 65 MPH on a 95-degree day for four to six hours driving requires a great car.  Since these improvements have been made many people cannot believe what a smooth well powered car it is.

Last year, coming back from a tour to Dixon, Illinois, we traveled on the I-88 tollway.   One of our members had his 1951 Oldsmobile and we both drove 100 miles at 70 MPH on a 95-degree day.  I just wanted to prove the road ability of my car. I feel that owning the car for 30 years and improving it to this point is something a new owner would appreciate and want give it a good home.  I am glad to have owned this truly great road car all these years.