The 1949-51 Ford was a big step into a new postwar automotive era because of its iconic style, affectionately known as a “Shoebox”, in car guy circles.
The Shoebox Fords still have a large army of fans, including Bryan Moore.
Jim Sutherland
Bryan liked the Shoebox models enough to become the owner of a 1951 Ford Victoria 2-door hardtop in 2023. 1951 marked the first year of a hardtop model for the iconic Ford. Hardtops got their name from their open-air design with no center roof (B) pillar and were designated as hardtop convertibles by domestic car builders.
Bryan was able to purchase his well-preserved ’51 Ford Victoria from a seller in eastern Canada who was a conscientious owner after he purchased the Florida car and brought it home to Ontario.
The 75-year-old Ford two-door hardtop led a pampered life and still only has 50,000 miles on its odometer. The result is a car that wears it long history very well, including a factory-correct paint job during its past.
The ’51 Ford has its factory flathead V-8 and the iconic engine still performs like a champ. Bryan added an electric fuel pump to cure the flattie’s tendency to vapor lock under hot conditions, given the fact flathead Fords run hot as a rule. Vapor lock is a big problem when overheated gasoline vaporizes and interferes with the fuel delivery system in older engines equipped with carburetors.
Bryan’s 1951 Ford Victoria also has its original three-on-the-tree manual transmission with an electric overdrive unit. Bryan told MyStarCollectorCar that he needed to replace the overdrive’s solenoid unit because it wasn’t functioning, and the three-speed transmission did not have enough of a higher range to counterbalance the very low 4:10 ratio gears in the car. In short, the Ford’s flattie was screaming at highway speeds in third gear before Bryan repaired the overdrive system.
One of the higher end features in the 1953 Ford Victoria is its windshield washer system manually powered by a foot pump. The windshield wipers are also a stock feature driven by a vacuum pump and represent an era before electric wipers replaced them.
Another interesting element of Bryan’s 1953 Ford Victoria is its factory AM radio, mainly because it is a tube radio that predates the transistor components in newer vehicles.
Bryan added radial tires with a retro wide whitewall look because he wanted to blend better handling with the old school tire style. He also added beauty rings on the Ford’s wheels because he liked the extra bling on his car’s exterior.
The interior of the ’51 Ford has undergone a revival with a deep cleaning process to preserve it, along with any touch-up issues deemed necessary by Bryan.
The most important part of the ownership equation is Bryan loves to drive his 1951 Ford Victoria whenever the occasion arises for him.
“It’s really a very subtle, smooth car”, in Bryan’s words, so any opportunity to drive his stylish Shoebox Ford is a good day for him.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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