Photo: Harwood Motors
You know how famous people get tired of things and go underground, trying to forget about everything and everyone for a while? Well, it seems it happens to cars, too.
The star of this piece is a 1951 Ford Victoria that not long ago, in the 1980s, was also the star on the cover of specialized magazines and books. The A-lister reached celebrity status, as it sometimes happens, only after it underwent serious surgery meant to bring it back to its former glory.
That’s because the Victoria is old, very old. It was born as a hardtop in 1951, at a time when the world was regaining its footing after the devastating war years, and was beginning to appreciate the beauty of machines. As a family, it was in production for such a short time its members now have all the right to be considered collectibles.
Like many of its breed, it was used for transportation purposes until the 1980s, when someone saw its potential and designated it as the perfect platform for a stunning restoration. The process ended in 1986, and for the following three years it trekked specialized auto shows, getting awards upon awards, but also it’s fair share of time under the spotlight as a star in industry literature – it was featured in the Cars of the Fifties and 100 Years of the Automobile books, but also on the cover of Collectable Automobile magazine.
And then it disappeared. For whatever reason, the owner decided to lock it up and throw away the key, and until 2020, the car remained hidden.
It now out in the open again, trying to sell for $37,900. It shows 43,000 miles (69,200 km), all original as far as we understand, has a 239ci (3.9-liter) under the hood and 3-speed manual transmission to run it, and offers one of the cleanest interiors we’ve seen on similar cars.
That’s because the Victoria is old, very old. It was born as a hardtop in 1951, at a time when the world was regaining its footing after the devastating war years, and was beginning to appreciate the beauty of machines. As a family, it was in production for such a short time its members now have all the right to be considered collectibles.
Like many of its breed, it was used for transportation purposes until the 1980s, when someone saw its potential and designated it as the perfect platform for a stunning restoration. The process ended in 1986, and for the following three years it trekked specialized auto shows, getting awards upon awards, but also it’s fair share of time under the spotlight as a star in industry literature – it was featured in the Cars of the Fifties and 100 Years of the Automobile books, but also on the cover of Collectable Automobile magazine.
And then it disappeared. For whatever reason, the owner decided to lock it up and throw away the key, and until 2020, the car remained hidden.
It now out in the open again, trying to sell for $37,900. It shows 43,000 miles (69,200 km), all original as far as we understand, has a 239ci (3.9-liter) under the hood and 3-speed manual transmission to run it, and offers one of the cleanest interiors we’ve seen on similar cars.
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