What's the history behind the 1950 Ford Custom Deluxe Crestliner Hardtop and how many of them were actually made?

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The 1950 Ford Custom Deluxe Crestliner Hardtop has a fascinating history! Ford introduced the Crestliner in 1950 as their answer to GM's revolutionary hardtop coupes like the Chevrolet Bel Air. Since Ford didn't have a true pillarless hardtop ready, they created the Crestliner as a sporty alternative by taking the standard Tudor sedan and adding special styling touches including a distinctive vinyl-covered roof, sweeping two-tone paint with 'Color Sweep' chrome trim, rear fender skirts, and a luxury interior.

The Crestliner was positioned as Ford's top-of-the-line model for 1950, priced at $1,711 - about $120 more than a standard 2-door sedan. It featured Ford's reliable 239ci Flathead V8 engine and was available with a 3-speed manual transmission.

Production-wise, the Crestliner was quite rare! Out of the massive 1950 Custom Deluxe series total production of 816,371 vehicles across all body styles, only 8,703 Crestliners were built. This makes it one of the most collectible Fords from that era.

The Crestliner lasted just two model years (1950-1951) before being replaced by Ford's first true pillarless hardtop, the Victoria, which proved far more popular with over 110,000 sales in 1951 alone.

Today, with only 8,703 originally produced and far fewer surviving, the 1950 Crestliner represents a unique piece of automotive history - Ford's creative attempt to compete in the new hardtop segment before they had the real thing ready. The current listing at $24,800 seems quite reasonable given its rarity and historical significance!

Would you like me to help you find similar rare Fords from this era, or do you have questions about the car's features or market value?

Lot 11653: 1950 Ford Custom Deluxe Crestliner Hardtop

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Lot 11653: 1950 Ford Custom Deluxe Crestliner Hardtop

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