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1951 Ford Custom Tudor
Automotive industry	Ford Motor Company
Production	1949–1951
Predecessor	1941 Ford
Successor	1952 Ford
Car classification	Full-size Ford
Internal combustion engine	226 Cubic inch (3.7 L) L-head Straight-6 239 CID (3.9 L) Flathead V8 engine
Wheelbase	114 in (2896 mm)

After sticking with its previous model for far too long to suit its customers, Ford completely redesigned its namesake Automobile for 1949. Save for its drivetrain, this was an all-new car in every way, with a modern Ladder frame now supporting a Coil spring suspension in front and longitudinal Semi-elliptical spring in back. The engine was moved forward to make more room in the passenger compartment and the antiquated Torque tube was replaced by a modern Drive shaft. Ford's popular 226 Cubic inch (3.7 L) L-head Straight-6 and 239 CID (3.9 L) Flathead V8 remained, now rated at 90 hp (67 kW) and 100 hp (75 kW), respectively.

Contents 1 1949 2 1950 3 1951 4 Sources

1949

The 1949 models debuted at a grand gala at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, with a carousel of the new Fords complemented by a revolving demonstration of the new chassis. The new integrated steel structure was advertised as a "lifeguard body", and even the woody wagon was steel at heart. The convertible frame had an "X member" for structural rigidity.

From a customer's perspective, the old Custom, De Luxe, and Super De Luxe lines were replaced by new Standard and Custom trims and the cars gained a modern look with completely integrated rear fenders and just a hint of a fender in front.

1950

See also: Ford Country Squire

1950 saw a new Crestliner "sports sedan" — a 2-door sedan with 2-tone paint intended to battle Chevrolet's popular Hardtop sedans of 1950. Another new name was Country Squire, which referred to the 2-door wood-sided station wagon. All wagons received flat-folding middle seats at mid-year, an innovation that would reappear in the Minivan of the 1990s. The 1949 and 1950 styling was similar, with a single central "bullet" in the frowning chrome grille. The trim lines were renamed as well, with "Standard" becoming "Deluxe" and "Custom" renamed "Custom Deluxe".

1951

The 1951 Fords featured an optional Ford-O-Matic Automatic transmission for the first time. Ford finally answered Chevrolet's Chevrolet Bel Air charge with the Victoria hardtop sedan in 1951. The car was an instant hit, outselling the Chevy by nearly 10%. The Crestliner continued for one more year, however. All 1951 Fords sported a new "dual-bullet" grille and heavy chrome bumpers.

Sources

• David L. Lewis (2005). 100 Years of Ford. Publications International. pp. 135–151. ISBN 0-7853-7988-6. 
• "Generations: Ford Model T to Crown Victoria". http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=93327. Retrieved on August 21. 

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Type	1940s				1950s										1960s										1970s
	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Subcompact car																										Pinto						Pinto		Pinto
																																	Fiesta
Compact car															Falcon				Falcon		Falcon
																									Maverick								Fairmont
Mid-size car																	Fairlane				Fairlane		Fairlane		Fairlane					Granada
																							Torino		Torino		Torino					LTD II
Full-size car	Ford			Ford			Ford			Fairlane										LTD			LTD					LTD						LTD
														Galaxie		Galaxie				Galaxie				Galaxie		Galaxie
														Custom						Custom				Custom		Custom
Luxury car													Thunderbird			Thunderbird			Thunderbird			Thunderbird			Thunderbird		Thunderbird					Thunderbird
Sports car										Thunderbird									Mustang			Mustang		Mustang		Mustang			Mustang II					Mustang