TLoft Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 While browsing on an internet site I noticed an ad for "A 1952 Ford Skyliner Crown Victoria." for sale. I was not aware that such a car had been produced. The seller claimed it was very rare and only 100 were made. The picture showed what appeared to be a '52 Victoria with a plexiglass top as from a '54. It did not say who actually produced the top but the impression left was that it had been made by Ford. I don't know, maybe Ford did produce a Crown Victoria glass top in '52, but I've never heard of one and could be wrong. I have no interest in the car one way or the other just curious. Any feedback? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poci1957 Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 I have seen no evidence of this ever being produced. Could be a prototype, could be homemade, one can never say never. But when in doubt I suggest assume homemade until proven otherwise with hard facts, Todd C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victorialynn2 Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 “Skyliner was also used for the plexiglas “Bubble Tops” in the early 50’s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victorialynn2 Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 I wonder if he meant 55 or 56? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Fairlane_Crown_Victoria_Skyliner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLoft Posted July 10, 2018 Author Share Posted July 10, 2018 No, it was a '52. Had a photograph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 Years ago I knew a guy who had a Skyliner plexiglass roof in a 1951 Ford hardtop. It also had a 1954 Pontiac grille and 55 Pontiac side trim. First Skyliner with plexiglass roof was 1954. This model used the same body as a 1952. It would be possible to weld a 1954 roof onto a 1952 body or put 1952 front clip and trim onto a 1954. I am sure a careful examination will reveal some such modifications. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victorialynn2 Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 13 minutes ago, Rusty_OToole said: Years ago I knew a guy who had a Skyliner plexiglass roof in a 1951 Ford hardtop. It also had a 1954 Pontiac grille and 55 Pontiac side trim. First Skyliner with plexiglass roof was 1954. This model used the same body as a 1952. It would be possible to weld a 1954 roof onto a 1952 body or put 1952 front clip and trim onto a 1954. I am sure a careful examination will reveal some such modifications. That makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleek Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 Pictures of the car would help. 54 was the first year for Fords new V-8 and the dash was restyled for 54. Both would confirm what the car is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Mellor NJ Posted July 11, 2018 Share Posted July 11, 2018 Seeing one in 52 would mean they skipped 53.As Fleek already pointed out, the 54 had a different dash and interior. That would be the giveaway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLoft Posted July 12, 2018 Author Share Posted July 12, 2018 (edited) Quote I have noticed a slight difference between '52 and '53, although it might not apply in this case. The width of a '52 sedan is 73.9, the Country Squire is 74.3, however the width of a '53, both sedan and squire is 74.3. This might mean that some items from the '52, the hood for example, could be slightly more narrow and except for the squire, might not fit on a '53. I don't know. Maybe some Ford guys could get into that. There are no interior pictures of the car discussed however exterior shots show it is a 1952. Edited July 12, 2018 by TLoft (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 In situations like this, the onus is always on the seller to provide proof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Mellor NJ Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 This is a 54 Dash. If you see the car and it has this dash it's a 54. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Mellor NJ Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 52 Dash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Mellor NJ Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 53 Dash. Practically the same as 52 except the golden anniversary steering wheel and reverse colors in the gauge panel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJFord54 Posted July 13, 2018 Share Posted July 13, 2018 No such animal. '54, '55 and '56 only. Also, Crown Victoria didn't exist until 1955. They were call Crestline Victoria in 1952-54. Sounds like a chop-job. Please lead us to the site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laughing Coyote Posted July 13, 2018 Share Posted July 13, 2018 https://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/cto/d/1954-ford-crestline/6632142708.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capngrog Posted July 13, 2018 Share Posted July 13, 2018 This may be a bit off of the original topic of this thread, but I've had the opportunity to see a very unique Ford here in Paisley. In 1954, the first year of the Ford overhead valve V-8, Ford produced for a select few dealers, a very few cars that had a Plexiglas vision panel in the hood, to more advantageously display the new V-8 to the public. The only reason I know that is because a guy here in Paisley owns one, and it is 100% original. I don't know what it's worth, but I think that it is an extremely rare car. I'm not sure what the car was officially called/designated, but I'll bet that there are a few folks on this forum who know a lot about it. Cheers, Grog 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victorialynn2 Posted July 13, 2018 Share Posted July 13, 2018 I saw one of these I think at http://www.dicksclassicgarage.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJFord54 Posted July 14, 2018 Share Posted July 14, 2018 We have a couple of members in the '54 Ford Club of America that have the see through hood. It was a dealer showroom hood used to show off the new OHV Y block for '54. They very rare, made of plexiglass. When you can get your hands on one, they run around $1400. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJFord54 Posted July 14, 2018 Share Posted July 14, 2018 Not quite related, but some of you might get a kick out of this. The same guy that owns the above '54 uses this "baby '54" in parades. I believe he built it himself out of a golf cart, using genuine '54 Ford parts. It's quite quick! (Notice the Chevy behind it). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted July 14, 2018 Share Posted July 14, 2018 (edited) 23 hours ago, capngrog said: This may be a bit off of the original topic of this thread, but I've had the opportunity to see a very unique Ford here in Paisley. In 1954, the first year of the Ford overhead valve V-8, Ford produced for a select few dealers, a very few cars that had a Plexiglas vision panel in the hood, to more advantageously display the new V-8 to the public. The only reason I know that is because a guy here in Paisley owns one, and it is 100% original. I don't know what it's worth, but I think that it is an extremely rare car. I'm not sure what the car was officially called/designated, but I'll bet that there are a few folks on this forum who know a lot about it. Cheers, Grog This must have been a fairly common thing. I saw at a new car show in 1964, a turbocharged Corvair with plexiglass hood displayed by the local dealer. Have heard of other cars that had them available, the oldest a 1949 Olds. I believe they were offered by the factory as a dealer display item. It might not appear in the regular catalog but in dealers' advertising catalogs. I am suggesting they were offered to all dealers as an advertising novelty but only a few took them up. Edited July 14, 2018 by Rusty_OToole (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcdarrunt Posted July 14, 2018 Share Posted July 14, 2018 Does the car have an OHV engine or flathead, does it have spindle bolts or ball joints, does the top cover curtain use snaps or zippers, is there a translucent top on the top of the speedometer housing, would take about two seconds to differentiate between a 52 and 54; but then there were no 52 Skyliners. I was the source for replacement plexiglass tops until I passed the job onto Pollard Plastics in Dallas, which to my knowledge still makes them. Greg, at Pollard, designed the mold and my friend and I the trimming jig---both tricky but they fit better than the factory ones. Be ready to expand your profanity list if you have to work the rubber gasket down into place. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54vicky Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 (edited) as a little aside in early 60s a friend and I using a hammer and chisel cut the roof of a 4 door 54 ford and put in a plexiglass roof we bought from a wrecking yard roof contour was different but it looked good from afar then made new headliner out a popular at the time leopard skin blanket.must have left a few people scratching their heads and had experts arguing over the rare ?one off model they had seen. Edited July 25, 2018 by 54vicky (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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