I remember when the new models were delivered they were covered up on the haulers , the dealer showroom windows were covered until the revile date. It was fun trying to peek in and see, the good old days!
I grew up in Dearborn Michigan in the late 50's and 60's. The Quality Food Market was not far from where I lived. Much of this film was shot in and around Dearborn. Thanks for putting it on RUclips.
I was raised in Detroit about 2 miles from the Dearborn Rouge Complex. My Dad took me to the Rotunda, a domed display building, showing all the new Ford products in early '54 to take the Rouge tour. We hopped the tour bus to the Rouge. Still remember standing on a catwalk high above watching workers pouring molten steel in the engine block castings, then on to the constant pounding of the huge dies in the stamping plant and finally on to the assembly plant watching the new cars coming to life and be driven off the final line. In '68 after I mustered out of the army, I started my tool and die apprenticeship at the same assembly plant where we were building '69 Mustangs and Cougars. Worked with some guys that started there as far back as the late 20s and had some fascinating stories Great memories.
When consumers had an attention span. 6:02. Notice the fabric interior. 1954 may have been the last year before plastic seat covers were sold universally, I believe. My uncle, a war hero, put his life savings into “Protecto Seat Covers”, a franchise that provided plastic seat covers to automobile owners with fabric seats. Because of the change over, the plastic covers were suddenly not needed. I watched my uncles slowly become a sadly different man when his business slowly failed.
I purchased a used 54 in 58. It was standard with overdrive and flew down the western highways. When I returned to the east coast the dealer was salvating to get a car with no rust and I upgraded to a 56.
I'll always be bummed that I missed out on this era of cars. I was born long after most of these beauties had been retired. As a kid, I'd still see them occasionally roaming the streets, but my family never owned one. When I was in college, nice examples of '50s cars could still be had for pretty good prices, but I didn't have the money for them at the time. Years have passed since then and now that I have excess cash for things like this, no '50s cars in operable condition can be had for what I'd be willing to spend on a new car.
the world i was born into( i was born in '54) just down the road from dearborn. my dad was a pattern maker apprentice at the rouge then. i had several uncles that retired from ford. i ended up going to school and ended up in the medical field instead
My father had a '54 Ford 4-Door sedan with a two-tone green paint job. It had power windows - I remember this feature because I got my hand stuck while playing with the up and down switch!
We had a couple of these Fords in the 60s and the story's I could tell .one for driving the other's for parts, I was born in 1953 , about a month before they were for sale. 2021
A friend was waiting when I walked out of the store, parked at the curb. He offered a ride so I jumped in. As I waited for him to start the car, he let out the clutch and we drove away. 53 Ford. That quiet.
I love how they talk about styling details. The 54 was pretty much identical to the 52 & 53. That spin would have been more convincing about the changes from 51 to 52.
@@sergeantmasson3669 OK but we're talking about styling details. At 0:40 they say model after model were studied before determining the final design, that's the bogus part, the exterior design was essentially unchanged from 53.
@@GenerallyGeneralLee '52 and '53 Ford cars were essentially identical. '54 had some major differences but the body design was much the same as the '52 and '53. Many automakers used near identical body designs for a few years, not just Ford.
Ok! where can I buy one. I would like to have a few updates like hardened valves and seats, Disc front brakes, TBI with Ox sensor mixture control, electronic ignition, heads not so prone to cracking, AC. PS, 3 point restraints, Transistor radio and an alternator.
The 54 was a mild facelift of the 53, which was very similar to the 52. It wasn't until 55 that they actually did any significant redesign, and that was minor compared to what Chevy was doing.
Even in 1952, Ford was well ahead design wise compared to Chevy. Both Ford and Chevy were still riding in 1949 designed frames. By 54 Ford at least had an OHV V8.
@@phillipmiller1310 Many '55 Chevy engines had oil consumption problems and many ended up with '56 engines. Also, '55 Chevy engines didn't have oil filters.
I live in Salt Lake City - it appears most cars on the road did NOT opt for turn signals, a frugal society! Well really - just a bunch of terrible drivers!
@@lexusformetwo7097 I live in Nebraska, close to Iowa and South Dakota. It appears directional signals are still optional here as well. If you DO try to signal a lane change, it’s considered a challenge to the other drivers.
Narration's a bit 'warbly' at first.Short-stroke engines pollute more than long-strokers. Nonetheless, an excellent reel.Does anyone else think the fabric expert sounded like Groucho Marx?
Here in Ohio, these 'Fords grew what was referred to as lace curtain fenders; pretty much buckets of rust after just 3 years on the road. A feature Fords still exude even today.
Ah yes, the days of yore, when a new car introduction could be compared to a Broadway opening night, I enjoyed it every year, now it's no longer a big deal, it's just a memory because whenever the cars show up at the dealer they show up, & now because of the chip shortage, it's a matter of if they show up at all
Sadly from 2030 on all combustion cars, trucks and busses including classics will be banned from public streets in entire EU and Scandinavia :-( In Germany the Green Peoples Party gave order to shorten fuel supply from 2025 on by reducing petrol stations to only one state operated central gas station per city or county. They even plan to reduce the pump speed of public gas station pumps from 20 litre per minute to only 2 litre per minute to punish owners of combustion cars....from 2027 on in the EU certain car spare parts will be banned too....as exhaust systems, turbo chargers and even some engine and gearbox oils...California and New York will do the same from 2027 on.... So no investments should be done in oil burning cars any longer....They even created a completely new kind of crime here in Germany, called emissions and smoke crime :-((
Seems like BS. Imagine 10 or 12 executives in Dearborn, wearing their $150. suits; trying to decide which tail light should go on the '54 Ford. Is there any equivilent in 2021? I imagine the department was eleminated when you were still in short pants.
John, It's not. As a tooling supplier, I've spent 4 days with numerous GM engineers deciding on a 5mm move of a rest block for a 2000 Impala lifting device. I knew guys that never, ever decided on anything including picking lunch.
I remember when the new models were delivered they were covered up on the haulers , the dealer showroom windows were covered until the revile date. It was fun trying to peek in and see, the good old days!
With today's ugly new cars, nobody would bother peeking. You'd prefer to drive it home with the cover still on.
I like falling asleep to these Ford Commercials cause it feels like I left the old 13" black and white tv on and then I dream about Ford cars
I love these old vintage car advertisement films.
Very nostalgic and most interesting.
I grew up in Dearborn Michigan in the late 50's and 60's. The Quality Food Market was not far from where I lived. Much of this film was shot in and around Dearborn. Thanks for putting it on RUclips.
Good memories
I was raised in Detroit about 2 miles from the Dearborn Rouge Complex. My Dad took me to the Rotunda, a domed display building, showing all the new Ford products in early '54 to take the Rouge tour. We hopped the tour bus to the Rouge. Still remember standing on a catwalk high above watching workers pouring molten steel in the engine block castings, then on to the constant pounding of the huge dies in the stamping plant and finally on to the assembly plant watching the new cars coming to life and be driven off the final line. In '68 after I mustered out of the army, I started my tool and die apprenticeship at the same assembly plant where we were building '69 Mustangs and Cougars. Worked with some guys that started there as far back as the late 20s and had some fascinating stories Great memories.
Pretty cool
I was driven to school many times in my Uncle's 1954 Ford !
In 1962 we took it Coast to Coast ! From New England all the way to sunny California.
What an incredible trip to take in that amazing car! It must have been exciting to cross the US in that car!
When consumers had an attention span. 6:02. Notice the fabric interior. 1954 may have been the last year before plastic seat covers were sold universally, I believe. My uncle, a war hero, put his life savings into “Protecto Seat Covers”, a franchise that provided plastic seat covers to automobile owners with fabric seats. Because of the change over, the plastic covers were suddenly not needed. I watched my uncles slowly become a sadly different man when his business slowly failed.
I purchased a used 54 in 58. It was standard with overdrive and flew down the western highways. When I returned to the east coast the dealer was salvating to get a car with no rust and I upgraded to a 56.
54 Ford was my first car. I have aquired another for restoration. Its troubling why internet spying would know this and reccomend this film?
Haha
I'll always be bummed that I missed out on this era of cars. I was born long after most of these beauties had been retired. As a kid, I'd still see them occasionally roaming the streets, but my family never owned one. When I was in college, nice examples of '50s cars could still be had for pretty good prices, but I didn't have the money for them at the time. Years have passed since then and now that I have excess cash for things like this, no '50s cars in operable condition can be had for what I'd be willing to spend on a new car.
the world i was born into( i was born in '54) just down the road from dearborn. my dad was a pattern maker apprentice at the rouge then. i had several uncles that retired from ford. i ended up going to school and ended up in the medical field instead
Well done
My father had a '54 Ford 4-Door sedan with a two-tone green paint job. It had power windows - I remember this feature because I got my hand stuck while playing with the up and down switch!
It was a Crestline Fordor.
We had a couple of these Fords in the 60s and the story's I could tell .one for driving the other's for parts, I was born in 1953 , about a month before they were for sale. 2021
A friend was waiting when I walked out of the store, parked at the curb. He offered a ride so I jumped in.
As I waited for him to start the car, he let out the clutch and we drove away. 53 Ford. That quiet.
Excelent thanks...
"The styling is important for your investment. It'll look as good next year to a used car buyer as it does to you today."
Wait...what??
Wait! What? For sure.
I love how they talk about styling details. The 54 was pretty much identical to the 52 & 53. That spin would have been more convincing about the changes from 51 to 52.
Exactly
1954 was the first year Ford with an OHV engine. 239 CID "Y" block.
@@sergeantmasson3669 OK but we're talking about styling details. At 0:40 they say model after model were studied before determining the final design, that's the bogus part, the exterior design was essentially unchanged from 53.
@@GenerallyGeneralLee '52 and '53 Ford cars were essentially identical. '54 had some major differences but the body design was much the same as the '52 and '53. Many automakers used near identical body designs for a few years, not just Ford.
The best engine of it's time ? Ah NO the HEMI was a first in '51-52
$11MM styling center - LOL - now that is the coffee budget
Ok! where can I buy one. I would like to have a few updates like hardened valves and seats, Disc front brakes, TBI with Ox sensor mixture control, electronic ignition, heads not so prone to cracking, AC. PS, 3 point restraints, Transistor radio and an alternator.
Ford is great
The 54 was a mild facelift of the 53, which was very similar to the 52. It wasn't until 55 that they actually did any significant redesign, and that was minor compared to what Chevy was doing.
Even in 1952, Ford was well ahead design wise compared to Chevy. Both Ford and Chevy were still riding in 1949 designed frames. By 54 Ford at least had an OHV V8.
Yeah,but look what Chevy did in 1955
@@phillipmiller1310 Many '55 Chevy engines had oil consumption problems and many ended up with '56 engines. Also, '55 Chevy engines didn't have oil filters.
Directional signals OPTIONAL on the ‘54 Ford?
I live in Salt Lake City - it appears most cars on the road did NOT opt for turn signals, a frugal society! Well really - just a bunch of terrible drivers!
@@lexusformetwo7097 I live in Nebraska, close to Iowa and South Dakota. It appears directional signals are still optional here as well. If you DO try to signal a lane change, it’s considered a challenge to the other drivers.
Bill Kennedy @ 12.54 from WKBD IN DETROIT ch 50 Afternoon movie.
The Y-block was a big deal in 1954, but it was not the first Ford V-8 that was easily converted to a useful boat anchor. The sooner the better.
Damit, I just Fords 2 for 1 sale by a mere 67 years !!
The beginning of the use of plastic in car manufacturing and the 2 car family.
Narration's a bit 'warbly' at first.Short-stroke engines pollute more than long-strokers. Nonetheless, an excellent reel.Does anyone else think the fabric expert sounded like Groucho Marx?
Here in Ohio, these 'Fords grew what was referred to as lace curtain fenders; pretty much buckets of rust after just 3 years on the road. A feature Fords still exude even today.
Road salt
Astro Dial lol
Only keeping it one year???
But Mr Ravioli , Y-blocks have oiling issues.
Ah yes, the days of yore, when a new car introduction could be compared to a Broadway opening night, I enjoyed it every year, now it's no longer a big deal, it's just a memory because whenever the cars show up at the dealer they show up, & now because of the chip shortage, it's a matter of if they show up at all
Power, performance, economy
Yep, and who cares now?
The 1954 looks a lot like the 1953 Ford. LOL
did you know that ford hired cartoonest from comic books and disney to draw their cars - they were cheap labor
Sadly from 2030 on all combustion cars, trucks and busses including
classics will be banned from public streets in entire EU and Scandinavia
:-( In Germany the Green Peoples Party gave order to shorten fuel
supply from 2025 on by reducing petrol stations to only one state
operated central gas station per city or county. They even plan to
reduce the pump speed of public gas station pumps from 20 litre per
minute to only 2 litre per minute to punish owners of combustion
cars....from 2027 on in the EU certain car spare parts will be banned
too....as exhaust systems, turbo chargers and even some engine and
gearbox oils...California and New York will do the same from 2027 on....
So no investments should be done in oil burning cars any longer....They
even created a completely new kind of crime here in Germany, called
emissions and smoke crime :-((
Seems like BS. Imagine 10 or 12 executives in Dearborn, wearing their $150. suits; trying to decide which tail light should go on the '54 Ford. Is there any equivilent in 2021? I imagine the department was eleminated when you were still in short pants.
John, It's not. As a tooling supplier, I've spent 4 days with numerous GM engineers deciding on a 5mm move of a rest block for a 2000 Impala lifting device. I knew guys that never, ever decided on anything including picking lunch.
@@robertchristie9434 LOL, okay I believe you. Sad.
And the idiot's still designed the Edsel .Do they have an open bar ..