CC reader David G. sent me a terrific set of photos he shot of a 1951 Ford with a large Airstream trailer. He obviously knows I have a thing for shots of cars with outsized trailers. We’ll take up the technicalities of a 100 hp Ford pulling a big Airstream, but let’s just say it used to be done, back in the day, and not uncommonly.
What I’m really smitten with is the Ford, as it’s a vintage we’ve not spent much time with here at CC. Obviously a big part of the appeal is its condition, which is to my liking, if not yours. Originality trumps restoration; that’s my motto. And this one is dripping with it.
The big change for 1951 was the transition away from the “spinner” in the center of the grille of the ’49-’50 models, to a new front end direction that presaged the 1952 and up years. Actually, I much prefer the original look, and was never a fan of the ’51s, but I can’t hold it against this venerable survivor.
There’s certainly plenty of visual interest there.
Not surprisingly, it wears its V8 badge proudly. I don’t know what the breakout was between the 95 hp 226 inch flathead six versus the 100 hp 239 inch flathead V8; undoubtedly the V8 had the majority. FWIW, the six was actually a better choice for most buyers, as it had almost the exact same power but a healthier torque curve, due to it having fewer cylinders and being a somewhat more modern design. But the six’s life was to be short-lived, as it was replaced in 1952 with an all-new 215 inch ohv six, which really was a better choice than the flathead V8.
But the V8 was of course a Ford icon, and had a loyal following. And of course speed equipment for it was widely and cheaply available.
A look inside shows an attractive instrument panel.
Nice textures.
And there’s an occupant in the back seat. But the additional weight of that occupant is not going to diminish the trailer towing capacity much.
And a miniature mummy too. Is the Kennedy sticker original or reproduction?
Looks like a wrench hiding behind the bumper override.
The flathead’s distinctive exhaust note undoubtedly is mighty fine from the side pipes.
Here they are in their full glory. What a fine pair, although the Airstream is about 15 or 20 years too new.
It should really look more like this one.
If you’re wondering about a flathead V8 pulling a long trailer, a Mercury version became iconic in the movie “The Long, Long Trailer”. It sported a slightly larger 255 inch version, with a whopping 125 hp.
Here’s a better view of the length of this rig. Even then, the back end is cut off.
Admittedly, in the scene here where the 39 foot long New Moon trailer is pulled up the steep mountain road (Whitney Portals Road) a somewhat stouter Lincoln with a 205 hp 317 inch V8 was disguised as the Mercury used in the less challenging parts of the movie.
I’m not exactly sure how long this Airstream is; looks like a 30 footer.
It appears that the Airstream is gutted inside and about to be made-over.
A Sovereign.
By now you’ve probably seen through my pathetic attempt at deception, and noticed that the trailer tongue is resting on its jack and that the Ford doesn’t even have a hitch. But that’s ok; we can all use our imaginations. And it’s not really all that far-fetched, or it wasn’t once upon a time.
Dangit, Paul!
There you go again! I fell for it and I knew better! 😉
Thanks, David G. for the great pictures of the Ford and trailer.
Those little shoebox Fords have really grown on me over the years. At first I only liked the customized coupes that were popular in the late 50’s. I had grown up seeing those in the Hot Rod and Kustom magazines. And I hated four doors, referred to them as “more doors.” I now see these sedans as being such honest little cars. This one has some impressive patina and it obvious that some of it has probably been massaged in. The car is a bit of a gag, with the skeleton and all, but at the owner is in on the joke. Not like those gadawful “Pro touring” muscle cars you see at the shows.
Agree always loved the shoebox Ford, this one pushes the right buttons. I have read that the basic styling idea came from Virgil Exner and his young protege at Studebaker was a fellow named Dick Caleal who was allowed to use it as a resume enhancer to get his foot in the door at George Walker Associates who were an independent design house (like Raymond Loewy where Exner worked before he was sacked and then hired direct by Studebaker). Walker loved it so much that’s what they ended up proposing to Ford and the in-house Ford design by Bob Gregorie became the Mercury.
I’m reminded of the Wally Byam Caravan Club, which used to (?) organize group tours for Airstream owners throughout North America. As a kid in Lunenburg Nova Scotia in the 1960’s, I remember Wally Byam groups of 50 or so Airstreams showing up every summer or two, occupying the town exhibition grounds for a few days. Quite the event in a small town – like a visitation of spaceships.
Low gearing can make up for low horsepower. If you are willing to trade off top speed and low revs you can get more payload and towing capacity, as illustrated by Kei trucks.
Airstreams are relatively light for their size, a new 30′ Flying Cloud is around 8000lbs gross which is near the top end of a 1/2 ton pickup or Suburban’s tow rating and more modest Airstreams get down in the 5000lb range which is mid size pickup or Sprinter van sized. Back in the 60s and 70s full sized sedans or station wagons routinely hauled 20-25′ trailers with the right options.
My first exposure to a 51 was with some relatives in Minnesota who found an old, low mile one for their kids to drive in the early 70s. I knew the 49 from model kits, but had never seen a 51 up close. I agree, they messed up all of the details, including the big chrome covering on the rear quarter panel spear that meets the taillight.
I did like the dash and steering wheel a lot though, and still do. However, I still balk at the way the rain gutter on the C pillar doesn’t follow the door – I get that they were sharing roof tooling with 2 doors, but still.
It’s nice to see the original owner in the backseat still enjoying his old 51 Ford.
Haha. Actually, you remind me that there could have been one of these in my family. My grandfather the farmer had been running a 1935 Ford V8 sedan they had bought new. It was their sole vehicle on the family farm (other than a Ford tractor) and was still running strong enough in 1951 to pass on to their oldest daughter and her husband so they could upgrade from a Model A.
But my grandfather would not buy one of these. The reputation of these had not been very good and he bought a 51 Kaiser Deluxe instead, a car that lasted the rest of his life and which my grandma drove until maybe 1958 or 59 when she got into an accident with it. Ford managed to lose a customer with the shoebox generation and its many quality problems.
Whoever hasn’t yet seen The Long Long Trailer—or hasn’t seen it in awhile—ought to remedy that immediately.
I will wholeheartedly second your recommendation!
I never was much of a fan of I Love Lucy the TV show, but I absolutely love that movie! I have it on VHS, but no longer have a VCR 🙁
Same here. I bought the DVD so we could watch it. Great movie. Trailer brakes first!!
Oh, hey that was quick!
The Ford and the Airstream were (and are) parked on the longest street without traffic signals in New York City, which is in the Crescents neighborhood in Rego Park, Queens. When the Ford showed up last fall, parked on the other side of the street for the second half of October, there were chunks falling out of the undercarriage, including part of the front right brake assembly.
I walk to a Russian ethnic grocery store in a shopping district near my apartment past that spot, and I spent much of Covid shutdown time hoping beyond hope to catch it during my regular walks. We left the city for two months after mid-May. And then it showed up in front of the Airstream three weeks into August,
The pictures were taken the Sunday before Labor Day, in a warm September afternoon, when I finally remembered the nice camera when I went out to the Russian grocery store for big Argentinian steaks.
Small world — when my son got married, he and his wife lived in Forest Hills, adjacent to Rego Park. Then they moved to a bigger apartment in Briarwood, just a short distance away. Briarwood has a few crescent streets also, not so many as Rego Park.
I lived in on Alderton and my wife lived lived in Fresh Meadows and we split the difference on the Rego Park/Forest Hills border south of the main line of the LIRR sixteen years ago, and here we are!
51s are odd, I think the front end is more attractive than the 49-50, yet I don’t like it as much either. Same with the victoria hardtop, I think it looks conventionally better, yet I still oddly prefer the regular version with its long trunk business coupe proportions. Original design just has more character I guess. Still, like them all though, better than the 52-54. Funny thing with these cars, you’d think they all came with flatheads!
The rat rod rockabilly style isn’t my thing, as it’s just a little too fashion conscious and lifestyle centric, like 24/7 cosplay, but as long as it keeps these classics rolling, live and let live!
Have to be careful with shoebox Ford identification. There was a short roof/long
deck coupe and there was a two door sedan with a long roof and a short deck.
Right, and I was referring to the coupe in both cases. Ford made it easy back then, two door sedan = Tudor
The movie has fond memories for me. In the fifties before I was born my parents had a 20 something foot trailer and traveled extensively with it.
My mom and I would always watch this movie together and she’d talk about their travels.
Incidentally it was towed by a 55 Nomad with a “power pack” v-8 as I remember my dad calling it.
8000lbs is one very heavy caravan, a friend has a couple of these Airstreams one has been converted into a wine bar she has a early 70s F100 LWB pickup to tow them but they are terrible with the long overhangs and get hooked up very easily,
Yes you can tow with old Fords and people did back in the day the six wasnt sold here so it was a V8 or you bought the British Ford to get a six
This ford is alive & well… Still in her original glory – wrench & all… Bullet holes included! Driven regularly in the southern green mountains of Vermont & thru-out Berkshire county in Massachusetts.