1958 Ford Custom 300 Coupe 1958 Used Manual

Description

It's probably fair to call this 1958 Ford 300 2-door sedan a bit of a sleeper. It's certainly attractive in a 1950s way, offering lots of chrome and two-tone paint, but underneath there's a big old horsepower factory in the form of a stroked 390 cubic inch V8 backed by a 4-speed manual. If you like your fun to be low-profile, this Ford might be a great choice. The 300 was the basic everyman's car that delivered a good balance of value, performance, and style. The '58 Fords were extensively redesigned with the quad headlights being the most notable change. Ford never really got crazy with the tail fins, but there are little points out back to let everyone know that this is a product of its age, and a faux hood scoop is a neat touch. The two-tone Colonial White and Azure Blue is a fantastic choice and the way the trim is designed on the '58 Fords, it has a natural break point that highlights the stainless side trim. It's an older paint job, just right for casual cruise nights and it shines up pretty well even after several years. The chrome is a combination of original and freshened pieces, with the big grille showing light signs of age but everything else looking pretty darned nice. Dual antennas, fender-mounted mirrors, and those jet-age taillights all make this Ford look fast without being over-done. The interior was recently trimmed and looks very much the way a '50s cruiser should. The factory bench seat wears a new seat cover that matches the exterior color combination rather well, and with dark blue carpets, it looks and feels elegant inside. The factory steering wheel, arched instrument panel, and door hardware stick with the OEM theme, but details like the floor-mounted shifter, Stewart Warner auxiliary gauges, and vintage Rotunda tach on the dash add a performance vibe. Custom pedals don't hurt, either. The original AM radio is still in the dash but there's a Pioneer AM/FM/CD stereo head unit with remote cleverly stashed in the glove box and the speakers were carefully installed where they wouldn't be easily seen. The back seat offers full-sized comfort and the giant trunk was made for road trips. Tip the hood forward and you'll find what appears to be a vintage 390 cubic inch V8, but with a 428 crank inside, it makes a rather impressive 410 cubic inches. Topped by a vintage Tri-Power setup, an oval air cleaner, and cool Mercury valve covers, it aims for a period performance look. You'll also find a modern power steering system, a big aluminum radiator with electric fan, modern alternator, and an electronic ignition system to make sure it runs like it should. The engine bay sticks mostly to an OEM look, with obviously upgrades like the dual master cylinder for safety. Underneath, you can see that there was real money spent on this build, because the red oxide primer on the floors really makes the rest of the chassis pop. There are long-tube headers with cut-outs leading to a custom Flowmaster dual exhaust system, the aforementioned 4-speed manual gearbox, and a robust Ford 9-inch rear hanging on a set of ladder bars. Add in two fat sway bars, front disc brakes and staggered 215/70/15 front and 295/50/15 rear BFG radials and you get a vintage Ford that drives like something much more recent. An unusual car that gets everything right, plus a period performance vibe. We like this car and it runs even better than it looks. Call today!