60 years ago today this advertisement it the airwaves inviting the viewers down to their local Ford Dealers showroom to see the all new 1954 Fords. http://youtu.be/k_5DrqMPkMg And this television advertisement,the second half of the video focuses on the wagon. HRP http://youtu.be/68WRvwwwjTY
Thanks HRP for the memories. As I've written many times before, I learned to customize my 1954 Customline 2-dr sedan in the drive way using crude tools and the "Little Pages" car magazines. I waxed that car so much the maroon primer was showing through the dark blue paint.
Is'nt that the car FOMOCO put the plexaglass in some of the hoods of the dealer cars to show off the engines or was that '55 so folks could see the OHC V8s. It's ah bi**h gettin' old, yeah start loosin' memory and everything
Way back in 1954 FOMOCO did put some holes in hoods and inserted plexigas to look at the pretty new V-8 engines. They also had extra plexiglas left so cut holes in a few tops to add a plexiglas skylight to look out of. Or in if you were very tall. Weren't many and I can't remember how many were like that. I liked the plexiglas insert over the dash bulge. Still have most of my memory. It's other things I've lost.... as far as I remember
You are correct,'54 was the first time Ford used the plexiglass showroom hood for showing off the new overhead valve engine. HRP
I only remember seeing one of those 54 Fords with the plexiglas hood. It was at our local Velde Ford in Pekin, Illinois. Saw another in the 90's at Daytona Turkey Run car show. Seems like there were more of the plexiglas roof models in 54 and 55 but still only remember actually seeing a few. It's a wonder I didn't cut a hole in my 54 Ford roof!
Thanks for the links, really neat commercials. Interesting that they were introduced in the beginning of '54 instead of late '53. The 1954 Pontiac introduction date was December 16, 1953, the day I made my debut. The shopping center in the second ad appears in quite a few promotional photos over the years. 1952,3, and '54 Fords were quite nice looking cars indeed.
Anybody notice when the "Mrs" was backing up to park the sedan, she wasn't even looking behind her?!! And this was way pre 5mph bumpers. It's a good thing nobody was walking behind her. Oh wait, did they have rear view cameras back then?
I love the 50's gizmos .... who would have thought in the show room floor back in 54...., Open the hood!
The things I noticed most about those 1954 Fords were the added power brakes and power steering. Mine wasn't that easy to manuver but no one really seemed to mind back then. It would be entertaining watching young people today backing in between two other cars along a curb. They don't even teach that now. Eight years ago when our other son got his license he drove my quadcab Dodge with topper. He got points deducted when he used the mirrors to back up. The instructor told him he was supposed to turn and look back. :confused: That was the only points he was deducted. I taught him well!
A lot of the residential houses in the overtaking a van part of the Wagon commercial resemble houses I've seen in person here in Pennsylvania. It's like it was filmed yesterday, They're so similar.
