The Jalopy Journal

**Jive-Bomber** · 05-20-2010, 09:15 AM

Alright Ryan, I'm piggy-backing off your great Ford Comete Monte Carlo post from yesterday. There was another European-inspired Ford prototype that came a mere two years after the '51 Comete called th...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

**zman** · 05-20-2010, 09:25 AM

Very sweet looking... the grill is awesome, almost Buick like...the body seems kind of English looking to me, or maybe it's just that it influenced them

noboD · 05-20-2010, 10:32 AM

This car was at Hershey fall show many years ago. I think that's an AACA badge on the front. As I remember the owner was from N.Y. and the car sounded excellant. Lots of people questioned the authenticity, because of the engine.

Steelsmith · 05-20-2010, 10:39 AM

WOW, what a body! That car is drop-dead gorgeous!

Dan Stevens
dba, Steelsmith

RedRodder · 05-20-2010, 10:40 AM

Wow, a very attractive mix of what appears to be morgan and jaguar lines, looks like those comanies may have run with a few of the lines later in the decade as well.

duste01 · 05-20-2010, 10:54 AM

Thats slicker-n-snot on a glass door knob. I'll take one....

**Kevin Lee** · 05-20-2010, 11:18 AM

Wow. I love the interior. Look for a shifter of similar design on my finished coupe. (someday)

50Fraud · 05-20-2010, 12:20 PM

Pretty car, and unfamiliar to me. I particularly like the rear bumperettes, although the taillights are pretty vulnerable.

**Mr48chev** · 05-20-2010, 12:44 PM

Nice, it shows what a designer could do when the bean counter wasn't breathing over his shoulder.
I think the design may have influenced some of the cars mentioned in the previous posts. As is often obvious, what comes out of a design house as a design exercise often gets emulated by other designers from other manufactures. And as shown by the hidden headlights designers tend to use their trademark items in later designs.

Jalopy Jim · 05-20-2010, 01:08 PM

Definitely influenced by the MGA,
The only sin was it did not go into production.

junk yard kid · 05-20-2010, 01:09 PM

i want two of those, it kinda looks like a vette

64 Wildcat · 05-20-2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zman

Very sweet looking... the grill is awesome, almost Buick like...the body seems kind of English looking to me, or maybe it's just that it influenced them

Have a look at a Nash Healey, Austin Healey 100 and AC Ace (the car the Cobra was based on) which all show similar styling themes. As gorgeous as the Vega is, Ford made the right decision in building the original T-Bird and later, the Mustang, using off-the-shelf parts. Still it's a work of art, isn't it?

**haroldd1963** · 05-20-2010, 03:21 PM

Another obscure Ford I never knew existed! From the rear quarter view it kind of looks like an elongated A/C Cobra...especially aft of the door opening.

**MODELA30** · 05-20-2010, 03:54 PM

Looks like a vette no way!!!!!! If that car had come out with the vette in 54 it would have spanked. V-8 comparied to a straight 6. I would have loved to see that. Question how does the shifter work? Knuck from indiana.

autobilly · 05-20-2010, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Lee

... Look for a shifter of similar design on my finished coupe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MODELA30

... Question how does the shifter work?

Yeah, I noticed that shifter too, interesting set-up.

**MODELA30** · 05-20-2010, 04:39 PM

interesting set-up ALL RIGHT. DOES ANYONE OUT THERE HAVE A IDEA HOW THIS WORKS I WOULD LOVE TO PUT ONE ON THE COUPE IT WOULD SAVE ME THE CUTTING OF THE CENTER SECTION OF MY BENCH SEAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Asphalt Outlaw Hero · 05-20-2010, 04:51 PM

Kind of reminds me of a Kellison body.

cleatus · 05-20-2010, 05:11 PM

Interesting that GM later used both the Monte Carlo and Vega monikers from those Ford prototypes. There must be a story behind that.

49ratfink · 05-20-2010, 05:15 PM

what a suprise it would be to see that car at a concourse and see a flathead under the hood. not what I would expect at all.

needs a set of Ardun heads...

maybe a blower.

pimpin paint · 05-20-2010, 06:05 PM

Hey,

If I remember correctly (probably not!) the Ford Vega was an answer to a design challenge issued by HFII. The spec. wa s for an open two seater sports model. I don't remember if Gardner handled all of the design details, but remember the body was made of aluminum and that it was originally built on a English Ford (Popular/Anglia) chassis.

Vince Gardener could well have handeled all the mock-up, as he was a very skilled modeler and prototype builder. It's sad he never got the aclaim he should have, and sadder still ruled by his demons that he chose to take his own life.

The magazine "Collectable Automobile" did a piece on this vehicle some years back, but hell if I can remember when!

'' Beware the irrational however seductive"

05-20-2010, 09:15 AM	#1
Jive-Bomber Alliance Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Moraga, Ca Posts: 2,419	The 1953 Ford Vega Alright Ryan, I'm piggy-backing off your great Ford Comete Monte Carlo post from yesterday. There was another European-inspired Ford prototype that came a mere two years after the '51 Comete called th... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

05-20-2010, 09:25 AM	#2
zman Alliance Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Garner, NC Posts: 16,481	Re: The 1953 Ford Vega Very sweet looking... the grill is awesome, almost Buick like...the body seems kind of English looking to me, or maybe it's just that it influenced them __________________ I have gotten grief for pointing out that the white, speckled stuff on chicken shit is still chicken shit. I will continue to do so... Chili Phil

05-20-2010, 10:32 AM	#3
noboD Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: central Pa. Posts: 5,065	Re: The 1953 Ford Vega This car was at Hershey fall show many years ago. I think that's an AACA badge on the front. As I remember the owner was from N.Y. and the car sounded excellant. Lots of people questioned the authenticity, because of the engine. __________________ Hot snot, NOW we're back in business!! Doc Hudson

05-20-2010, 10:39 AM	#4
Steelsmith Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Nampa, Idaho Posts: 566	Re: The 1953 Ford Vega WOW, what a body! That car is drop-dead gorgeous! Dan Stevens dba, Steelsmith

05-20-2010, 10:40 AM	#5
RedRodder Grenade Inspector Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Rochester, Wa Posts: 122	Re: The 1953 Ford Vega Wow, a very attractive mix of what appears to be morgan and jaguar lines, looks like those comanies may have run with a few of the lines later in the decade as well. __________________ "Never fight a battle in which you gain nothing by winning"

05-20-2010, 10:54 AM	#6
duste01 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: retro-ville, Kentucky Posts: 1,221	Re: The 1953 Ford Vega Thats slicker-n-snot on a glass door knob. I'll take one.... __________________ Build thread: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=304770 Grey is the new Black

05-20-2010, 11:18 AM	#7
Kevin Lee Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: KC,MO - The cradle of hot rodding Posts: 7,086	Re: The 1953 Ford Vega Wow. I love the interior. Look for a shifter of similar design on my finished coupe. (someday) __________________ – Learning the hard way since '72 –

05-20-2010, 12:20 PM	#8
50Fraud Old School HAMBer Join Date: May 2001 Location: San Pedro, CA Posts: 5,682	Re: The 1953 Ford Vega Pretty car, and unfamiliar to me. I particularly like the rear bumperettes, although the taillights are pretty vulnerable.

05-20-2010, 12:44 PM	#9
Mr48chev Alliance Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Yakima Valley, WA Posts: 15,402	Re: The 1953 Ford Vega Nice, it shows what a designer could do when the bean counter wasn't breathing over his shoulder. I think the design may have influenced some of the cars mentioned in the previous posts. As is often obvious, what comes out of a design house as a design exercise often gets emulated by other designers from other manufactures. And as shown by the hidden headlights designers tend to use their trademark items in later designs. __________________ Definition of a "work car". One you have to work on all weekend so you can drive it to work the next week.

05-20-2010, 01:08 PM	#10
Jalopy Jim Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nowthen, Mn Posts: 1,880	Re: The 1953 Ford Vega Definitely influenced by the MGA, The only sin was it did not go into production. __________________ NORSEWOODS woodworking http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html...A2ARWVW5926VUX

05-20-2010, 01:09 PM	#11
junk yard kid Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: san diego,CA Posts: 2,188	Re: The 1953 Ford Vega i want two of those, it kinda looks like a vette __________________ Just cause you can, doesnt mean you should

05-20-2010, 03:21 PM	#13
haroldd1963 Alliance Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Peru, IL Posts: 1,142	Re: The 1953 Ford Vega Another obscure Ford I never knew existed! From the rear quarter view it kind of looks like an elongated A/C Cobra...especially aft of the door opening.

05-20-2010, 03:54 PM	#14
MODELA30 Alliance Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: DYER INDIANA Posts: 1,747	Re: The 1953 Ford Vega Looks like a vette no way!!!!!! If that car had come out with the vette in 54 it would have spanked. V-8 comparied to a straight 6. I would have loved to see that. Question how does the shifter work? Knuck from indiana. __________________ A BIKE WITHOUT A KICK START IS A FART WITH NO STINK !!!

05-20-2010, 04:39 PM	#16
MODELA30 Alliance Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: DYER INDIANA Posts: 1,747	Re: The 1953 Ford Vega interesting set-up ALL RIGHT. DOES ANYONE OUT THERE HAVE A IDEA HOW THIS WORKS I WOULD LOVE TO PUT ONE ON THE COUPE IT WOULD SAVE ME THE CUTTING OF THE CENTER SECTION OF MY BENCH SEAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!! __________________ A BIKE WITHOUT A KICK START IS A FART WITH NO STINK !!!

05-20-2010, 04:51 PM	#17
Asphalt Outlaw Hero Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dixie Posts: 941	Re: The 1953 Ford Vega Kind of reminds me of a Kellison body.

05-20-2010, 05:11 PM	#18
cleatus Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sacramento Posts: 2,165	Re: The 1953 Ford Vega Interesting that GM later used both the Monte Carlo and Vega monikers from those Ford prototypes. There must be a story behind that.

05-20-2010, 05:15 PM	#19
49ratfink Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: S.F. bay area, California Posts: 13,150	Re: The 1953 Ford Vega what a suprise it would be to see that car at a concourse and see a flathead under the hood. not what I would expect at all. needs a set of Ardun heads... maybe a blower.

05-20-2010, 06:05 PM	#20
pimpin paint Old School HAMBer Join Date: May 2005 Location: so cal Posts: 4,665	Re: The 1953 Ford Vega Hey, If I remember correctly (probably not!) the Ford Vega was an answer to a design challenge issued by HFII. The spec. wa s for an open two seater sports model. I don't remember if Gardner handled all of the design details, but remember the body was made of aluminum and that it was originally built on a English Ford (Popular/Anglia) chassis. Vince Gardener could well have handeled all the mock-up, as he was a very skilled modeler and prototype builder. It's sad he never got the aclaim he should have, and sadder still ruled by his demons that he chose to take his own life. The magazine "Collectable Automobile" did a piece on this vehicle some years back, but hell if I can remember when! '' Beware the irrational however seductive"

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