1951 Ford DeLuxe Fordor Sedan

"Feature For Feature, Ford is Finer by Far."

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. This might have been the credo at Ford since the company recovered from prospective bankruptcy and, induced by the Fords for 1949, went back on to the road to success. We covered the genesis of these models here.

At a glance, the Fords for 1949 and 1950 virtually looked identical. There was no need for change anyway, as these cars sold incredibly well: with the 1949 models, Ford's production nearly tripled, boasting the company to the first place in the annual industry ranking, and the sales figures remained strong through 1950. In 1951, the last year of the lineup's life cycle, the Fords finally received a minor facelift, and proud Ford owners now polished two characteristic chrome spinners in the front grille, instead of one.

More substantial improvements happened underneath the hood: this year, Ford introduced the "Fordomatic" automatic transmission. Now, Ford customers could finally opt for the same comfort that Chevrolet drivers enjoyed already since 1950.

Yet, rather than technical marvels, style and glamour became increasingly important factors for car buyers in the early 50s, and Ford's arch-rival Chevrolet sure had an edge on Dearborn when it came to fancy looks. A Ford was clearly the more sensible choice, but in hindsight, we think, the Ford certainly sported a leaner and thus ultimately more modern design than the flashy GM cars.