The hit song “Shake, Rattle and Roll” was written in 1954 by Jesse Stone and swiftly made its way to the Rolling Stone magazine list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. It was performed by Joe Turner, Bill Haley & His Comets and even the legendary Elvis Presley at one time or another.
The song also captured the rebellious spirit and freedom associated with hot rod culture. It had a youthful energy about it, which is one of the reasons why one classic-car builder decided to airbrush the song name inside the engine bay of this car:
The Pick of the Day is a custom 1951 Ford convertible listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Radcliff, Kentucky.
“Won many Best of Show awards,” the listing says. And we believe it. The longer you look at the car, the more details you start to notice: The frenched headlights, louvered hood, dual spotlights, shaved door handles, wide whitewall tires and rear wheel skirts are just a few. To say that it’s a unique build is putting it very mildly.
The interior, too, received its share of enhancements as part of the restomod-style overhaul. The dash and upholstery are accented in pinstriping, the steering wheel is body-colored, the floor mats wear embroidered Ford logos, power windows have been added, and a Panasonic AM/FM/CD player is cleverly hidden inside the glove compartment.
Power comes from a rebuilt flathead V8 paired with an automatic transmission. (When new, a 239ci V8 was available for 1951 Rod cars, but the listing doesn’t call out the specifics in terms of displacement (or whether it’s numbers-matching). One thing is for sure – the engine bay is loaded with lots of chrome, including the valve covers, air cleaners, pulleys and radiator support. Mechanical improvements include a 12-volt electrical system, an electronic distributor and front disc brakes. The seller says, “Everything works as it should.”
A hot rod can be an expression of style and individuality, and this car has an identity unlike any other. Its inside-and-out customization – even including rock ‘n’ roll lyrics – will make it a conversation piece at any cruise or show. Bill Haley would be proud to own and drive it!
The asking price is $39,500 or best offer.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com