The predecessor to the Ford Fairlane, which spawned the iconic Crown Victoria Skyliner, the Crestline was built for only three years from 1952 to 1954. It was Ford’s range-topping model at the time, sitting above the Customline and the Mainline. The Crestline is nowhere near as desirable as the subsequent Fairlane, but this 1954 white-over-Coral example is definitely a head-turner.
And it’s not just the pink paint or the fact that it’s a beautiful survivor inside and out. This two-door Crestline Victoria comes with a matching Kom-Pak Sportsman trailer. And the latter is also a rare gem you won’t see up close anytime soon. How come? Well, that’s because only 16 to 20 units were ever produced between 1952 to 1954. In addition, fewer than ten are believed to have survived to this day.
It’s unclear if this Kom-Pak Sportsman was finished in pink by the supplier, but the trailer looks the part thanks to a recent restoration. And yes, the white roof is exactly what it appears to be: an upside-down boat that can be removed and used accordingly. And while I’m no Kom-Pak expert, it seems that the trailer still sports many of its original amenities, including the kitchenette hidden behind the back door.
As for the Crestline, it was restored in its original factory colors, it’s absolutely rust-free, and it runs and drives as it should. The odometer shows 61,000 miles (98,170 km), which isn’t a lot for a vehicle that’s almost 70 years old as of 2023.
More good news comes from under the hood, which covers an original small-block V8. If you’re unfamiliar with the 1954 Crestline, it came with either a 223-cubic-inch (3.7-liter) inline-six rated at 115 horsepower or a 239-cubic-inch (3.9-liter) V8 good for 130 horses. This pink beauty is fitted with the latter. And the gearbox is a three-on-the-tree manual.
Is the Crestline as rare as the camper? Far from it. The Crestline was quite popular in 1954, moving more than 254,767 units. But be that as it may, the combo is decidedly unique thanks to its white-pink combo and fantastic condition. It’s also a “best of show” winner, according to the previous owner.
Yes, I said “previous owner” because this rig was for sale, and you just missed it. The combo went to a new home for $53,500, which is almost four times more than the average value of a Concours-ready 1954 Ford Crestline. But given that the trailer is a rare gem, I’m not surprised that bidding exceeded the $5K mark.
The big question is, will the new owner take this rig camping? I know I would, even though I know I’d have to spend a lot of dough to keep everything, especially the boat, in tip-top condition.