Classic cars can conjure up all sorts of emotions, and bring back many memories. Such was the motivation for Ft. Myers Beach, Florida residents Dick and Julie Morgan’s 1955 Ford Crown Victoria, as Dick’s first car was a pink and white Crown Victoria. Later he became a real Chevy car guy - however the love of the ‘55 Crown Victoria’s never left. Finally, 40 years later Dick decided it was time to build the Crown Victoria of his dreams.

Eric Barth at Automotive Unlimited in Leesburg, Indiana headed the project. After selling off the body, a modified frame and running gear were sent to Eric, along with a donor Crown Vic to get the project started. From there Dick let Eric take the ball and run with it, while making the dream come alive over the course of only 8 months.

Dick put his faith in Eric, and even let him choose the paint colors, which consist of House of Kolors Tangelo, and the brushed titanium lower hue is a Nissan color. To compliment the now flawless paint, all the stainless and chrome exterior trim was redone to show quality, and a set of billet rims brings it all together with a modern flair.

Inside, it was Julie that got to call the shots, picking out the bone leather interior color that was then stitched up by Krist Kustoms in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The design incorporates a swoopy console between the two bucket seats, a tilt steering column, and subtle billet touches throughout the interior to accent the stock dash’s bright work, and the original gauges. Power steering, power windows, cruise control and air conditioning add to the cabin’s comfort level, and to keep the passenger’s toes tapping the original radio was redone to put out 180 watts of power.

Under the hood resides a 351 crate motor wearing aluminum heads, which puts the power rearward through a top-loader T-10 4-speed transmission to a 9-inch Ford rear end. Wildwood power disc brakes at all four corners provide plenty of stopping power.

As agreed, the car was finished just in time for the Turkey Run in Daytona over the 2007 Thanksgiving weekend, which is where we came across the car and arranged to shoot the pictures while inside the world famous Daytona International Speedway. Dick told us he couldn’t be more satisfied with the completed project. He also added that he is very fortunate to have an auto enthusiast as his wife, and is so glad that he and Julie live in Florida - where they can drive an old car every day! CN