Lee Bailey's 1955 Ford

The 1955 Ford was Lee's first car, and his dad bought it for him in 1960, a year before he could drive. Photo courtesy of Lee Bailey.

A photo of the car taken after he and his dad had painted it. Later on, the car was dressed up with baby moons. Photo courtesy of Lee Bailey.

Alexander Bros. Custom Shop - Specialists in Custom Painting and Metalwork. Styling consultants for AMT Corporation and Ford Custom Car Caravan. This card was donated by Lee Bailey, and it was given to him by Mike and Larry Alexander when he did an article on their custom shop for his high school newspaper in 1962. Photo from The Kustomrama Business Card Collection.

1955 Ford Convertible owned by Lee Bailey of Battle Creek, Michigan. The Ford was Lee's first car, and in 2019 he told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama that his dad bought it for him in 1960, a year before he could drive. "We shaved and decked it, painted it, and put 14" wheels on it." Inside, it featured a tuck and rolled turquoise and white Naugahyde interior. Lee also had a tucked and rolled steering wheel cover made for it. It was dressed up with Candy blue centers wheels with baby moons and flat plastic taillight lenses. "I'll never forget that car," Lee told Sondre.

Automotive Engineers of Battle Creek

Lee was a member of the Automotive Engineers of Battle Creek car club. "Our club had a multi-stall garage with a meeting room. We had a Henry J gasser as a club project car." Lee and his club members were in competition with the other local club, the Cereal City Rod and Custom Club. "Great local rivalry."

Sold

Lee wound up selling the Ford to a local guy after a couple of years. "Don’t remember his name but I saw the car around town for a couple of years and then never saw it again."