Morten Thoresen's 1953 Ford Crestline Victoria

Morten came across the mildly customized Victoria in Lillestrøm in 1974. The car stood out with its unique blend of features and modifications, which were quite popular in Norway's custom car scene back in the 1970s. Photo courtesy of Morten Thoresen.

Morten purchased the car from a fellow named Per Kristian. When he got it, the exterior of the car was adorned with chrome trim from a 1956 Ford, including a chrome strip over the roof that Morten believes came from a Crown Victoria. The photo shows that Morten had ideas for a flip front. He also believes he purchased a pair of Mercury-headlights after seeing that on a car in Oslo. Photo courtesy of Morten Thoresen.

Morten's Victoria featured a Skyliner roof, which added a distinctive touch to its appearance. Under the hood, it was powered by a 312 Y-block V8 engine equipped with aluminum valve covers, enhancing both its performance and aesthetic appeal. Photo courtesy of Morten Thoresen.

It also had an electrically operated trunk lid. Inside, the car had a custom interior, and according to Morten, someone had spent a lot of hours customizing it. Photo courtesy of Morten Thoresen.

Cato Harlem's 1953 Ford Crestline Victoria is believed to be the same mild custom once owned by Morten Thoresen in the 1970s, the car features a Skyliner-style roof, 1956 Ford side trim, and retains traces of its original two-tone paint scheme. Photographed in Norway, 2024. Photo courtesy of Cato Harlem.

A view from the past. Harlem purchased the car in Trysil in 2020. According to registration records, it was first registered in Norway on May 5, 1953, and spent much of its early life in the Oslo area. By the late 1970s, it had already been customized. Later known owners include Stein Egil Larsen, registered in 1987, and Rune Bakken, registered in 1993. Photo courtesy of Cato Harlem.

Order from: Norway - Sweden - Rest of the world

1953 Ford Crestline Victoria owned by Morten Thoresen of Oslo, Norway. Morten lived at Kalbakken when he owned the mildly customized Victoria, and in June of 2024, he told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama that he came across the car in Lillestrøm in 1974. The car stood out with its unique blend of features and modifications, which were quite popular in Norway's custom car scene back in the 1970s.

Skyliner Roof and Y-Block Power

Morten purchased the car from a fellow named Per Kristian. It featured a Skyliner roof, which added a distinctive touch to its appearance. Under the hood, it was powered by a 312 Y-block V8 engine equipped with aluminum valve covers, enhancing both its performance and aesthetic appeal. Morten believed the engine came from a Thunderbird, along with the spare tire cover and the hubcaps.

Exterior and Interior Customizations

The exterior of the car was adorned with chrome trim from a 1956 Ford, including a chrome strip over the roof that Morten believes came from a Crown Victoria. It also had an electrically operated trunk lid. Inside, the car had a custom interior, and according to Morten, someone had spent a lot of hours customizing it. Morten had plans for a flip front and Mercury headlights. He had seen similar headlights on a car in Oslo, and wanted to do the same to his Ford.

Legacy and Later Ownership

Morten is pretty sure he sold the car to a fellow from Mortensrud. He never saw it again after he sold it. In 2025, it is believed that the Victoria that Morten owned was in the hands of Cato Harlem from Borgenhaugen. Key identifying features such as the custom interior, glass roof, and traces of its original two-tone paint—yellow below the trim and red above—match perfectly. Cato also confirmed that the car previously had an electrically operated trunk lid.

Harlem purchased the car in Trysil in 2020. According to registration records, it was first registered in Norway on May 5, 1953, and spent much of its early life in the Oslo area. By the late 1970s, it had already been customized. Later known owners include Stein Egil Larsen, registered in 1987, and Rune Bakken, registered in 1993.

Morten's 1953 Ford Crestline Victoria is a reflection of the creativity in Norway's custom car community during the 1970s. While not widely documented or famous, it remains a unique example of mid-20th-century automotive customization. Hopefully, this makes the car a rare surviving example of a Norwegian-built mild custom from the 1970s, with a continuous and traceable history.