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 Ford celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1953. Only cosmetic updates distinguished the 1953 models from the 1952s. A special steering-wheel-hub medallion announced "50th Anniversary 1903-1953". The grille incorporated a larger horizontal bar with three vertical stripes on either side of the center bullet. WIth the Korean war restrictions having been lifted, Ford tried to beat out Chevy by using a "production blitz". This tactic involved pressuring dealers to sell for "less than cost". It didn't have much of an affect on Chevy, but it was instrumental in the decline of the independents such as Studebaker and Kaiser-Willys who couldn't match Ford's deep discounts.
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