This 1953 Cessna 170B Is a Well-Preserved, Mid-20th Century ‘AircraftForSale’ Top PickThis 1953 Cessna 170B Is a Well-Preserved, Mid-20th Century ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Predecessor to the 172 features a distinctive, graceful look that many newer four-place models lack.

Jonathan Welsh

Friday, September 25, 2026 at 10:37 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

1953 Cessna 170B [Credit: Aircraft Merchants]

Key Takeaways:

The article features a 1953 Cessna 170B as "Today's Top Pick" from Aircraft For Sale, noted for its unique vintage charm.
The Cessna 170 was a foundational high-wing taildragger for the company, influencing its post-WWII design direction and serving as the prototype for the legendary Cessna 172 Skyhawk.
It has recently gained popularity among pilots who appreciate its vintage style, engaging taildragger handling, and its forgiving nature for new tailwheel owners.
The specific 1953 Cessna 170B for sale ($98,500) is a well-developed variant with updated avionics, offering a pure, analog flying experience.

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Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1953 Cessna 170B.

For a long time it seemed that Cessna’s 170 was just another of the many taildraggers that went out of style around mid-century. In reality, the graceful high-wing design defined the company’s direction from the aftermath of World War II until today.

Cessna 170B’s panel is typical of its era, with basic layout featuring round gauges. [Credit: Aircraft Merchants]

While Cessna built them only from 1948 to ’56, the model lives on in more ways than one.

It’s known that Cessna engineers, designers, and test pilots collaborated to turn the 170 into a prototype for the legendary 172 Skyhawk, which remains in production today. The 170 has also gained a following on its own lately as many pilots have developed an appreciation for the vintage style and engaging, tactile handling of taildraggers. As a bonus, the 170 is also viewed as a forgiving platform for entry-level tailwheel owners.

The aircraft for sale today is a 170B, which was the most thoroughly developed version of the airframe and the last to be mass-produced. Cessna originally planned to build a 170C with squared-off tail surfaces and retaining the taildragger configuration, but that model eventually received a nosewheel and became the best-selling 172.

This 170B, however, with its beautifully curved tail and sharp vintage paint scheme, is virtually guaranteed to turn more heads and start more conversations than any Skyhawk.

A nicely refurbished interior with shoulder harnesses adds to the Cessna 170B’s appeal. [Credit: Aircraft Merchants]

This 1953 Cessna 170B has 3,950 hours on the airframe and 1,454 hours since overhaul on its Continental C-145 engine. The aircraft has a fuel capacity of 37 gallons and a useful load of 893 pounds.

The panel includes a Bendix/King KX 135A GPS/Com, Safe Flight stall warning indicator, Narco AT-150 mode C transponder, uAvionix skyBeacon ADS-B out, Telex ProCom 4 intercom and Wittnauer panel clock. Additional equipment includes a Mid-America STOL aircraft cowling STC, Hooker four-point harnesses, EAA auto fuel STC, and Brackett air filter.

Pilots looking for a pure, analog flying experience in a handsome, capable, classic aircraft under VFR should consider this 1953 Cessna 170B, which is available for $98,500 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use our airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.