1956 Ford Fairlane Fordor Victoria
The 1955-1956 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria was the crowning gem of the bright two-tone and chrome era. One of the most imaginative cars of an imaginative decade, it took off for the heavens in looks - but never in sales. 1956 was a great year to be shopping for your first new car. Chevy finally had a V-8 and looked as cool as Kim Novak in a stretch-nylon swimsuit. And Plymouth was hotter than the Cuban Mambo, strutting the first year of Virgil Exner's "Forward Look" styling and boasting a V-8 of its own. Ford, whose overhead-valve V-8 was now in its second year, sported many advanced styling themes, with a deliberately strong association to the new Thunderbird.
Any time we get stunning 50's era Detroit metal into our Classic Auto Mall showroom, it tends to attract a lot of attention and usually doesn't stick around very long. This is a 1956 Ford Fairlane Victoria that is fresh from museum display storage for the past 9 years, so expect some mechanical TLC at the least. Overall, it is in fair condition, and drives but will eventually need some TLC to bring it totally back.
NO TITLE-SOLD ON A BILL OF SALE ONLY
Exterior
With a blending of Peacock Blue and Colonial White this car takes the term paint scheme and trimmings to another level. Nicely presented with a good shine, there is slight rust seen in the rear lower quarter panels, some bubbling throughout the lower body, and a few chip offs and dings. These areas of 2 tone are bordered by the use of a chrome side swoop spear, chrome window surrounds chrome badging, and very nice chrome bumpers. From the front of the hood cloisonn© shield to the jet age hood ornament, and Fairlane badging in your grandmother's handwriting we are in drive-in-heaven. Modern radials with thin white walls with 15-inch Peacock Blue steel wheels with standard Ford covers are sitting on all 4 corners. Wrap around front and rear glass is seen and adds to the drive-in culture allure of the mid 50's. Get your DA greased, put the cigs in your sleeve and let's move to the inside...Ca, ca, ca, cool man!
Interior
Pushing the nicely preserved chromed handle button, and pulling on that handle, we move the swoop spear swoop out of the way so we can slide on in. Feasting our eyes on this very 50's, very nicely done interior I'm in love...me tender. With masterful use of blue and white vinyl, and of course plenty of chrome borders, the door panels have me all shook up. I take in the blue and white stitched vinyl in a horizontal rectangle pattern which shows some dirt and smudging in the white. Two full benches front and a rear, swim in a sea of wonderful blue low pile carpet. Gazing forward we greet the 2-tone exterior matching dash in all steel. The gauges are very clean, sport chrome bezels, and work. An original steering wheel is wrapped in a black leatherette cover, bordered on the inside by the pie slice shaped horn ring that leaves a 1/3 portion out at the top just to keep your interest. A tight headliner in white with some dirt showing in the seams, floats above the interior and shows nicely. Well, that's alright baby, let's go to the Drivetrain section.
Drivetrain
A flip of the chrome laden hood reveals to us this correct 312ci Thunderbird V8 that has a 4-barrel carb on top. All sits within an unrestored engine bay and is finished with patina, surface rust and grime. A correct Ford-O-Matic 3-speed automatic is on back, and waaaay back is a 3.22 geared rear axle.
Undercarriage
Structurally very sound, and we see some use of body filler on the insides of the rockers aft of the wheel wells. Surface rusted dual exhaust piping with glasspack mufflers in this same area on the way back is showing nicely. We note the body hangers are all solid as is the frame. Independent coil spring suspension in front, and leaf spring in the rear. Drum brakes are all over this car. You ain't nuthin but a hound dog...
Drive-Ability
Our crack in-house decoder and car expert fought over who was going to drive this one! But once we remembered this car hasn't been on the road in nearly a decade we decided against it. We did however install a test battery and after checking fluids the car did fire up and run on starting fluid. Regardless, some TLC is in order before any drives are made.
We have a fresh from storage classic that drips with mid 50's styling, plenty of chrome, an awesome interior, a smooth-running engine, fair paint, and a classic blue and white color combination. A little TLC in time and she'll be up to excellent snuff, but the bones are there. Now I'm really all shook up ohh hoo hoo ohh yeah yeah!
NO TITLE-SOLD ON A BILL OF SALE ONLY
P6DF180770
P-312ci V8 4bbl 225hp
6-1956
D-Dallas, TX Assy Plant
F-Fairlane Fordor Victoria
180770-Sequential Unit Number
WARRANTY TAG
BODY 57A-Fairlane Fordor Victoria
COLOR LES-Peacock Blue & Colonial White
TRIM BV-Dark Peacock Blue & White Vinyl
12C-March 12th
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
