Classic 50's Ford Cruiser, 390 V8, C6 Auto, Red/White, Fun Driver!

Description

Fords were almost all new in 1955, and like their counterparts at Chevrolet, there are many who think the first are still the best. This 1955 Ford Fairlane Victoria hardtop has a fantastic '50s look, dramatic two-tone paint, and a burbling V8 that makes it a lot of fun to drive. At this price, how can you go wrong with something that looks so right? The '50s were all about color and combos were all the rage. This Ford wears... handsome Torch Red and Snowshoe White that works particularly well thanks to the sweeping spear of trim bisecting the two colors. You see far fewer of these than you do Chevys, but now that you're looking at it, you have to wonder why because it's simply gorgeous. Sure, the paint is a few years old and showing some signs of age, but the impact this car makes at shows is far greater than a comparable '55 Chevy, which everyone has already seen. But what really makes this car work is the trim and bright work, all of which is in shiny condition and fits well. The egg crate grille is handsomely understated, you can see the design influence of the Thunderbird in the way the parking lights are integrated into the grille, and it's just too cool the way they wrapped the dominant red color around the headlight rings and on the roof. The bumpers are nice, the brightwork is still nice and shiny, and all that tough-to-replace glass is in great shape. Inside, the red and white continues the theme of the exterior and even ups the style a bit. It's not quite the way the factory did it, but only an expert would know and it certainly looks right for the mid-50s. Wide bench seats make this car feel spacious for everyone and the vinyl is very neatly installed and should look this good for years to come. Matching door panels seem to mimic the sweep spear trim on the exterior and that dashboard is definitely going to ring a bell with Thunderbird owners, kicked up a notch by its two-tone presentation that matches the exterior. The painted surfaces are recently refinished, so everything is nice and bright, and all the gauges and controls are crisp and clean. It appears completely stock and even the unique round AM radio is still in the middle of the dash, although its function is supplanted by a Panasonic AM/FM/CD head unit that's tucked away in the glove box. The big, restored steering wheel makes it easy to maneuver the big Ford and the giant trunk with a full-sized spare seems to beg for a road trip. Open the hood and you'll be surprised to find a very healthy Ford 390 V8. With great low-end torque, it's very punchy around town and when combined with the upgraded C6 automatic transmission, it has great highway legs, too. The engine bay is quite stock, from the big Ford Blue air cleaner to the Ford Red paint on the block itself to the handsome valve covers that remind you that, yes, this is a V8. There appears to be a new radiator up front, along with newer hoses and some fuel system work, and once it's warmed up, it's a fantastic runner. The exhaust manifolds feed a burbling dual exhaust that sounds just right, providing a little extra grunt when you put your foot down. Not "show it with mirrors under it" clean underneath, but decent enough and the pans have been sprayed with protective undercoating. The transmission shifts nicely and since ford switched to tube shocks, it rides and handles much better than you'd expect. Standard steel wheels with bright hubcaps are the right choice and it sits on a set of 205/75/15 Coker Classics wide whitewall radials to finish off the period look. Accompanied with a build receipts, restoration photos, and maintenance records, this is a car that's ready to be enjoyed right away, or taken up a notch into the realm of spectacular. Either way, this is one special Ford that likely won't last long in our inventory. Call today!