They definitely don’t make them like they used to. I don’t
know who owns this beauty, but he or she is one lucky person. It’s a 1955 Ford
Sunliner convertible. I’d be afraid to drive one anywhere lest the whitewalls
get dirty or something else happen to it—but that’s just me.
Although the 1955 Chevrolet with its heralded new small
block engine, and new design was the most popular car of 1955, I still like the
Ford’s design over the Chevy’s.
The new Ford sported a new longer (115.5 wheelbase) and
lower body, although underneath it was similar to earlier Fords. The new body
had crisp lines and accent chrome that evoked a feeling that it was moving
forward, and also incorporated a wrap around windshield for the first time. An
egg crate grill, large parking lights and new distinctive taillights
complemented the design. The first factory installed Ford air conditioner
termed ‘Select Aire’ was available as an option.
The new Fords came in several model levels from the base
Mainline to the Customline to the station wagon series, to the top of the line
Fairlane named after Henry Ford’s Fair Lane mansion in Dearborn. The Fords came
in various body styles including two and four door sedans, two and four door
hardtops, two and four door station wagons, convertibles and even a model with
an acrylic tinted sun panel called the Crown Victoria Skyliner. The latter
wasn’t very popular. Although attractive because of the sun panel, it got very
hot inside.
Consumers had their pick of a wide variety of colors from
conservative colors like black and tan to vibrant beautiful tones of red, blue,
yellow, green, and even pink. Two-tone schemes in numerous combinations graced
the new body styles as well as single tone applications.
Unlike today’s drab gray interiors (You can have any
color as long as it’s gray) that consumers, for some unknown reason, accept
without complaints, Fords as well as other cars of that era had vibrant
matching color interiors.
Under the hoods, the new Fords came with a 223 CID I6 OHV (Mileage
Maker) inline six, a new 272 CID Y-Block V8 to replace the old flathead,
and a 292 CID V8 called the Thunderbird engine, which was, as one might suspect
also offered in the new T-Bird. (Other off the shelf Ford features were also
used in the T-Bird.) Transmissions were the Ford-O-Matic and a three speed
manual.
Total production for 1955 was 1,451,157 units, most of which
were Fairlane Town Sedans (four doors with pillars), then Customline two door
sedans, followed by Customline four door sedans and then Victoria hardtops (no
pillars). The Crown Victoria Skyliners with the acrylic sun panels were the
least purchased at 1999 units.
Fortunately there are a lot still around that have been
restored to original condition. You won’t find them at your local used car lot
though. Surfing the internet is the best way to find one, but expect to part
with a good portion of your savings account to get one.
