Vehicle Description
Time to cash in on the fact that '50s Fords are a screaming bargain
compared to their Chevy competition. Take this wonderful 1955 Ford
Fairlane Sunliner for example, which offers '50s chrome and
two-tone flash, an upgraded V8, niceties like A/C, and enough room
for your entire family, all for a price that's thousands less than
a comparable Chevy.
A full rebuild was completed a few years ago, and it's been
accurately finished in Snowshoe White over Torch Red, which is a
lot more appealing than the car's original basic black. Styling is
instantly recognizable, with the usual heavy chrome that defined
the era. Both doors fit well and the paint has the perfect '50s
look that suits the vintage Ford to a T. Perhaps the most dramatic
element of any Fairlane is the sweeping stainless trim that divides
the colors, stretching from the leading edge of the front fenders
all the way back to the taillights and providing the perfect break
point for the two-tone finish. As you know, the chrome and trim on
any restoration can be shockingly expensive, but they didn't
hesitate and made the investment on this Fairlane, which offers
bright bumpers, a crisply rendered grille, and lots of glittering
stainless. In addition, the wrap-around windshield, the emblems,
and the distinctive round taillight lenses are all in excellent
condition and it wears a set of accessory fender skirts.
The two-tone interior offers seating for up to six and plenty of
style and color to satisfy even the most ardent fan of the '50s.
The seat covers are in excellent shape front and rear, and
correctly patterned carpets give the Fairlane an upscale feel
inside. You'll quickly spot the custom center console, which neatly
slots into a cut-out in the seats, seamlessly blending old and new.
Ford fans will find the dash familiar, with a domed instrument
cluster that's framed by a custom Budnik billet wheel on a tilt
steering column. Aftermarket auxiliary gauges in the custom center
console monitor the upgraded engine and they're really the useful
dials anyway. Three round dials in the center of the dash house the
heater/defroster controls, original radio, and clock, although the
original radio is supplanted by an AM/FM/CD stereo head unit in the
console. A neatly-integrated A/C unit uses subtle vents to deliver
plenty of cool air and despite the Ford's rather compact, trim
proportions, there's a massive trunk that will easily carry a
week's worth of luggage for your entire family.
Power comes from a neatly installed 351 cubic inch Ford V8 that's a
lot more potent than the original Y-block lump. It's tucked in
there between the original fender wells and heater blower setup,
and includes a long list of new equipment. There's an Edelbrock
intake manifold and 4-barrel carburetor, chrome air cleaner and
valve covers, serpentine belt drive system, and a massive aluminum
radiator, so it's an easy cruiser that never gets cranky. It runs
superbly, with a smoothness and polish that you'd expect from a
build like this. The AOD 4-speed automatic transmission shifts
neatly and there's a 9-inch rear end fitted with 3.50 gears on a
limited slip. It also includes 4-wheel disc brakes, a set of custom
headers feeding a mellow-sounding dual exhaust system, and it's
solid and unrestored underneath, so you can see that this is a good
car with no needs. A set of four 215/75/15 wide whitewall radials
have been installed on chrome steel wheels with full wheelcovers to
preserve the look but update the handling.
A comfortable, flashy, smooth '50s cruiser that looks great and
remains very useable. What a great way to show up at the next
cruise night. Call today!