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Vehicle Description
1956 Ford Fairlane Sunliner
Ford used the Sunliner name on many of its full-sized convertibles
through the 1950's and 1960's. The Lifeguard safety package
consisting of seat belts, a padded dashboard, a deep-dish steering
wheel, and a breakaway rearview mirror was introduced. This option
was a slow-seller. Fords for 1955 and 1956 also featured the
panoramic windshields. With this panoramic windshield the A-pillars
have a vertical angle, giving the driver more panoramic
visibility.
Take some large steel panels and fashion them into a large slab
sided automobile with lots of class, give it a shot of two tone
paint, then adorn it with lots of chrome, and just for extra fun,
make it a convertible, and we are in suburban driveway heaven, all
in with this wonderful example of the 1956 Fairlane Sunliner.
Exterior
In 1956 the swoop spear side trim was all the rage, and on this
example we can definitely see why it was a cool as the white "T"
shirt with the cigarette pack rolled into the short sleeve, or the
"DA" combed greaser hair. For this 1950's icon, it becomes the
centerpiece of the car's design, used as a delineation line between
the upper Fiesta Red, and the lower Colonial White. This triple
ribbed bar of polished stainless steel begins atop the front
quarters at the headlights and moves rearward taking a sharp dip at
the doors. It reaches its low point just below the belt line, then
takes another sharp turn upwards, and just as quickly runs straight
to the mid taillights on the back. Here it ends into round
taillights with a small inverted V peak adorned with a small round
red running light, and a white backup light, also integrated to
form a small fin. Just below we see a shiny bumper with dual
exhaust ports in either side, and a central chevron with Fairlane
badging in your grandmother's handwriting. Cool fender skirts are
attached to the rear quarters, and these are hiding wide whites
which wrap knockoff style spoked chromed wheels. These same
beautiful wheels are up front where a rectangular egg crate grille
is flanked by a single headlight on either side. Below this egg
crate grille is a shiny mirror like bumper. Noted on this car all
brite-work has slight dulling which could be also called graceful
aging. A clean white canvas convertible top which works just great
tops off this boulevard cruiser.
Interior
You say potato, I say potahato, you say two tone, I say dual
colors, either way we are referring to this interior which is
bathed in both red and white vinyl and paint. Safety was the
buzzword which Detroit was catching on to it at this time, and it
is proven by a wraparound panoramic front windshield which allows
for full view, and a deep inset style steering wheel. Red and white
metal play with each other in the design of this one arched rounded
front metal dash top, with a streak of white which houses the
instrument cluster, knobs and controls and top of glovebox. Just
below is an AM push button radio and hanging down from the dash
front are two aftermarket gauges monitoring oil pressure and water
temp. Two tone red and white vinyl seats in split bench form
upfront, and a solid bench in the rear provide the seating, and
these seats are in excellent condition. Door panels match and are
very nicely presenting as well. Black clean thick pile carpet
covers the floors, and a look into the trunk and this appears to be
all buttoned up as original with original spare and lug wrench
spinner, and slightly stained and dirtied plaid vinyl trunk floor
covering. A matching tonneau cover in red is supple and fits over
the downed top very nicely.
Drivetrain
A 292ci V8 makes it happen under the hood. This is nicely painted
with an orange block and intake manifold, and Thunderbird ribbed
valve covers. On top is a single 4-barrel carburetor, and a
Ford-O-Matic (don't you just love these 50's techno terms?!)
3-speed automatic. In the rear axle are 3.22 gears.
Undercarriage
Some surface rust, and invasive rust cracking his seen underneath.
The cracking is mostly confined to the rear of this vehicle and
involved metal panels and their respective undercoating which is
also cracked. Side body hangers are rusted away at different
points. X frame is sound and floorpans have some cracking on them
as well as prior repairs. Independent coil springs for the front
suspension, and leaf springs for the rear. Power drum brakes are
all around
Drive-Ability
She started right up and ran just beautifully. Good acceleration
and a comfortable cruiser putting out little effort to stay up to
highway speed. Braking was solid, and overall it provided a good
experience. Noted the horn and radio are inoperable, and this is a
heater delete car so bundle up for wintertime driving.
Certainly, a nice car, but certainly a driver with a few faults
around within the paint, and undercarriage body hangers should be
addressed sooner rather than later. A good runner, and driver, and
a good looker with the two-tone swoop spear trim on the sides, and
through exhaust on the rear bumper. Plus, it's a convertible, put
the top down, and head to the shore to see Bill Haley perform at
the steel pier.
VIN DECODE
M6UC186341
M-292ci V8 202hp 4bbl
6-1956
U-Louisville, KY Assy Plant
C-Convertible
186341-Sequential Unit Number
DOOR TAG
BODY 76B-Fairlane Sunliner
COLOR EK-Colonial White, Fiesta Red
TRIM V-Red & White Vinyl
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 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.
