WE RECENTLY GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH AND MARKET THIS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL 1956 FORD VICTORIA THAT IS A COMPLETE NUT AND BOLT ROTESSERIE RESTORATION AND A HOT ROD THROUGH AND THROUGH. I ORIGINALLY STARTED WRITING THE AD ABOUT THIS CAR AND IT’S BEEN IN MAGAZINES AND WON SHOWS AND IT’S ALL AND EVERYTHING YOU COULD WANT NOTHING WAS SPARED AND PROBABLY HAS OVER $300 GRAND INVESTED INTO THE BUILD.
I HAVE A STORY WRITTEN IN MARCH OF 2008 THAT I WILL INCLUDE A LINK TO, FROM MOTORTREND MAGAZINE AND I WISH, I COULD JUST USE THAT AS THE WHOLE AD BUT, THERE’S LAWS AGAINST THAT KIND OF STUFF BECAUSE A REAL WRITER MAKES IT SOUND SO COOL, PROBABLY BECAUSE IT IS AND THAT IS WHY I DON’T NEED TO SAY MUCH, BUT WHAT IS IN IT AND ON IT ETC... AND SHOW THE PHOTOS BECAUSE IT’S PERFECT.
THIS IS A RESTORED 1956 FORD VICTORIA AND A TRUE HOT ROD. THE OWNER OF THE CAR NOW IS A COLLECTOR AND HE BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 1979, DROVE IT FOR A FEW MONTHS AND PARKED IT FOR 20 YEARS........
HE DID THAT BECAUSE HE HAD 3 OTHER CARS AND IT JUST HAPPENED THAT WAY UNTIL HE DECIDED TO COMPLETELY RESTORE EVERY OUNCE OF THE CAR AND ANYONE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE. PERIOD. I KNOW I WOULD. IT IS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT IN EVERYWAY!!
THE OWNER KNEW THAT THIS VICTORIA DESERVED SPECIAL TREATMENT WHEN THE TURN CAME FOR REVIVAL OF THE CLASSIC AND HE HAD BEEN INTO CARS HIS WHOLE LIFE AND OWNED SOME COLLECTOR CARS ALREADY BUT HAD NEVER DONE A 100 PERCENT GROUD UP RESTORATION. THIS WOULD BE HIS FIRST ONE.
HE WASTED LITTLE TIME SEPARATING THE SHEETMETAL FROM THE SUSPENSION. HE THEN SENT THE BODY TO HIS FRIEND JIMMY VAAG IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA WHO PUT IT ON A ROTISSERIE TO REPAIR THE TYPICAL MIDWESTERN RUST FROM THE SALTY ROADS AND MASSAGE EVERY PANEL BOTH TOP AND BOTTOM. JIMMY SMOOTHED THE FIREWALL, EXTENDED THE INNER FENDERS TO HIDE THE FRESHAIR VENTS, AND SHAVED THE ANTENNA. HE THEN SPRAYED EVERYTHING IN CUSTOM-MIXED dUPONT BLUES AND PACKED A LOT OF PEARL FOR ADDED DEPTH AND IMPACT.
WHILE THE BODY WAS BEING DONE THE CURRENT OWNER STRIPPED AND POWDERCOATED THE FRAME, REASSEMBLING IT WITH A 3.73:1-GEARED 1957 9-INCH, FATMAN DROPPED SPINDLES, FRONT DISC BRAKES, AND 17- AND 18-INCH BILLET SPECIALTIES ROLLERS. THE 352 MILL GOT PUT ASIDE FOR A FRESH 390 ENGINE TOPPED WITH A FACTORY FORD ALUMINUM INTAKE AND A TRIO OF HOLLEY CARBURATORS. THE BIG-BLOCK WAS SLATHERED IN CHROME AND ALUMINUM AND MATED WITH A TOP LOADER C-6 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
ONCE THE BODY AND CHASSIS WERE TOGETHER AGAIN OUR OWNER PAID A VISIT TO DENNIS ADKISSON AT WEST END UPHOLSTERY, WHO WRAPPED THE ORIGINAL SEATS FROM THE VICTORIA IN LEATHER CUSTOM DYED TO MATCH THE LIGHT BLUE PAINT AND A SECOND SET OF VICTORIA SIDE TRIM WAS CUT DOWN AND UPHOLSTERED TO ACCENT THE DOOR AND SIDE PANELS AS WELL AS, A VINTAGE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WAS INTEGRATED BY FITTING SWITCHES TO THE ORIGINAL HEATER CONTROL PANEL AND ROUTING THE LINES INSIDE THE RIGHT FRESH-AIR DUCT, THAT ALSO HIDES THE WIRING.
VICKY FINALLY HIT THE STREETS IN 2007 AND RIGHT AWAY WON FOUR AWARDS AT OMAHA’S WORLD OF WHEELS AUTO SHOW BEFORE IT CAUGHT THE EYE OF MOTORTREND AT AMERICRUISE AND SUBSEQUENTLY WROTE A STORY ABOUT THE OWNER AND VEHICLE. 3 DECADES OF PLANNING AND BUILDING AND IT CAME OUT JUST THE WAY HE WANTED THANK THE LORD!!!
HERE ARE SOME PARTS AND THINGS DONE TO THE VICTORIA THAT MAKE IT WHAT IT IS TODAY !!
CHASSIS:
57 FORD 9-INCH REAREND SET UP WITH THE 3.17:1 GEARS
HEAVY DUTY SWAY BAR
3-INCH LOWERING BLOCKS
FRONT SUSPENSION GOT TREATED TO
FRESH BUSHINGS
FATMAN DROPPED SPINDLES
SWAY BAR
DISC BRAKES
CORVETTE MASTER CYLINDER
DRIVETRAIN:
PREVIOUS OWNER HAD A 352 FE V-8 INSTALLED SO IT WAS EASY TO
UPSIZE TO A 1964 VINTAGE 390 CUB INCH
DALYS MACHINE REBUILT THE BIG BLOCK WITH 10:1 PISTONS AND A SPEED-PRO CAMSHAFT
ALUMINUM TRI-CARB INTAKE AND TRIO OF HOLLEY CARBS
TOM FENDER BUILT CUSTOM BRACKETS FOR THE ALTERNATOR, P/S PUMP, A/C CONDENSOR
INDUSTRIAL PLATING ADDED FRESH CHROME TO EVERYTHING THE OWNER COULD UNBOLT
FINISHING TOUCHES INCLUED A MALLORY DISTRIBUTOR, GRIFFIN ALUMINUM RADIATOR, AND ALUMINIZED EXHAUST PIPES LINKING THE COATED MANIFOLDS TO FLOWMASTER MUFFLERS. THE OWNER ALSO REPLACED THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WITH A 64 FORD TOP LOADER C6 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
AFTER 3 MONTHS OF TRYING TO GET THE SAMPLES CORRECT AT THE RICH LEATHER COMPANY IN GEORGIA, THEY WERE ABLE TO MATCH IT WITH THE CUSTOM DYED LEATHER, WHICH DENNIS AT WEST END ALSO TOOK THAT AND STITCHED IT AROUND THE FORD REBUILT ORIGINAL SEATS. HE CRAFTED DOOR AND SIDE PANELS TO MATCH AND UPHOLSTERED VICTORIA SIDE TRIM FOR ADDED ACCENT.
FINALLY, AUTO CUSTOM CARPETS SUPPLIED THE FLOOR COVERING, WHILE A BUDNIK WHEEL TOPPED THE ORIGINAL STEERING COLUMN. SWITCHES AND WIRING DISCUSSED EARLIER WERE DONE BY RON FRANCIS WIRING. MODERN KENWOOD AND ALPINE SPEAKERS WERE ALSO MOUNTED OUT OF SITE ALONG WITH A HIDDEN ANTENNA IN THE TRUNK.
ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CAN BE RECEIVED FOR ANY REAL POTENTIAL BUYERS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND CLASSIC FORD VICTORIA AND
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL KEITH AT NVR 531-242-5960
