Vehicle Description
Attractive and unusual Victoria in great condition. One older
repaint in original colors. Factory interior. Freshly rebuilt 312
cubic inch 'Thunderbird Special' V8. Power steering and automatic
transmission. Ford's best design of the '50s ready to cruise!With
the Thunderbird drawing people into the showroom, Ford didn't
disappoint with their more family-oriented vehicles like this 1956
Ford Fairlane Victoria. 'Victoria' was Ford's name for their 2-door
coupe, and it stands apart from the Crown Victoria because it's a
real hardtop without a B-pillar, making for a much sleeker design.
You're likely to see five or six Crown Victorias for every Victoria
you see at shows, so this car will stand out just about anywhere
you go. It was repainted perhaps 20 years ago in its original code
LE Peacock Blue over Colonial White color combination, which is the
ideal choice for a '50s cruiser. We should note that turquoise/aqua
colors like Peacock Blue are difficult for digital cameras to
render, so we've adjusted it to look as accurate as possible
although variations in monitor settings can have an effect. But the
important thing is that it looks correct and accurate in person,
with a nice shine and good panel fit that only comes from good base
stock. There's no evidence that this car was ever rusty or wrecked
and the panels line up quite nicely?important with that streak of
chrome that is the Victoria's defining feature. And speaking of
chrome, the shiny stuff on this Ford is in great shape, from the
grille and bumper up front to the halo of stainless steel around
the windows, to the jet-inspired taillight surrounds. The exhaust
exits through the bumper as the designers intended, and the
continental kit is the perfect '50s finish. We believe the majority
of the two-tone turquoise and white vinyl interior is original and
it's holding up quite well for something approaching its 70th
birthday. There's a little discoloration to the white vinyl on the
door panel where someone's elbow might sit on the armrest and some
minor wear on the seat covers, but there's nothing here that needs
to be replaced. In fact, the originality is a big part of this
car's appeal. It has obviously been loved. The original gauges are
all operational except the clock and like most Fords of the period,
it has to be in Neutral to start (why Ford engineers thought this
was a better idea, I can't imagine). Heavy-duty floor mats protect
what look like original carpets, but they may just be older
replacements, hard to say. There's also a nice headliner overhead
with no sags or major discoloration. Swing the spare out of the way
and there's a good-sized trunk with a correct mat and a full-sized
spare tire assembly so you don't have to wrestle with the
continental kit, a thoughtful touch.The 312 cubic inch V8 was
borrowed from the Thunderbird, and it is proudly advertised on the
beautiful finned valve covers. This is a real P-code car, meaning
the 312 was original equipment, and it has been recently rebuilt to
stock specs. It wears a coat of Ford Red engine enamel, a correct
air cleaner up top, and inhales through a freshly rebuilt 4-barrel
carburetor. Up front there's a big aluminum radiator with an
electric pusher fan that should eliminate any overheating issues,
and factory power steering makes this car easy for just about
anyone to handle. It has also been upgraded to an alternator to
provide the power the fan may need in traffic. Factory exhaust
manifolds feed a dual exhaust system with 'Smitty' mufflers that
give it a purring V8 soundtrack that's exactly right for the 1950s.
The Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission shifts cleanly and feeds
3.22 gears in the rear end, making this a car that's at home in
town or on the highway. The undercarriage has never been restored,
so it's not all shiny and fresh, but it is quite solid with no
signs of rot in any of the critical areas?even the rockers and
spare tire well are in good shape. Recent work includes brakes with
new lines and hoses, new shocks, new seals in the rear end, and a
fresh gas tank hanging out back. It also sits on a set of 215/75/15
wide whitewall radials that have a lot of life left in them and
give the car exactly the right look.Extras include a set of
color-matched fender skirts, mirrors, and the original 12V
generator.Nicely preserved, tastefully modified, and a pleasure to
drive, this handsome Ford Victoria is one of those cars that's just
easy to live with. These cars remain eminently popular, both on the
market and at shows, and the attractive hardtop styling will always
be a favorite. If you're a fan of driving, this lovely Ford is an
excellent choice simply because it's good at just about everything.
Give us a call today!Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes
personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our
inventory prior to purchase.