For Sale: 1956 Ford Fairlane in Bradenton, Florida

1956 Ford Fairlane �€" Custom-Built Street Driver with 312 V8, Rack and Pinion, and Full Modern Upgrades Why This Car Is Special The 1956 Ford Fairlane sits at an interesting intersection in automotive history. It was the year Ford's Y-block V8 family reached its most capable street form, with the 312 cubic inch version offered as the top engine option in the full-size Ford lineup. Ford was locked in a fierce horsepower war with Chevrolet through the mid-1950s, and the 312 was its answer �€" a larger-displacement step up from the 272 and 292 that gave Fairlane buyers genuine performance in a package that still looked like a proper American luxury car. The Fairlane name itself had only been introduced for the 1955 model year, making 1956 just the second year of production for what was Ford's top-of-the-line full-size series. What makes this particular 1956 Ford Fairlane worth serious attention is how thoroughly it has been rebuilt for modern use without erasing the character that makes the car worth having in the first place. The body lines, the two-tone color scheme, the chrome trim, and the wide-open interior are all intact and enhanced. Underneath and beneath the hood, however, this is a car built to drive rather than trailer. Rack and pinion steering, front disc brakes, coilover shocks, and Vintage Air conditioning are not bolt-on cosmetic touches �€" they represent real engineering decisions that change how the car behaves on the road. This is a 1956 Ford Fairlane you can take on a long highway run in Florida summer heat and arrive in the same condition you left in. The build carries a cohesive theme throughout. The red and white two-tone paint on the exterior is carried directly into the interior with matching red and white tufted vinyl upholstery, red carpet, and coordinated door panels. The engine bay continues the color story with the 312 painted in red with chrome valve covers. Whoever built this car was working toward a complete, unified look rather than assembling parts from different projects. Features List - Ford 312 cubic inch Y-block V8 - Automatic transmission - Rack and pinion steering upgrade - Ididit steering column - Front disc brakes - Coilover shocks - Dual exhaust system - Electric cooling fan - Vintage Air conditioning system - ARE billet wheels - Chrome valve covers - Custom red and white two-tone exterior - Chrome front and rear bumpers - Chrome side trim - Chrome exterior mirrors - Body side skirts - Custom red and white tufted vinyl bench seats (front and rear) - Custom gauge cluster with tachometer - Auto Meter fuel level, water temperature, oil pressure, and ammeter gauges - Custom chrome steering wheel - Red carpet throughout - AM/FM radio - Clean undercarriage Mechanical The 312 cubic inch Y-block V8 was Ford's largest passenger car engine for 1956. In standard two-barrel form the factory rated it at 215 horsepower, and in four-barrel trim it was rated at 225 horsepower. The 312 also appeared in limited supercharged form in the 1957 Thunderbird, which speaks to the engine's reputation for being able to accept performance modifications. This example has the 312 dressed with chrome valve covers, a performance air cleaner, and a dual exhaust system �€" a combination that improves both the under-hood appearance and the exhaust note. The more significant mechanical story on this 1956 Ford Fairlane is what has been done to the chassis. Rack and pinion steering has been installed in place of the original recirculating ball setup, which is a meaningful improvement. The original steering in these cars was slow and vague by modern standards. The rack and pinion conversion, combined with the Ididit tilt steering column, gives the driver a much more direct and connected feel. Front disc brakes replace the original four-wheel drum setup, providing substantially better stopping power and fade resistance. Coilover shocks at all four corners improve both ride quality and body control compared to the original le