1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan

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 Club Sedan 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 cosmetic restoration was completed a few years ago, and while it was originally finished in Snowshoe White over Regatta Blue, the blue now looks closer to Aquatone Blue, which really makes it stunning. Styling is instantly recognizable, without the usual excesses that defined the era. Both doors fit well and the paint has the perfect pastel 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. 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.

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. Thunderbird fans will find the dash familiar, with a domed instrument cluster that's probably in original shape and showing a little age. Aftermarket auxiliary gauges monitor the upgraded engine and they're really the useful dials anyway. The simple steering wheel has an excellent emblem and horn ring, and you'll especially like the three round dials in the center of the dash that house the heater/defroster controls, original radio, and clock, although the original radio is supplanted by a remote AM/FM/CD stereo head unit. An under-dash A/C unit uses modern controls 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 if you've seen a late-model 5.0 Mustang, the accessory drive should look familiar. There's a 4-barrel carburetor, chrome air cleaner and valve covers, 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 C4 3-speed automatic transmission shifts neatly and the original rear end hangs out back with highway-friendly gears inside. It's solid and unrestored underneath, so you can see that this is a good car with no needs, and the glasspack mufflers give it a perfect '50s soundtrack that belies the upgraded firepower up front. A set of four new wide whitewall radials have been installed on the original wheels with full wheelcovers to preserve the look but update the handling.

A comfortable, flashy, smooth '50s cruiser that looks great and remains eminently affordable and very useable. What a great way to show up at the next cruise night. Call today!