1956 Ford Customline

Description

Ford guys, we have the antidote for all the shoebox Chevys you see at car shows, and it takes the form of this pretty 1956 Ford Customline, which has a strong emphasis on CUSTOM. Expertly built and very clean, it's an eye-catching alternative for Blue Oval fans that like their street rods a little bit traditional.

Like all great customs, the trick is to make the modifications invisible, and you'll spend a long time looking at this gorgeous Ford without seeing everything that was done to it. The obvious things like shaved door handles and hood trim are easy, but if you're a '50s car expert, you'll also note that 1955 Pontiac side trim has been used to great effect and that grille is from a 1956 Plymouth. Frenched headlights, lots of shaved trim, and a recessed power antenna all help make this car look special. Of course, there's also the fantastic paint, a wonderful copper over cream combination that's elegant and eye-catching without the need for excessive flash. Very nice. It's highlighted with some tasteful and traditional pinstripe work on the trunk and hood, which reinforces the period look. Finish quality is excellent, the masking between the colors is laser-sharp, and you'll note that the two-tone split even continues into the door jambs for a great effect. It goes without saying that all the chrome was refinished so it glitters against the relatively subtle paint, and a rear license plate bracket was installed under the rear bumper to maintain that smoothie look.

The matching two-tone interior uses cream leather on stock bench seats to replicate a '50s custom look with a few modern touches for comfort. The upholstery looks virtually new and it's so bright and clean that you might want to think twice before climbing in with your work clothes on. Gray carpets anchor everything so it's not too pastel, and the door panels use narrow pleats and plenty of stainless trim to replicate the exterior look. Cream-faced Dolphin gauges were fitted into the original instrument hood with a custom-painted insert that matches the copper exterior paint. More cream leather was wrapped around the steering wheel and the top of the dash, while an aftermarket A/C system was tucked underneath to make this a great cruiser in any weather. A factory AM radio still lives in the dash but there's an AM/FM/CD stereo hidden out of sight for real entertainment. The trunk has been sensibly upholstered with matching side panels and carpeted floor, so don't be afraid to fill it up and hit the road.

A 350 cubic inch Chevy V8 might upset the purists, but if you want reliability and power, it's a great choice. It's nicely finished with a copper engine block, some chrome dress-up, and a vintage-looking air cleaner up top. Edelbrock supplied the carburetor and there's a brand new radiator up front, so you know it's built for driving. Power steering is a welcome upgrade and cast iron exhaust manifolds feed a custom dual exhaust system that burbles like any '50s custom should. The transmission is a 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive, so highway cruising is this car's specialty and a 9-inch rear end hangs on air shocks to fine-tune that lowered stance. Color-matched steel wheels carry trim rings and hubcaps that provide a low-key look and 215/70/14 whitewall radials have a period look.

Nicely built with gorgeous colors, this unique Ford offers a ton of fabrication and style for a fraction of the build cost. Call today!