Afresh new face and a fresh newconcept: financing for $56 amonth
To the untrained eye, it might seem as though all cars from the 1950s looked the same, but buyers in those days were keenly aware of their subtle differences. Or in the case of the 1955-’56 full-size Ford cars, the not-so-subtle differences.
For the North American automobile industry, the mid1950s proved to be the decade’s most prosperous period, especially for Ford. The company had enjoyed steady, if not spectacular, growth and profits since its first all-new post-Second WorldWarmodel hit the streets in 1949. That sleekly shaped landmark car was a tremendous hit with buyers, which significantly boosted Ford’s overallmarketshare (although it still trailed GeneralMotors). Three years later the automaker again hit one out of the park with the release of the completely redone 1952 models, solidifying its second-place position within the General Motors/Ford/Chrysler triumvirate.
By the fall of 1954, Fordwas poised for yet another grand slam. The 1955models were longer, lower, wider andmore chrome-laden than ever before. Two-tone pastel shades had replaced the previous year’s darker and more conservative monotone hues. Then there was the addition of the sensational Ford Thunderbird, a two-seat personal luxury car with a big, throbbing V8 that seemed to add luster to the entire lineup.
Along with assembling the usual crop of two- and fourdoor coupe, sedan and wagon body styles plus the mandatory convertible, Ford had at least one styling gimmick up its sleeve. The top-of-the-line Fairlane Crown Victoria hardtop was not really a hardtop at all, at least in the traditional pillarless sense. Instead, a thick band of chrome swept up the side of the greenhouse directly behind the doors and flowed across the width of the roof.
The feature was, to say the least, eye catching and added more than a touch of glamour to the $2,200 car. For less than $100 more, buyers could add a tinted plexiglass roof, although most passed on this feature fearing they would unmercifully roast on hot sunny days. Hey, if you really wanted to check out the sky you could specify the ragtop for about the same price.
Bare-bonesMainline and Customline models were commonly equipped with the economy-oriented 120horsepower 223 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine. But checking the right box on the order formwould take you straight to the V-8-engine menu that included a 162horsepower 272-cubic-inch unit and a 200-horse 292cube mill— standard issue in the Thunderbird— thatmade the big Ford fly.
In 1955, it was all too easy to up your time payments by tacking on a few ritzy extras such as whitewall tires, fender skirts, AMradio, tinted windows, automatic transmission or power windows. Crown Victoria owners could also add that quintessential ’50smotif, a continental kit that included the spare tire hung out over the rear bumper.
At the end of the 1955 model year, Ford had experienced its best sales performance since the heyday of theModel T. And, with the launch of the 1956 cars, the company would see more of the same. A sparkling new Crown Victoria four-door hardtop was added to the mix and those inescapable twotone paint schemes were in even greater abundance. Easy credit terms became the order of the day and the infamous Lee Iacocca, then one of Ford’s district sales managers, developed the “56 For 56” (a new ’56 Ford for $56 amonth) promotion that helped take his Philadelphia region to record sales heights.
These new Fords also offered significantly more thrust, thanks to an available 312-cubic-inch Thunderbird V-8 that spit out up to 225 horsepower.
The only cloud in Ford’s otherwise clear blue sky was themanufacturer’s attempt to promote safety. It’s hard to imagine today, but back in the mid-1950s, pushing features such as a deep-dish safety steering wheel, padded dashboard, optional seat belts and other “Lifeguard” items not only turned off prospective owners, but probably shifted sales to brands that didn’t employ such perceived scare tactics in their advertising.
Although both the ’55 and ’56 Fords are considered attractive, especially the Crown Victoria hardtops and convertibles, the ’56model is today regarded as has having the styling edge. Credit for this goes to a cleaner, less toothy grille that, combined with the outward location of the signal lamps, makes the newer version appear wider and lower.
After ’56, Ford’s passenger cars began to bulk up and gain tailfins and other unnecessary trim pieces— well into the 1960s— that only served to clutter up the designs.
However, for one all-toobrief period, these fashionable ’50s Fords turned heads as they beautified driveways and highways across the land.