Something a little different

Well, this month how about THREE members’ cars of the month? That’s a little different. Also, all three are 1955 Fords, not our usual 32-53 models. These  three represent all three “series” Ford offered for 1955. 

Let’s begin with Rob’s ’55 Mainline tudor sedan. Ford offered the Mainline series in a tudor sedan, a fordor sedan, and a business ‘sedan’ (a tudor sedan with no back seat). The Mainline was the “base” series in that it came with virtually no accessories; everything, including a passenger side INSIDE sun visor was an accessory. The standard engine was a 223 cubic” inline six and that’s how Rob’s car is equipped. The standard transmission was a three speed manual w/o overdrive and Rob’s car also has that transmission.  This car was ordered with a clock & radio by the original owner when he retired from the Ford line.  Rob bought his Ford from late club member Chuck Shubb (part of Chuck’s movie fleet). This is a full on Survivor, the car had 25,000 original miles.  Click below for larger images.

Next we have Jim’s ’55 Customline tudor sedan. The Customline series was the next step up in Ford’s ‘trim levels’, which meant it came standard with TWO interior sun visors and a few other amenities.  The Customline series was only available as a tudor like Jim’s or a fordor sedan. Jim’s car has the first in the line of optional engines, a 272 cubic” V8 (Ford called it a “YBlock” due to the fact that the engine block extends below the crankshaft centerline (for strength reasons) and if you view it from the front the engine block resembles the letter Y). Jim’s car also has the optional automatic transmission Ford very cleverly named “Fordomatic”. No sarcasm intended here; around this era, it seemed everyone’s automatic transmission was called ‘something matic’ (examples, GM’s Hydramatic, Mercury’s Mercomatic, Studebaker’s Flightomatic, Packard’s Ultramatic, etc.). Interestingly, many owners of Ford vehicles from this era refer to their automatic transmissions as two speed transmissions. I suspect this is because, by default, this transmission starts from a standstill in Drive in second gear and then shifts to third, hence two speeds. What some owners may not realize is that if you start from a stop in Low, it starts in first gear; then if you move the lever to drive it shifts to second followed by third. OK, enough transmission stuff.

Jim saw the car advertised in the Daily News in 1988. it was owned by an older lady in the “Palisades” who was giving it up  It was being sold by her grandson.  She had kept all of her time records in a little brown book including gas fill-ups. As we were bringing it home, Jim’s friend noticed that she had written, “After the accident”  in the book. The car had 55K on it in 1988 and now has 68K. Click below for larger images.

Our third members’ car of the month belongs to me (Howard); it’s a ’55 Fairlane Crown Victoria. The Fairlane series was Ford’s top trim level that year and came standard with many things that were optional (at extra cost of course) on the Mainline/Customline series.  The Fairlane series was available as a tudor sedan (Club Sedan), fordor sedan (Town Sedan), tudor hardtop (Victoria), tudor hardtop with more trim and a different roofline (Crown Victoria, which was also available with a transparent forward roof section), and a convertible (Sunliner). My car is equipped much like Jim’s in that it has the first level optional 272 cubic” YBlock V8 and the Fordomatic transmission. Mine is a sparsely equipped car for a top of the line Fairlane (and a Crown Victoria) in that it does not have power steering, power brakes, power windows or power seat (as many of the Fairlanes did). I acquired my Ford in a slightly unusual manner; it was one of about 50 cars owned by husband and wife friends of mine, who had used many of their cars as movie rental cars (however, not my Ford). They were ready to sell their ‘movie cars’ because they were no longer being rented frequently enough to make a profit. They asked a friend and me to evaluate the cars and ‘spread the word’ among our car friends that these cars were available. While looking at the ’movie cars’, I saw the Crown Victoria and asked if was also for sale; I promptly made a deal for it and towed it home (it hadn’t run in 25 years) the next day. After a valve job cured the Crown Victoria’s poor running and REALLY smoky exhaust, I began driving it. As some of you know, I now drive it regularly around my neighborhood and to many local ‘cruises’.  Click below for larger images.

A slight footnote; my acquisition of my Ford caused some of my car friends who were already members of the Valley V8s club to invite me to join the club, since I now had a Ford!

For those who think I don’t spell very well, you’re probably correct, BUT the spelling ‘tudor’ for a two door sedan and ‘fordor’ for a four door sedan was Ford’s idea, not mine.  I hope everyone enjoys the article; please check out the included pictures.