Ford Classic Cars

1955 Ford Thunderbird

1955 was a banner year for American automobile manufacturers as over 7-million American vehicles left the factory. For Ford motor company, 1955 would bring a familiar statistic that saw them once again finish 2nd behind the Chevy juggernaut, being outsold by nearly 250,000 units. However in one key demographic they did claim a huge victory Convertibles. In 1955, Ford outsold Chevrolet convertibles by over 8,000 units, selling over 49,000 convertibles to Chevrolet's 41,000. This 1955 Ford Fairlane Sunliner is a pristine example why these were the go-to choice for car enthusiasts in the late 50's.


The Fairlane, which received its name from the Henry Ford estate near Dearborn, Michigan, replaced the aging Crestline as Ford's premier full size offering in 1955. This 1955 Ford Fairlane Sunliner has received a frame up restoration to sit in the current condition that you see today and is the perfect vehicle to take out on a nice warm summer day with the top down. It has received all the upgrades you would want to create a durable cruiser, while keeping the historic look of the vehicle intact. Before we get too far lets decode the VIN and body tag information.




This first year Fairlane Sunliner is covered in a correct coat of Raven Black and a light shade of red. The combination that is separated by chrome trim looks fantastic under our showroom lights. At the front of the body you have the iconic look of the checkered grille that is flanked by stacked headlights resting on the front of the fender. Below the grille is a body width chrome front bumper that wraps around the front fenders. Above the grille is the Ford crest which hangs in-between a brand new hood ornament and Fairlane text. The hood leads your eyes to a wraparound front windshield. Down the sides of the body feature the signature 'check' chrome trim that separates the red and black. At the back of the car you'll notice fender skirts on the rear tire openings and the jet-tube rear taillights. Finishing off the look, the rear chrome bumper protrudes just far enough to make room for a spare tire.



While this Fairlane did leave the factory with a 272 cubic inch V8, somewhere along the line someone opted to add 17 cubic inches of engine inside the Sunliner by equipping it with a 289ci small block Ford V8. The block, painted in red, accents the black engine bay quite nicely. At the top of the block, an air filter sits on top of an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor and below that is an Edelbrock intake. The valve covers have been dressed up with Ford Racing valve covers and the air filter box has been painted to match the red on the car.

Put this Fairlane on a lift and you'll see that bolted to the durable little 289 is a 3-speed automatic transmission. As far as suspension goes, the Fairlane uses a double a-arm style front suspension and a rear leaf spring suspension. Under the car you will also notice how spent gasses travel out the cast iron headers through dual exhausts that exit out the chrome tips at the back of the car. 4-wheel drum brakes are responsible for slowing the convertible. While in front of those brakes are the steel rims that have full chrome inserts wrapped in wide white wall tires.

This Sunliner is impressive regardless of where you look, but the interior might just be the true winner of this ride. Open the door to this '55 Ford and you will reveal a completely restored two-tone white and black vinyl interior. The interior features two bench seats capable of comfortably hauling six people to your local car show. Up front is the new for 1955 dash design that retained the see-through "astra-dial" speedometer that made an appearance in 1954. To the right of the steering wheel are the controls for the Ford Magic Aire system and the AM radio. Luckily the previous owner upgraded the sound system with a Kenwood audio system that is somewhat hidden under the dash. The interior is comfortable and is a perfect place to log miles from with the top down.

Maybe it’s the grille update or the sense of motion inherent in its swept styling, but there’s just something about the 1957 Ford Fairlane that demands attention. Arguably the most underrated of Detroit’s 50s super stars, the Fairlane sold well in its day and continues to be a staple of the collector car market. The beneficiary of a recent rotisserie restoration, this top option Fairlane 500 is just waiting for a sunny day and manicured show field. With its Thunderbird V8, Ford-O-Matic 3-speed, Master Guide Power Steering and SelectAire climate control, it has all the right options to be the quintessential 50s cruiser. And if you’re looking to add a little spice to your weekend routine, it’ll take Sunday drives to a whole new level!

Steal a glance at the car’s glossy profile and you’ll see what high quality craftsmanship truly looks like. A product of a professional, rotisserie restoration that was performed by a dedicated group of enthusiasts, its solid body was stripped to bare metal, thoroughly worked and painstakingly transformed into a collection of super straight panels. Once that intense labor resulted in good fit and finish, a smooth Dresden and Starmist Blue basecoat was sealed in durable clearcoat and buffed to a fantastic shine. And today, this Ford sits as one razor-sharp drop-top that’s ready to turn heads for years to come.

Not surprisingly, this exceptionally clean Fairlane’s stylish body features a roster of cool and carefully maintained details. At the front of the car, an exaggerated egg-crate grille hangs clean headlights above simple parking lamps, a linear header emblem and a guarded bumper that bends around peaked fenders. Between those fenders, a chrome-detailed hood leads the eye to wraparound glass that’s reflected by twin spot lights, cleared with bright wipers and framed in thick trim. Below that trim, sculpted door handles, subtle fender skirts and polished rocker guards perfectly complement streamlined side sweeps, expressive “Fairlane 500” scripts and small SelectAire emblems. Above those emblems, a blue vinyl roof folds in front of a centered decklid antenna. And behind that antenna, an intricate Fairlane badge rides inside chrome-trimmed, jet-inspired tail lights, a second wraparound bumper and classy chrome exhaust tips.

Tilt the car’s sculpted hood and you’ll find a correct, 312 cubic inch Thunderbird V8 that’s fully rebuilt and dressed to impress. Introduced in 1956 as a high-end Ford and Mercury staple, this stout Y-block remained one of Dearborn’s hottest factory options until late 1961. At the top of the bright orange mill, an Argent Silver air cleaner draws wind into big 4-barrel carburetors that are juiced by a series of stainless fuel lines. Atomized octane passes through an aluminum intake manifold to correct, cast iron heads that are topped by polished and Thunderbird-branded valve covers. At the front of those valve covers, a rebuilt generator and correct fan spin in unison as a tagged radiator keeps the block cool via pliable hoses. Spark comes courtesy of a traditional points distributor, which sequences fire between a Ford Power Punch battery, a Ford voltage regulator and fresh Ford plug wires. From its factory air conditioning and glossy black fenders to its Ford-branded oil filter, this convertible’s bay presents a clean, authentic appearance. And best of all, the 270 horsepower engine fires instantly and sounds surprisingly beefy breathing through an OEM-style exhaust system.

At the bottom of this Fairlane, a fully sorted undercarriage houses typically over-restored floors that are bolted to lots of factory-correct components. Nice enough to show but still fully drivable, this is the perfect compromise for enthusiasts who like to display their car AND enjoy fun-filled weekends. Behind the beefy Y-block, a stalwart Ford-O-Matic 3-speed sends power to a familiar Ford 9-inch that’s fitted with an open differential and pleasant, 3.10 gears. The car’s suspension remains close to its original configuration, with factory power steering and front spring spacers complementing factory control arms and traditional leaf springs. All of the chassis’ parts are free of substantial weathering, reinforcing the idea that it’s been a very long time since this 500’s seen daily-driver duty. Braking is quick and adequate thanks to fresh drums that occupy all for corners of that chassis. And on the outside of those drums, correctly painted wheels spin G78-14 Coker Classic whitewalls around classy chrome hub caps.

Two-tone paint is legendary for its characteristically 50s feel. And when paired with this convertible’s airy interior, it creates the perfect culmination of style and sophistication. Thanks to the car’s high quality restoration, its pleated bench seats will be livable for years to come. There’s tight carpet that, thanks to thick floor mats, still features rich black loops. Front and center, a stylish, two-tone dash hangs restored Ford telemetry above a modern Kenwood CD player. At the sides of that dash, gridded door panels center chrome handles, small window switches and clean armrests above flashy, Ford-branded sills. In front of the driver, a body-matched steering wheel spins a Dresden Blue rim around a chrome, Ford-branded horn ring. And behind the passengers, a fully restored trunk anchors a fresh plaid mat beneath an old school jack and full-size spare

1958 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner Retractable! Finished in period correct Torch Red (originally code E- Colonial White) and White roof, with two-tone Red and White interior, this exceptional and very rare Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner with retractable hard-top represents the second production year for this classic convertible! Well ahead of its time, these cars demonstrate, perhaps, the pinnacle of 1950’s design as well as mechanical function!

Built new from the San Jose, California production plant, this Skyliner is equipped with the H-code 352ci V8 engine, Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission, 2.69:1 rear axle ratio, “Swift Sure” power brakes, power steering, working power retractable top, power windows, power front seat, fender skirts, rear continental kit, padded dash, working push-button AM radio, wide whitewall tires & full wheel covers, lower rocker trim, and fender-mounted spotlight rearview mirrors! It was frame-on restored approximately 10 years ago and remains one of the most drivable examples available anywhere at any price.