1956 Ford Fairlane Victoria

Description

The very best cars you can buy are those that were restored for love rather than profit. This 1956 Ford Fairlane Victoria, for instance, easily cost two or three times the asking price to procure, preserve, and restore it to the wonderful condition you see today, and the labor of love behind the effort didn't care one bit about the staggering cost. The result is an exquisite restoration of a somewhat rare Blue Oval classic that's just off-the-charts amazing.

Initially restored in 2000 when the car was purchased by the current owner, this beautiful Vicky was done right, and after 7k miles of enjoyment, it went through another refreshing in 2020 for good measure. The two-tone color combination on this lovely Fairlane is Peacock Blue and Colonial White, an unusual and perfectly charming 1950s look. Fit and finish are top driver-quality and the investment in time and labor is obvious everywhere you look. The hood, trunk, and sides were all repainted with 5 coats of acrylic lacquer and then color sanded, and the roof was left alone to shine in all of its original glory. The result is impressive, and even though the roof shows a few signs of age, the car has an all-together, complete look that really works. And the body is laser straight too, with doors that fit flush, smooth fenders and quarters that are free of distortions, and a soft glow on the body that looks exactly right on the 1950s Ford. Dramatic side trim was a Ford look in the mid-50s and it gives this car a very upscale look and also provides the perfect breaking point for the two-tone paint, and I've always particularly enjoyed the way the headlight rings wrap around into the hood. There's probably thousands worth of chrome on this rare hardtop, too, with brilliant bumpers, shiny stainless with a lot of detail, and correct emblems including the delicate 'Victoria' script on the doors.

The two-tone Colonial White and Blue interior is equally impressive and the elegant materials and cool bright colors are most definitely correct for 1956. The two-door hardtop is what most folks prefer over a 'post' car, and there's plenty of room front and rear for full-sized adults. Both bench seats fore and aft wear correct patterns and that beautiful upholstery is matched with beautifully stitched door panels at the flanks. The gauges will probably look familiar to anyone who has driven an early 2-seat Thunderbird and the color-matched blue steering wheel and wrap-around dash are both beautifully finished. Correct blue carpets and a taut headliner are tope end details that make it feel complete inside and there's very little wear inside since the work was completed. Like most of these Tri-5s from the era options are limited, but you do get a factory AM radio (not currently working), seatbelts, a heater, and power steering that work together to improve the driving experience. There's also a massive trunk in back, making this an ideal road trip car, and it's finished back to stock.

A Thunderbird-spec 292 cubic inch V8 was planted under the hood and it gives the hardtop sparkling road manners. Supremely smooth at idle and energetic enough to make this heavy cruiser feel quick, it's a bit of performance in an otherwise fairly conservative package. Complete with an oil-bath air cleaner, 4-barrel carb, bright Ford Red paint on the block, and black Thunderbird valve covers, it looks racy under the hood. Lots of recent engine work included adjusting the valves to .018, tweaking the oil flow to the rocker arms, a newer dual master cylinder, power steering and an electric fuel pump, so this Ford is running in tip-top shape. A Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission makes the most of the engine's broad torque curve and there are easy-cruising gears out back. You'll also note that the underside of the car nicely finished with signs of work throughout, including the burbling dual exhaust system that makes wonderful sounds going down the road. Diamondback whitewall radials are fitted to painted steel wheels further adorned with bright chrome hubcaps, and they do a great job to finish off the period-perfect look.

Documented with a thick folder full of restoration pics and build receipts, along with an original warranty card and owner's manual, this Fairlane Victoria is nicely pedigreed. A true labor of love, this car is exceptional in every way and it shows. Call today!