New Ride - Survivor 1956 Ford Fairlane

Well, I have posted a little info on this recent find on a couple of the social groups, but figured this might be worth sharing here on the main board as well.

Early December of last year, a guy that I work with came to me and asked me if Sid (55mercury) might be interested in a 56 Ford that his brother wanted to sell. So, naturally I had to ask some questions about the car so I could convey the info to Sid. And, I might have an interest as well…

So, turns out that the car is a 56 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan. It was bought new by my co-workers uncle and then sold to my co-workers dad in the late 80’s. When his dad got it, it was still pretty nice, but needed the seats recovered since the originals were showing some wear. They had a local upholstery shop recover the seats with cloth instead of vinyl but in the original styling.

So, as he goes on with information about the car over the next few days at work he also reveals the following. The car is red with red and black interior. It still has the original paint and interior other than the seat covers. It now has 82,000 miles on it and is a 292 automatic car.

Then to get me more interested, he sends me this pic to show me the overall condition of the car. To say the least I am starting to get very interested at this point…


I asked what his brother wanted for the car and it appeared that they didn’t really have a good idea of the value or didn’t necessarily want to set a price. So, I did a little research to see what I thought the value was and made an offer based off the one picture I had and the information.

Come to find out, his brother wanted quite a bit more for the car so I figured it was more than I could swing right now. I am in process of adopting a couple girls from India, already have too many project cars, projects around the house, etc. So, I started to figure as much as I was interested it was just beyond what I could afford and deal with right now.

Then, I had to take a trip to Europe for work where I was gone for two weeks. During that time, my co-worker talked some with his brother about the car and his brother was getting more anxious to get it sold. He had a local mechanic put a new fuel pump on it and got it cleaned up and ready to sell. I got a picture of the car on the rollback that apparently took it to get its new fuel pump while I was gone which helped to keep my interest.



So, I got back from Europe, Christmas came and went, and I was back at work full time after the first of the year. Shortly after getting back, I got several pictures of the car since it was fixing to be advertised. In one of the pictures, I noticed the “Thunderbird” emblem on the fender which made me ask more questions. After getting some pics of the engine, it appeared this was probably a 312 car knowing its history and lack of modification over the years. I also find out that it has power steering and brakes, dual exhaust that exits through the bumper, etc.










Anyway, I went into the weekend before last planning to up my offer to the most I thought I could give at this time. However, during the weekend I had kind of decided that I should really just focus on the projects I have so I can get them done and not distract myself with this car.

I came into work Monday morning following that weekend and got an email from the guy with the car asking if I was still interested. He had a local collector make an offer and he was hoping to get a little more out of it so he was seeing where I was at. I sent him an email back explaining that I had decided against the car right now just because of all of what I had going but let him know that I had pretty much came to the same value that the collector had come to. Anyway, I thanked him for all the information and fully expected him to sell the car to the local guy within the next week or so.

I get back to work the next morning at 6:00 and get a response from him. He comments that he and his brother would rather I have the car and wondered if I would be interested at less than what the other guy offered. I was kind of blown away to say the least. I was in no way trying to negotiate a price but had legitimately decided not to buy the car. It happened to be my birthday and I was kind of laughing about the deal a little and called my wife to tell her about it. She said, it sounds like it is meant to be and “Happy Birthday”. So, I made the deal!

Being so excited, I planned a trip to go get it and took my two 6-year-old boys with me. It gave me and the boys some time together and gave Mom a break. We made it to pick up the car, got to meet with fellow HAMBers cvstl and Old Patriot for dinner and had a great trip overall. I wish I would have taken more pics along the way, but only got a couple…

At the hotel where I could watch it out the window while sleeping with one eye open…



At a gas station on the trip home...



Anyway, this seemed to be one of those deals of being in the right place at the right time and getting a chance to get a very nice unrestored original car. Even though I typically modify stuff at least some, my only plans with this one are to help out its stance some and drive it!

 

Awesome score!!!!

 

that car was meant to be yours awesome car love those 56 fords you lucky son of a

 

I'd say great find, but this one found you. Serendipity!
Enjoy your time as its caretaker.

 

You just made the score of a life-time. I have had a 55 Club Sedan for years. If you need any info at all, email me dirrect at any time.

 

I had a 55 Club Sedan years ago, love the sound of a Y-block.

Great score, and glad you got to meet those HAMBers, good guys!

 

Sweet Score! Enjoy that one..

 

droooool....it's a beaut! Enjoy it.

 

Thanks for the compliments guys.

 

sooooo nice.

 

What a beautiful car. Wow!

 

you've done good. looks great. i'm sure the boys will enjoy cruisin around in it.

 

Thanks for sharing....what a great story and AWESOME ride...LOVE it! Enjoy it with your family!!!

 

Really nice

 

great write-up, and great car - congrats!

 

WOW that is nice!

 

awesome score,what are your plans for it?

 

nice nice nice....and oh....happy birthday...

 

Looks like my first car only it was blue and white.Great reliable car.Don't remember seeing any original paint cars with solid red.You will discover all the 292 Fairlanes had the Thunderbird emblems on the fenders.Probably not a 312.

 

It's cool that your Sons shared your "adventure" with you.....

 

Now that I've got the full story, I appreciate the car even more. Can't wait to see it a little closer to the ground!

 

That is a beautiful car and pretty awesome story to go with it. Congrats on the new score and good on you for taking the fellas with.

 

Beautiful car! Love the '56!

 

Man i had to register to reply - im an old y block fan trying not to be jealous -- I welded up the exhaust crossover out on front of a 292 one time back about 68 and a piece of braze rolled down in an open exhaust valve on the right bank - when the owner started it it rattled like a spray can - he said heck it'l either run or blow and he held it wide open - made me run out the door - when he let up on it it had quit rattling - either it imbedded or blew out the exhaust valve - I seen him in that old truck for years after that thinking i wished i had took that crossover off to braze it!! great find!!

 

I hate you. Just kiddin, great score!!!!

 

nice car
M frame number 292
P frame number 312

 

Thanks again for all the compliments. And, thanks for the information on the engine.

What I had found researching the car is that the engine by the VIN as mentioned in the previous post should be a 292 (which it is sounding more and more like it probably is). However, some that I talked to were pretty confident that the "Thunderbird" package meant 312 and some of the indicators were the dual exhaust, etc. It sounds like that isn't necessarily the case from some of the comments here.

It doesn't really matter too much to me one way or the other as far as being happy with the car. I would have bought it either way and the guy I bought it from said they thought it was a 292, so it isn't like it was falsely advertised. Although I would like to know for sure what the engine is. I found that casting numbers on the block were the same for 292's and 312's in 56 so that doesn't tell me for sure either.

So, does anyone know what the "Thunderbird" package included on a 56 Fairlane? Was it just the badging, black valve covers and dual exhaust or did it mean 312, etc.?

Thanks, Jeff

 

Congratulations again. Great car. I know we say this a lot, but I really think this one's a keeper.

Those 56's have really been catching my eye lately. Kind of ironic that you have one now. If I found a nice Victoria, I would be very tempted to liquidate my inventory to make room for it. Never thought I'd say that about a non-GM car. Shhh, don't tell.

 

I think you just told...

Someone will be coming to your desk shortly to escort you out...

 

Wow, that is so nice, enjoy that fine car

Brad