| 1955 Ford | |
|---|---|
 1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ford |
| Production | 1954–1956 |
| Model years | 1955–1956 |
| Assembly |
|
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size Ford |
| Body style | 2-doorsedan (Tudor, Club Sedan) 2-doorbusiness sedan (Tudor) 4-doorsedan (Fordor, Town Sedan) 2-doorhardtop (Victoria) 2-doorhardtop with chrome pillar (Crown Victoria) 2-doorhardtop with chrome pillar & glass roof (Crown Victoria Skyliner) 4-doorhardtop (Fordor Victoria) 2-doorconvertible (Sunliner) 2-doorstation wagon (Ranch Wagon,Parklane) 4-doorstation wagon (Country Sedan,Country Squire) 2-doorsedan delivery (Courier) 2-doorcoupe utility (Australia) |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 223 CID (3.7 L)OHVI6 272 CID (4.5 L)Y-blockV8 292 CID (4.8 L)T-birdV8 312 CID (5.1 L)T-birdV8 (1956) |
| Transmission |
|
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 115.5 in (2,934 mm) |
| Length | 198.5 in (5,042 mm) |
| Width | 75.9 in (1,928 mm) |
| Curb weight | 3,080–3,262 lb (1,397–1,480 kg) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | 1952 Ford |
| Successor | 1957 Ford |
The1955 Ford is anautomobile which was produced byFord in theUnited States for the 1955 model year and, in revised form, for the 1956 model year. A new design would be offered in1957.
The American Ford line ofcars gained a new body for 1955 to keep up with surgingChevrolet andPlymouth, although it remained similar to the1952 Ford underneath. TheMileage MakerI6 was bumped up to 223 CID (3.7 L) for 120 hp (89 kW) and the new-for-1954Y-blockV8 was now offered in two sizes: Standard Fords used a 272 CID (4.5 L) version with 162 hp (121 kW) with 2-barrel carburetor and single exhaust or 182 hp with 4-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust, but the large 292 CID (4.8 L) unit from theThunderbird was also offered, boasting 193 hp (144 kW).
Apart from the engine changes, customers were sure to notice the newFairlane, which replaced the Crestline as the top trim level, while a newCrown Victoria-style featured a chrome "basket handle" across the familiar (and continued) "Victoria" hardtop roof, which originally appeared on theMercury XM-800 concept car. This use of a styling feature to visually separate the front of the passenger compartment from the rear reappeared on the 1977-1979Ford Thunderbird, theFord LTD Crown Victoria, theFord Fairmont Futura andMercury Zephyr Z-7 coupes. The company now marketed three different rooflines on its two-door models; the tall two-pillar Mainline,Customline, and Fairlane sedans, pillarless hardtop Fairlane Victoria and the chrome-pillar Fairlane Crown Victoria. The Fairlane Crown Victoria was also offered with a transparent "skylighted" top.[2] New brakes were used 11-inch (280 mm) drums.[3] Also, Fords had a new frame, but still with five cross members.[3]
The Fords introduced for 1955 also featured the panoramic windshields found onOldsmobiles,Buicks andCadillacs the previous year.With this panoramic windshield the A-pillars have a vertical angle.this gives the driver more panoramic visibility.
For the first time, Ford offeredseat belts as a dealer option (not factory installed, with instructions provided by a Service Bulletin).[4] Also new for 1955 was Ford's first factory installedair conditioner. This “Select Aire” option featured an integrated heater core and evaporator coil unit within the dash and cold air discharge vents located on top of the dash[5] on either side of the radio speaker. The "Select Aire" design was carried over to the 1956 models[6] with slightly different cold air vents in the same location as on the 1955 models. The condenser was mounted in front of the radiator as in later cars.
The 1955 Fords were marketed under separate names for each of the three trim levels:Ford Mainline,Ford Customline andFord Fairlane. Station wagons were offered as a separate series for the first time for 1955.[7]: p 395 TheRanch Wagon and Custom Ranch Wagon were 2 door wagons while the Country Sedan andCountry Squire models were 4 door wagons, the latter featuring wooden appliqué side mouldings.[7]: pp 394–395 Asedan delivery variant was marketed as theFord Courier.
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| engine displacement,type,carburetor type | max. power at rpm | compression ratio | Available transmissions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 223 cu in (3.7 L)Mileage MakerI6 1-barrel | 120 bhp (89 kW; 122 PS) @ 4,000 | 7.5 to 1 |
|
| 272 cu in (4.5 L)Y-blockV8 2-barrel | 162 bhp (121 kW; 164 PS) @ 4,400 | 7.6 to 1 |
|
| 292 cu in (4.8 L)Y-blockV8 4-barrel Interceptor (Police) | 188 bhp (140 kW; 191 PS) @ 4,400 | 7.6 to 1 |
|
The eggcrate grille featured on the 1955 cars was widened into a series of rectangles for 1956, but this subtle exterior change was nothing compared to Ford's adoption of a 12-volt electrical system, with a six volt system optional. TheCrown Victoria Skyliner's sales were plummeting with just 603 made, and it would be replaced by a convertible the next year. A new addition at midyear was the "Town Victoria" 4-door hardtop model which, along with the newCustomline Victoria 2-door hardtop, were meant to compete with theChevrolet Bel Air andPlymouth Belvedere. The Parklane, a Fairlane trimmed Tudor station wagon, was added to compete with theChevrolet Nomad. There were new convenience options, such as a new air-conditioner system, a new heater, and a nine-tube signal-seeking radio.[10] Instead of gauges, instrument cluster warning lights for oil pressure andammeter were standard.[11]
Victoria hardtop coupes now adopted the lower, sleeker roofline used by both 1955 and 1956 Crown Victoria, sans the wide chrome roof trim.
TheLifeguard safety package — consisting of seat belts, a padded dashboard, safety door locks, a deep-dish steering wheel, and a breakaway rearview mirror — was introduced.[1][12] The option was a slow-seller. The optional air conditioner, which remained expensive and thus a slow seller, was totally revamped; the compressor was now housed beneath the hood[13] and the cooling vents were moved to atop the dashboard (it could not be ordered on the Thunderbird[1]).
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| engine displacement,type,carburetor type | max. power at rpm max. torque at rpm | compression ratio | Available transmissions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 223 cu in (3.7 L)Mileage MakerI6 1-barrel (all models) | 137 bhp (102 kW; 139 PS) @ 4200 202 lb⋅ft (274 N⋅m) @ 1600-2600 | 8.0 to 1 |
|
| 272 cu in (4.5 L)Y-blockV8 2-barrel (Mainline and Customline) | 173 bhp (129 kW; 175 PS) @ 4400 260 lb⋅ft (353 N⋅m) @ 2400 | 8.0 to 1 |
|
| 272 cu in (4.5 L)Y-blockV8 2-barrel (Mainline and Customline) | 176 bhp (131 kW; 178 PS) @ 4400 264 lb⋅ft (358 N⋅m) @ 2400 | 8.4 to 1 |
|
| 292 cu in (4.8 L)ThunderbirdV8 4-barrel (Fairlane and Station Wagons) | 200 bhp (149 kW; 203 PS) @ 4600 285 lb⋅ft (386 N⋅m) @ 2600 | 8.0 to 1 |
|
| 292 cu in (4.8 L)ThunderbirdV8 4-barrel (Fairlane and Station Wagons) | 202 bhp (151 kW; 205 PS) @ 4600 289 lb⋅ft (392 N⋅m) @ 2600 | 8.4 to 1 |
|
| 312 cu in (5.1 L)InterceptorV8 4-barrel (police only) | 210 bhp (157 kW; 213 PS) @ 4600 312 lb⋅ft (423 N⋅m) @ 2600 | 8.0 to 1 |
|
| 312 cu in (5.1 L)InterceptorV8 4-barrel (police only) | 215 bhp (160 kW; 218 PS) @ 4600 317 lb⋅ft (430 N⋅m) @ 2600 | 8.4 to 1 |
|
| 312 cu in (5.1 L)Thunderbird SpecialV8 4-barrel (Fairlane and Station Wagons, since mid-year ) | 225 bhp (168 kW; 228 PS) | 9.0 to 1 |
|
The 1955 Ford was also produced byFord Australia which offered it as aV8 Customline 4-doorsedan and as a V8 Mainline 2-doorcoupe utility.[20]: pp 131–132 The latter body style was developed in Australia utilising an imported convertible chassis strengthened for load carrying.[20]: p 136 A limited number of Customline wagons was also built.[20]: p 137
The 1955 model was the first Australian Ford to receive the new overhead-valve "Y-block" V8 engine, and went on sale at the end of July 1955.[21] Australian Customlines and Mainlines received the 1956 US Ford facelift and then further makeovers in 1957 and 1958 with the final series utilizing the grille from 1955Meteor ofCanada.[20]: pp 131–132 The 1957s, introduced in September 1957, were also available with the Fordomatic automatic transmission, and local parts content had been increased to 80 percent.[22]
By 1958 the Customline was being marketed as the Ford V8 Fordomatic when supplied with automatic transmission.[23][24] 1958 was also when the larger, 292 cu in (4.79 L) V8 engine was introduced.[25] Australian production ended the following year with the introduction of the1959 US Ford which was locally produced in Custom 300, Fairlane 500 and Ranch Wagon models.[26]
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