Today I’m back at jkgalleria to take a look at this mid lever 1955 ford customline period correct advertising buttons switches and knobs. First person driving view enjoy this one =)
My Father had a '55 Customline, 2-door with the V8. Had it until 1966 when he traded it for a Plymouth Valiant. This video brought back memories. Thanks!
In 1956 Dad bought a New 2 tone 2 dr. Fairlane White over Black. With the fender skirts. He drove the car one year and had to dump it because he needed the money marrying my mom in 1957. The pics are beautiful.
I agree! My first memory of a 50s Ford was that of my grandmother’s white 58 Thunderbird convertible. The 2nd generation of the Bird, the car had a red leather interior. I was just 4 at the time, but I had vivid memories being driven around Hawaii as my grandmother sang to me old songs from Hollywood.
Almost bought one of these 55 Fords, a blue 55 Fairlane. Beautiful car, but I went for a 38 Ford V8 since this was my actual dream car. Also a wonderful car!
In the Air Force my dad bought a 53 Ford to take to Germany (the country where I was born later on). Believe it or not, the Ford was way too big for the cobblestone byways and the twists and turns of Swiss mountain roads, and the engine struggled on the poor quality postwar gas there. So he sold the Ford, for more than he bought it new, to another G.I., and bought a 55 VW convertible, the car that I learned to shift in and used for many years after I graduated from college.
You did a good job. I’m sure you knew the car that you featured was a mild custom job. The hood had been “nosed” and the car was lowered a bit. The floor shifter hinted that there may have some mechanical mods too and the interior while nicely done wasnt stock. Still, a very nice car that was well presented.
Yeah that one had some custom bits to it but the interior aside from the nose being shaved and there wasn’t a hood ornament it was pretty much how it would be except for the floor mounted shifter and I’m pretty sure that would’ve came with a column shifter unit Thank you so much for watching and all the positive vibes =)
The mid-50s Ford V-8 models were prone to overheating in slower traffic on hot summer days. Our '55 Country Sedan would not restart in hot weather until it sat for about 10 minutes. The 6-cylinder engines did not have this issue and were much more reliable than the 272 V-8 we had. It was a relatively noisy engine compared to Chevrolet V-8s of the time. My Dad bought it new & was glad to trade it in on a much better Chevrolet in a few years.
I’ve heard that the one block from this era overheating for noisy unreliable this one didn’t do that this one was sounded Great had a good pick up.. It wasn’t a powerhouse but it moved nicely down the road all things considered
As I recall on the 54 custom line had seat belts. Ford proudly advertised this safety feature. The car did last because my neighbor was still driving it in the late 60's.
Me too trust me I tried to make this one longer but I couldn’t find a commercial that just had a customer in Minit Ford only like to show off your glitzy cars Like country Squire for the Fairlane or the Sunliner
Love the elegant white steering wheel. I don't think the white dash cap and parcel shelf are factory because they are so highly reflective, but they sure look good.
My parents had a 55 custom line sedan. It had the I6 engine with an automatic transmission. He bought it new in august 1955 and had until March 1958 when he traded it in for new Volkswagen. I was 6 years old when he brought it home.
It was a regular beetle, with non synchronized 1st gear and 36hp. In 1965, when I became 16, and got my license, my parents had other cars, and that beetle became mine. Will never forget.
I suspect a bit of customisation has occurred to this example. A hood bare of any badging or mascot is quite inconsistent with the period. Also, the absence of overriders.
Yeah this one was Customized I try to find them in the best shape that I can possibly find that are original this was close to original the interior was right.. Or at least it didn’t have tiny steering wheel which I absolutely hate
@@What.its.like. I totally agree with you about the steering wheel. It reminds me of an earlier fad, around the late 60's. All the youth were driving 50's cars with three on the tree. To make them 'faster', the column change would be removed, a hole roughly cut in the floor, and a really poorly engineered aftermarket floor shift fitted. Great idea eh! About as great an idea as fitting wide tyres and a small steering wheel to a car without power steering. My biggest hate of all though is Continental kits!
There is nothing I hate more then seeing a beautiful car then when I get to the inside part either has the tiny steering wheel or a 80s Chevy column I get it people want power steering or maybe to big to drive the car with the big wheel.. hey I’m for it’s your car do what you want but to me it’s tacky. I saw a beautiful packard I think it was a 120 series last year right before I started the channel, I don’t usually care about engine swaps because my 52 has a v8 in it so I can keep up with traffic but it broke my heart seeing a 350 v8 in a packard where straight eight should be and I get it it’s on the road some cars shouldn’t be engine swapped.. but you if it was me those in line eights are getting hard to come by and people working on them in short supply, so idk
@@What.its.like. By the way, in case you didn't notice, the first 55 Ford advertisement you showed was for a right hand drive car, which would make the advertisement an Australian market one.
I recently got a Ford Fairlane of the same year as my first car. I love it to pices but I can't seem to figure out how to get the washer fluid to spray. It's a wonderful car other than my lack of knowledge on the car. Do you know anything that would help me find out more about my car?
Yeah that car had three speed on the floor i’m fairly certain that car stock came with a column mounted shifter There was some Custom bits to that car but the interior was pretty much how it should be I’ve never seen a customline except for that one I’ve never seen the main line series here all the ones that I ever see here are fairlanes
I reviewed 1957 skyliner I plan on hitting every single trim model of every single car offered that’s the plan anyway There may be a 58 coming up this week I’m trying to scatter the different cars that I’ve done so it doesn’t seem like it’s all Ford and Chevy’s I really wanna hit some of the orphan cars from the mid 50s era well all the 50s cars nice cars are hard to find right now.. but I will definitely add those to the list =)
The car featured is not a stock Customline (i.e. no bumper guards, lack of trim on hood, after market floor shift, incorrect seat materials). The standard Y-block V8 of 272 CID produced 160 HP, using a 2-bbl carb and single exhausts. The 182 HP Y-block V8 was an optional engine using a 4-bbl carb, duel exhausts and a bit higher compression. I've mentioned this before. PLEASE, PLEASE quit saying the '55 Fords were "parts bin Fords". All brands of cars (even today) share most parts between series. As levels went up (Mainline to Customline to Fairlane) trim pieces and more side moldings were added. Perhaps a chrome horn ring. Better seat materials. Carpeting on the floor. BUT THE BASIC DESIGN OF ALL THE VEHICLES SHARED MOST PARTS (instrument panels, hub caps, etc.). Same with Chevy, as an example. The differences between 150, 210 and Bel Air was in TRIM, as all common core items were shared. Power windows and seat (extremely rare) was only offered in the Fairlane series. AC was rare (almost unheard of on a low priced car in 1955). Yes, most items were stand alone options (heater, Master Guide Power Steering, Swift Sure Power Brakes, radio, back up lights, etc, etc). Sun visors were STANDARD, however. One on left in Mainline series, but left and right on Customline and Fairlane. A bit of '55 Ford trivia. The Country Sedan 4-door wagon was offered in 2 and 3 seat models. You are viewing an early brochure because n Jan. of 1955 all 3 seat Country Sedans received upgraded Fairlane side trim and interior appointments.
Awesome information thank you so much for sharing.. I’ll try to not refer to them as part bin, I should’ve came up with a better name I’m sorry I apologize. Ford didn’t differentiate the Thunderbird And 56 by keeping the Astra dialall the other Ford models had a different dash that thunderbird would get in 57.. Ford and Chevy did that a lot they shared parts but did dodge do that too, the independents offered more body styles like Nash in 1950 had the airflyte a convertible and wagon (convertible looked like it was based on wagon. =)
@@What.its.like. Yes, Dodge and all car brands (with some exceptions), had one basic body shell and differentiated each level with trim and accessories made standard. Without writing a book, Dodge (for example in 1955) took one designated body, made various sedan/convertible/hardtop/wagon variants and had three price/trim levels (Coronet, Royal and Custom Royal). As you moved up in price, the trim changed, the standard features changed, maybe the engine changed, but the basic car itself was the same. Nash was one of the first to offer two different lines of cars. For example, in 1950, Nash had their senior cars (Statesman and Ambassador) and their new, compact car, the Nash Rambler, offered in 2-door convertible and, later in the year, 2-door station wagon models. Other manufactures followed this trend in the 1950's. Kaiser had their standard line and offered the Henry J, beginning as a 1951 model. Hudson had their standard line of cars, then offered the Hudson Jet in 1953. Little by little, this trend grew. Corvair, Falcon and Valiant in 1960. Senior compacts from GM in 1961. The intermediate Ford Fairlane in 1962. Mustang in 1964. There was no turning back!
. . . beautiful car . . . Dad drove a 56 custom when I was a kid, and he said that "safety" was pushed as a selling feature by Ford at the time . . . have often wondered what supposedly made those cars especially "safe" . . . any thoughts? . . .
I think 1956 Ford offered seatbelts as an option. Of course in those days most people didn’t want seat belts. That was about 10 years before the government mandated that cars had to be equipped with seatbelts. I also think that the Fords had a “deep Dish” steering wheel which it was believed to be less likely to puncture the driver’s chest in event of a wreck. Other cars began to have “safer “ cars at the time.
I was going to add the whole safeguard thing also recorded the commercial for found out that was 56 so I left it out but here’s a list of what it consisted of. =) en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifeguard_(automobile_safety)
@@glennso47 . . . tks for your reply . . . seat belts were hotly debated at the time . . . most adults I knew felt they were a danger because they could trap you in a burning vehicle . . . my Civics' teacher told us that they were a menace because in the event of an impending crash, you should get down on your knees and put your shoulder to the dash . . . those arguments seem so silly today, but remember, at the time, we were all taught to get under our desks for protection in case of a nuclear attack ;) . . .
I’ve heard mixed reviews about the y block v8s from this era this one ran like a top. It ran smoother than the Thunderbird we tried a couple weeks ago.
That’s the crappy reality of these cars it was so long ago, I wish it was now times just seemed simpler like I’ve said I was born way too late. I used to draw 50 olds 88 I’m not Bias I love all cars some were just better than others but I can’t think of a bad 50s American car.. don’t get me wrong they all had advantages and disadvantages rust was a major concern.. but the innovation that happened in the decade was impressive self lubricant chassis by the push of a button. Power steering power brakes electric window and locks power vent windows power rear windshields power retractable hardtops it was a great era I wasn’t here for =)
Hola yo estoy restaurando uno en versión 6 cilindros y necesito los cromados que van en los laterales alguien me sabe decir donde los consigo? Soy de Uruguay
I had stainless steel bumpers made by a company in Vietnam called I’m not sure if you’re on Facebook but here is the link they might be able to make them for you facebook.com/maryclassiccarbumper?mibextid=9R9pXO
Bought one for a $100.00 in 1971 and the paint was black and in near mint condition, an ex embassy car and I'm thinking only stupid men and 14 y\o boys sell cars like that, the trouble was I'd been a little bit stupid and was only 14 years old too, still regret it...
My Father had a '55 Customline, 2-door with the V8. Had it until 1966 when he traded it for a Plymouth Valiant. This video brought back memories. Thanks!
That’s awesome =) I loved the seating position in this great visiblity
Beautifully restored! Off the showroom floor.
In 1956 Dad bought a New 2 tone 2 dr. Fairlane White over Black. With the fender skirts. He drove the car one year and had to dump it because he needed the money marrying my mom in 1957. The pics are beautiful.
I really like the 1955 Ford lineup!! All cars of the fifties are really cool!!!! Thanks for sharing this fun video!!! 👍👍🙂
I agree! My first memory of a 50s Ford was that of my grandmother’s white 58 Thunderbird convertible. The 2nd generation of the Bird, the car had a red leather interior. I was just 4 at the time, but I had vivid memories being driven around Hawaii as my grandmother sang to me old songs from Hollywood.
Awesome memory thank you so much for sharing =)
Nice I love the mid 50s ford's, that astrodome is such a cool feature for the times.
I love 50s cars in general =)
Almost bought one of these 55 Fords, a blue 55 Fairlane. Beautiful car, but I went for a 38 Ford V8 since this was my actual dream car. Also a wonderful car!
38 fords are sweet =)
In the Air Force my dad bought a 53 Ford to take to Germany (the country where I was born later on). Believe it or not, the Ford was way too big for the cobblestone byways and the twists and turns of Swiss mountain roads, and the engine struggled on the poor quality postwar gas there. So he sold the Ford, for more than he bought it new, to another G.I., and bought a 55 VW convertible, the car that I learned to shift in and used for many years after I graduated from college.
Awesome story thank you so much for sharing it =)
You did a good job. I’m sure you knew the car that you featured was a mild custom job. The hood had been “nosed” and the car was lowered a bit. The floor shifter hinted that there may have some mechanical mods too and the interior while nicely done wasnt stock. Still, a very nice car that was well presented.
Yeah that one had some custom bits to it but the interior aside from the nose being shaved and there wasn’t a hood ornament it was pretty much how it would be except for the floor mounted shifter and I’m pretty sure that would’ve came with a column shifter unit
Thank you so much for watching and all the positive vibes =)
The mid-50s Ford V-8 models were prone to overheating in slower traffic on hot summer days. Our '55 Country Sedan would not restart in hot weather until it sat for about 10 minutes. The 6-cylinder engines did not have this issue and were much more reliable than the 272 V-8 we had. It was a relatively noisy engine compared to Chevrolet V-8s of the time. My Dad bought it new & was glad to trade it in on a much better Chevrolet in a few years.
I’ve heard that the one block from this era overheating for noisy unreliable this one didn’t do that this one was sounded Great had a good pick up.. It wasn’t a powerhouse but it moved nicely down the road all things considered
As I recall on the 54 custom line had seat belts. Ford proudly advertised this safety feature. The car did last because my neighbor was still driving it in the late 60's.
Nice video. Shorter than the others but you still got all the details and specs in.
And I love the old ads and artwork.
Me too trust me I tried to make this one longer but I couldn’t find a commercial that just had a customer in Minit Ford only like to show off your glitzy cars Like country Squire for the Fairlane or the Sunliner
Love the elegant white steering wheel. I don't think the white dash cap and parcel shelf are factory because they are so highly reflective, but they sure look good.
My parents had a 55 custom line sedan. It had the I6 engine with an automatic transmission. He bought it new in august 1955 and had until March 1958 when he traded it in for new Volkswagen. I was 6 years old when he brought it home.
Do you remember what vw you had
Thanks for sharing that story =)
It was a regular beetle, with non synchronized 1st gear and 36hp. In 1965, when I became 16, and got my license, my parents had other cars, and that beetle became mine. Will never forget.
Split window or not, that’s awesome that was your first car I had a karman Ghia air cooled vws are totally cool
From a big Fairlane to a Beetle, sounds interesting
Great video
Keep it up
That blue is my favourite blue 4 cars
I suspect a bit of customisation has occurred to this example. A hood bare of any badging or mascot is quite inconsistent with the period. Also, the absence of overriders.
Yeah this one was Customized I try to find them in the best shape that I can possibly find that are original this was close to original the interior was right.. Or at least it didn’t have tiny steering wheel which I absolutely hate
@@What.its.like. I totally agree with you about the steering wheel. It reminds me of an earlier fad, around the late 60's. All the youth were driving 50's cars with three on the tree. To make them 'faster', the column change would be removed, a hole roughly cut in the floor, and a really poorly engineered aftermarket floor shift fitted. Great idea eh! About as great an idea as fitting wide tyres and a small steering wheel to a car without power steering. My biggest hate of all though is Continental kits!
There is nothing I hate more then seeing a beautiful car then when I get to the inside part either has the tiny steering wheel or a 80s Chevy column I get it people want power steering or maybe to big to drive the car with the big wheel.. hey I’m for it’s your car do what you want but to me it’s tacky.
I saw a beautiful packard I think it was a 120 series last year right before I started the channel, I don’t usually care about engine swaps because my 52 has a v8 in it so I can keep up with traffic but it broke my heart seeing a 350 v8 in a packard where straight eight should be and I get it it’s on the road some cars shouldn’t be engine swapped.. but you if it was me those in line eights are getting hard to come by and people working on them in short supply, so idk
@@What.its.like. By the way, in case you didn't notice, the first 55 Ford advertisement you showed was for a right hand drive car, which would make the advertisement an Australian market one.
I learned to drive on one of these
Was yours the automatic or three speed manual =)
@@What.its.like. Ford-o-matic
In Australia we only got the sedan and the mainline which came as a utility
Utility as in like a Ute spelling isn’t right car truck like the ranchero or El Camino
@@What.its.like. that's right sorry about the spelling mistake
It’s all good just making sure I was getting what you were putting down =)
@@What.its.like. I once saw one of converted into an ambulance a long time ago it had ranch wagon body because it still had four doors
That would have been awesome. I saw a 1950 Chevy Ute at Hershey last year it was super cool
I recently got a Ford Fairlane of the same year as my first car. I love it to pices but I can't seem to figure out how to get the washer fluid to spray. It's a wonderful car other than my lack of knowledge on the car. Do you know anything that would help me find out more about my car?
Click the link hope this helps =)
1955-ford.com/1955-ford-owners-manual-pages-1-8.html
@@What.its.like. thank you so much this will be a huge help
Is the gearshift on the floor? It looked to be so. Thanks
Yeah that car had three speed on the floor i’m fairly certain that car stock came with a column mounted shifter There was some Custom bits to that car but the interior was pretty much how it should be I’ve never seen a customline except for that one I’ve never seen the main line series here all the ones that I ever see here are fairlanes
@@What.its.like. Thank you
Nice one. How about a 57 and a 59 sometime?
I reviewed 1957 skyliner I plan on hitting every single trim model of every single car offered that’s the plan anyway There may be a 58 coming up this week I’m trying to scatter the different cars that I’ve done so it doesn’t seem like it’s all Ford and Chevy’s I really wanna hit some of the orphan cars from the mid 50s era well all the 50s cars nice cars are hard to find right now.. but I will definitely add those to the list =)
Cool! You got to drive this one!
Is there suppose to be a hood ornament on there?
The color is really pretty!
Yeah that car was so cool sounded great too, yes the hood was shaved and missing hood ornament
@@What.its.like. Just a "Little bit custom". :D
I have a recommendation, A 1984 Pontiac Trans Am.
I’ll look for one =)
The car featured is not a stock Customline (i.e. no bumper guards, lack of trim on hood, after market floor shift, incorrect seat materials). The standard Y-block V8 of 272 CID produced 160 HP, using a 2-bbl carb and single exhausts. The 182 HP Y-block V8 was an optional engine using a 4-bbl carb, duel exhausts and a bit higher compression.
I've mentioned this before. PLEASE, PLEASE quit saying the '55 Fords were "parts bin Fords". All brands of cars (even today) share most parts between series. As levels went up (Mainline to Customline to Fairlane) trim pieces and more side moldings were added. Perhaps a chrome horn ring. Better seat materials. Carpeting on the floor. BUT THE BASIC DESIGN OF ALL THE VEHICLES SHARED MOST PARTS (instrument panels, hub caps, etc.). Same with Chevy, as an example. The differences between 150, 210 and Bel Air was in TRIM, as all common core items were shared.
Power windows and seat (extremely rare) was only offered in the Fairlane series. AC was rare (almost unheard of on a low priced car in 1955). Yes, most items were stand alone options (heater, Master Guide Power Steering, Swift Sure Power Brakes, radio, back up lights, etc, etc). Sun visors were STANDARD, however. One on left in Mainline series, but left and right on Customline and Fairlane.
A bit of '55 Ford trivia. The Country Sedan 4-door wagon was offered in 2 and 3 seat models. You are viewing an early brochure because n Jan. of 1955 all 3 seat Country Sedans received upgraded Fairlane side trim and interior appointments.
Awesome information thank you so much for sharing.. I’ll try to not refer to them as part bin, I should’ve came up with a better name I’m sorry I apologize. Ford didn’t differentiate the Thunderbird And 56 by keeping the Astra dialall the other Ford models had a different dash that thunderbird would get in 57..
Ford and Chevy did that a lot they shared parts but did dodge do that too, the independents offered more body styles like Nash in 1950 had the airflyte a convertible and wagon (convertible looked like it was based on wagon. =)
@@What.its.like. Yes, Dodge and all car brands (with some exceptions), had one basic body shell and differentiated each level with trim and accessories made standard. Without writing a book, Dodge (for example in 1955) took one designated body, made various sedan/convertible/hardtop/wagon variants and had three price/trim levels (Coronet, Royal and Custom Royal). As you moved up in price, the trim changed, the standard features changed, maybe the engine changed, but the basic car itself was the same.
Nash was one of the first to offer two different lines of cars. For example, in 1950, Nash had their senior cars (Statesman and Ambassador) and their new, compact car, the Nash Rambler, offered in 2-door convertible and, later in the year, 2-door station wagon models. Other manufactures followed this trend in the 1950's. Kaiser had their standard line and offered the Henry J, beginning as a 1951 model. Hudson had their standard line of cars, then offered the Hudson Jet in 1953.
Little by little, this trend grew. Corvair, Falcon and Valiant in 1960. Senior compacts from GM in 1961. The intermediate Ford Fairlane in 1962. Mustang in 1964.
There was no turning back!
. . . beautiful car . . . Dad drove a 56 custom when I was a kid, and he said that "safety" was pushed as a selling feature by Ford at the time . . . have often wondered what supposedly made those cars especially "safe" . . . any thoughts? . . .
I think 1956 Ford offered seatbelts as an option. Of course in those days most people didn’t want seat belts. That was about 10 years before the government mandated that cars had to be equipped with seatbelts. I also think that the Fords had a “deep Dish” steering wheel which it was believed to be less likely to puncture the driver’s chest in event of a wreck. Other cars began to have “safer “ cars at the time.
I was going to add the whole safeguard thing also recorded the commercial for found out that was 56 so I left it out but here’s a list of what it consisted of. =)
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifeguard_(automobile_safety)
@@What.its.like. thanks. I knew about the optional seat belts and the design of the steering wheel. The others I didn’t know about. 😁
@@What.its.like. . . . good stuff! . . . tks so much . . .
@@glennso47 . . . tks for your reply . . . seat belts were hotly debated at the time . . . most adults I knew felt they were a danger because they could trap you in a burning vehicle . . . my Civics' teacher told us that they were a menace because in the event of an impending crash, you should get down on your knees and put your shoulder to the dash . . . those arguments seem so silly today, but remember, at the time, we were all taught to get under our desks for protection in case of a nuclear attack ;) . . .
What's the difference between a Coupe and a Sedan?
Sedans have posts, some coupes also have posts. 4 door car without post is called hardtop
We also only got the four door sedan
That’s crazy
In my opinion, the Astra Dial would not be comparable to a modern heads-up display...
Primitive heads up display wouldn’t be the quality of heads up displays now
I had one in 1964 with a v8 engine. But somehow oil leaked into the clutch. I had to fight with every hill
I’ve heard mixed reviews about the y block v8s from this era this one ran like a top. It ran smoother than the Thunderbird we tried a couple weeks ago.
@@What.its.like. Thats nearly 60 years ago.
That’s the crappy reality of these cars it was so long ago, I wish it was now times just seemed simpler like I’ve said I was born way too late. I used to draw 50 olds 88 I’m not Bias I love all cars some were just better than others but I can’t think of a bad 50s American car.. don’t get me wrong they all had advantages and disadvantages rust was a major concern.. but the innovation that happened in the decade was impressive self lubricant chassis by the push of a button. Power steering power brakes electric window and locks power vent windows power rear windshields power retractable hardtops it was a great era I wasn’t here for =)
This car has 56 hubcaps. 55 had red hubcaps
Awesome thank you for sharing that this one was a little modded I try and find as close to original as possible this was the only customline I’ve seen
Hola yo estoy restaurando uno en versión 6 cilindros y necesito los cromados que van en los laterales alguien me sabe decir donde los consigo? Soy de Uruguay
I had stainless steel bumpers made by a company in Vietnam called I’m not sure if you’re on Facebook but here is the link they might be able to make them for you
facebook.com/maryclassiccarbumper?mibextid=9R9pXO
Bought one for a $100.00 in 1971 and the paint was black and in near mint condition,
an ex embassy car and I'm thinking only stupid men and 14 y\o boys sell cars like that,
the trouble was I'd been a little bit stupid and was only 14 years old too, still regret it...
That one was the nicest customline I’ve ever seen, i’ve never seen 55 Main line.. all the ones I ever see are the fairlanes here
Decent content but why the carnival barker rising tone at the end of every sentence announcing style? Just speak like a normal human being!
.