After only two years, Ford completely restyles its line of cars, which are now even longer and lower than before, but somewhat not as graceful as the 1956 models were. The range is also totally reorganized around four lines, plus a series of station wagons. The Skyliner model with its plexiglass top is dropped, but the name is retained for a new model, a convertible with a metal top that can be electrically retracted into the boot. Though touted as a brand new invention, it copies a similar concept pioneered by Peugeot two decades earlier, itself based on Georges Paulin’s patents.
Ford Custom
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 144 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.5-litre, 190 hp; and V-8, 4.8-litre, 212 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 512 cm. Top speed: 150 to 165 kph. Range: two-door business sedan, two-door “Tudor” sedan, four-door “Fordor” sedan.
Ford Ranch
The Ranch is Ford’s base station wagon, its trim being identical to the Custom’s.
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 144 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.5-litre, 190 hp; V-8, 4.8-litre, 212 hp; and V-8, 5.1-litre, 245 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 517 cm. Top speed: 150 to 180 kph. Range: two-door station wagon.
Ford Custom 300
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 144 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.5-litre, 190 hp; and V-8, 4.8-litre, 212 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 512 cm. Top speed: 150 to 165 kph. Range: two-door “Tudor” sedan, four-door “Fordor” sedan.
Ford Del Rio
The Del Rio is a two-door wagon that receives the same trim as the Custom 300.
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 144 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.5-litre, 190 hp; V-8, 4.8-litre, 212 hp; and V-8, 5.1-litre, 245 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 517 cm. Top speed: 150 to 180 kph. Range: two-door station wagon.
Ford Country Sedan
Available as a six-passenger vehicle or with an extra bench for three other persons, the Country Sedan is the four-door version of the Del Rio.
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 144 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.5-litre, 190 hp; V-8, 4.8-litre, 212 hp; and V-8, 5.1-litre, 245 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 517 cm. Top speed: 150 to 180 kph. Range: four-door station wagon.
Ford Fairlane
The Fairlane is now a plush version of the Ford Custom based on an extended chassis. During spring 1958, a new optional “Country Club” trim adds a golden flame at the centre of the standard side chrome trim.
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 144 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.5-litre, 190 hp; V-8, 4.8-litre, 212 hp; and V-8, 5.1-litre, 245 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 528 cm. Top speed: 150 to 180 kph. Range: two-door “Club” sedan, four-door “Town” sedan, two-door “Club Victoria” hardtop coupe, four-door “Town Victoria” hardtop sedan.
Ford Fairlane 500
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 144 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.5-litre, 190 hp; V-8, 4.8-litre, 212 hp; and V-8, 5.1-litre, 245 hp. Skyliner: 4.5-litre V-8 standard. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 528 cm (all models except Skyliner), 535 cm (Skyliner). Top speed: 150 to 180 kph. Range: two-door “Club” sedan, four-door “Town” sedan, two-door “Club Victoria” hardtop coupe, four-door “Town Victoria” hardtop sedan, two-door “Sunliner” convertible coupe, two-door “Skyliner” retractable-top convertible coupe.
Ford Country Squire
The Country Squire combines the body of the Country Sedan, flanked by side woodgrain decoration, with the trim of the Fairlane 500.
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 144 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.5-litre, 190 hp; V-8, 4.8-litre, 212 hp; and V-8, 5.1-litre, 245 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 517 cm. Top speed: 150 to 180 kph. Range: four-door station wagon.
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Ford Custom
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 144 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.5-litre, 190 hp; and V-8, 4.8-litre, 212 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 512 cm. Top speed: 150 to 165 kph. Range: two-door business sedan, two-door “Tudor” sedan, four-door “Fordor” sedan.
Ford Ranch
The Ranch is Ford’s base station wagon, its trim being identical to the Custom’s.
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 144 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.5-litre, 190 hp; V-8, 4.8-litre, 212 hp; and V-8, 5.1-litre, 245 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 517 cm. Top speed: 150 to 180 kph. Range: two-door station wagon.
Ford Custom 300
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 144 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.5-litre, 190 hp; and V-8, 4.8-litre, 212 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 512 cm. Top speed: 150 to 165 kph. Range: two-door “Tudor” sedan, four-door “Fordor” sedan.
Ford Del Rio
The Del Rio is a two-door wagon that receives the same trim as the Custom 300.
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 144 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.5-litre, 190 hp; V-8, 4.8-litre, 212 hp; and V-8, 5.1-litre, 245 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 517 cm. Top speed: 150 to 180 kph. Range: two-door station wagon.
Ford Country Sedan
Available as a six-passenger vehicle or with an extra bench for three other persons, the Country Sedan is the four-door version of the Del Rio.
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 144 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.5-litre, 190 hp; V-8, 4.8-litre, 212 hp; and V-8, 5.1-litre, 245 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 517 cm. Top speed: 150 to 180 kph. Range: four-door station wagon.
Ford Fairlane
The Fairlane is now a plush version of the Ford Custom based on an extended chassis. During spring 1958, a new optional “Country Club” trim adds a golden flame at the centre of the standard side chrome trim.
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 144 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.5-litre, 190 hp; V-8, 4.8-litre, 212 hp; and V-8, 5.1-litre, 245 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 528 cm. Top speed: 150 to 180 kph. Range: two-door “Club” sedan, four-door “Town” sedan, two-door “Club Victoria” hardtop coupe, four-door “Town Victoria” hardtop sedan.
Ford Fairlane 500
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 144 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.5-litre, 190 hp; V-8, 4.8-litre, 212 hp; and V-8, 5.1-litre, 245 hp. Skyliner: 4.5-litre V-8 standard. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 528 cm (all models except Skyliner), 535 cm (Skyliner). Top speed: 150 to 180 kph. Range: two-door “Club” sedan, four-door “Town” sedan, two-door “Club Victoria” hardtop coupe, four-door “Town Victoria” hardtop sedan, two-door “Sunliner” convertible coupe, two-door “Skyliner” retractable-top convertible coupe.
Ford Country Squire
The Country Squire combines the body of the Country Sedan, flanked by side woodgrain decoration, with the trim of the Fairlane 500.
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 144 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.5-litre, 190 hp; V-8, 4.8-litre, 212 hp; and V-8, 5.1-litre, 245 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 517 cm. Top speed: 150 to 180 kph. Range: four-door station wagon.
Any mistake you’ve just spotted? A detail to add? A suggestion? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment!
Click to jump to another model year of the same car: 1957 – 1958 – 1959
Click here to return to a list of all Ford U.S. vehicles presented on this blog.
Click here to return to this blog’s initial post, featuring a list of all vehicles already presented.
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