Now riding the longer chassis before reserved to the Fairlane, the full-size Fords are largely modified for 1959, sporting squarer bodies than in the past. Despite a certain elegance, Ford models look somewhat dated when compared to this year’s ground-breaking Chevrolets, though. While the base Custom disappears, Ford adds, two weeks after the introduction of the rest of its range, a new top-of-the-line Galaxie which combines the Fairlane 500’s body with the Thunderbird’s roofline.
Ford Custom 300
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 145 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 200 hp; V-8, 5.4-litre, 225 hp (automatic only); and V-8, 5.8-litre, 300 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 195 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 300’s.
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 145 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 200 hp; V-8, 5.4-litre, 225 hp (automatic only); and V-8, 5.8-litre, 300 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 195 kph. Range: two-door station wagon, four-door station wagon.
Ford Fairlane
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 145 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 200 hp; V-8, 5.4-litre, 225 hp (automatic only); and V-8, 5.8-litre, 300 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 195 kph. Range: two-door “Club” sedan, four-door “Town” sedan.
Ford Country Sedan
Available as a six-passenger vehicle or with an extra bench for three other persons, the Country Sedan is the wagon version of the Fairlane.
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 145 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 200 hp; V-8, 5.4-litre, 225 hp (automatic only); and V-8, 5.8-litre, 300 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 195 kph. Range: two-door station wagon, four-door station wagon.
Ford Fairlane 500
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 145 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 200 hp; V-8, 5.4-litre, 225 hp (automatic only); and V-8, 5.8-litre, 300 hp. Skyliner: 4.8-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. Top speed: 150 to 190 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 (until November 1958), two-door “Skyliner” retractable-top convertible coupe (until November 1958).
Ford Galaxie
● Introduction: October 1956 for this generation of Ford cars, November 1958 for the Galaxie. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 145 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 200 hp; V-8, 5.4-litre, 225 hp (automatic only); and V-8, 5.8-litre, 300 hp. Skyliner: 4.8-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), 529 cm (Skyliner). Top speed: 150 to 190 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 and Galaxie.
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 145 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 200 hp; V-8, 5.4-litre, 225 hp (automatic only); and V-8, 5.8-litre, 300 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 195 kph. Range: four-door station wagon.
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Ford Custom 300
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 145 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 200 hp; V-8, 5.4-litre, 225 hp (automatic only); and V-8, 5.8-litre, 300 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 195 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 300’s.
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 145 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 200 hp; V-8, 5.4-litre, 225 hp (automatic only); and V-8, 5.8-litre, 300 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 195 kph. Range: two-door station wagon, four-door station wagon.
Ford Fairlane
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 145 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 200 hp; V-8, 5.4-litre, 225 hp (automatic only); and V-8, 5.8-litre, 300 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 195 kph. Range: two-door “Club” sedan, four-door “Town” sedan.
Ford Country Sedan
Available as a six-passenger vehicle or with an extra bench for three other persons, the Country Sedan is the wagon version of the Fairlane.
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 145 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 200 hp; V-8, 5.4-litre, 225 hp (automatic only); and V-8, 5.8-litre, 300 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 195 kph. Range: two-door station wagon, four-door station wagon.
Ford Fairlane 500
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 145 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 200 hp; V-8, 5.4-litre, 225 hp (automatic only); and V-8, 5.8-litre, 300 hp. Skyliner: 4.8-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. Top speed: 150 to 190 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 (until November 1958), two-door “Skyliner” retractable-top convertible coupe (until November 1958).
Ford Galaxie
● Introduction: October 1956 for this generation of Ford cars, November 1958 for the Galaxie. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 145 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 200 hp; V-8, 5.4-litre, 225 hp (automatic only); and V-8, 5.8-litre, 300 hp. Skyliner: 4.8-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), 529 cm (Skyliner). Top speed: 150 to 190 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 and Galaxie.
● Introduction: October 1956. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 145 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 200 hp; V-8, 5.4-litre, 225 hp (automatic only); and V-8, 5.8-litre, 300 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 195 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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