The '55 my parents had must have been bought off the lot, as my father was very basic when it came to cars. He always favored Fords, the "55 had dual exhaust, which meant it must have had a four barrel carb. I don't know what engine was in it, but it had tinted glass also. I'd love to have that car today. I was around 3 years old when he traded it in, I remember riding to Verner-Cadby Ford in Verona, NJ in the '55 with my parents to pick up our new '63 Falcon Futura. I was pitching a fit, crying like a madman because I didn't want to say goodbye to the Fairlane. The only other memory is my parents talking about how there was almost no gas in the Falcon on the ride home.LsFarm wrote:The '55 crown vic is a fairly rare one, it is one of 200 'production' Vics set up as factory hot-rods... The story goes that the new Chevy V8 was kicking Ford's butt in the HP race, the Ford 272 and 292 'Y' block wasn't cutting it in the 'Vic'. The Pikes Peak hill climb was the big manufacturer vs manufacturer competition event... and then 200 cars was the minimum to be a 'production model'.
So Ford made 200 Crown Vics with the 312 'Y' block engine, the 'Thunderbird' version. With a 4bbl carb, solid lifters, dual exhaust and 4.11 gears. Mine is a Fordomatic 3spd auto. It runs very strong, too strong for the tires, and non-posi rearend, it can light up the 'peg-leg' rear tire with ease..
Need to get it cleaned up and driven, sitting around does them no good.
The car in the left side of the first photo is this Crown Vic.
rberg, since you are close to Bangor, have you ever gone to Acadia Island [bar harbor] to the southwest side of the island to the 'Seal Cove Auto Museum' ? If not make a day of it ... it is one of the permier early auto collections open to the public. 6-7 Pierce arrows, Chadwicks, Packards, Marmons, RollsRoyce, Kissel, Stutz, and at least 40 early motorcycles too, Well worth spending a day and then get a Lobster 'shore lunch' at one of the lobster shacks.
Man I miss my flights up to Bar Harbor !!!
Greg L
I almost ended up with the Falcon years later but my father was insistent that I couldn't have it because I was 11! He gave it away. But I ended up with grandma's Falcon when I was 14. That was a big fight as well. What hell I put my poor parents through!
If I ever get around to it I have old slides with the Fairlane in the background, I'll have to scan them.
Needless to say, I really like '55 Fords, take care of it, Greg, and if you ever decide to sell it-call me first!