Time to cash in on the fact that '50s Fords are a screaming bargain compared to their Chevy competition. Take this wonderful 1955 Ford Fairlane Sunliner for example, which offers '50s chrome and two-tone flash, an upgraded V8, niceties like A/C, and enough room for your entire family, all for a price that's thousands less than a comparable Chevy. A full rebuild was completed a few years ago, and it's been accurately finished in Snowshoe White over Torch Red, which... is a lot more appealing than the car's original basic black. Styling is instantly recognizable, with the usual heavy chrome that defined the era. Both doors fit well and the paint has the perfect '50s look that suits the vintage Ford to a T. Perhaps the most dramatic element of any Fairlane is the sweeping stainless trim that divides the colors, stretching from the leading edge of the front fenders all the way back to the taillights and providing the perfect break point for the two-tone finish. As you know, the chrome and trim on any restoration can be shockingly expensive, but they didn't hesitate and made the investment on this Fairlane, which offers bright bumpers, a crisply rendered grille, and lots of glittering stainless. In addition, the wrap-around windshield, the emblems, and the distinctive round taillight lenses are all in excellent condition and it wears a set of accessory fender skirts. The two-tone interior offers seating for up to six and plenty of style and color to satisfy even the most ardent fan of the '50s. The seat covers are in excellent shape front and rear, and correctly patterned carpets give the Fairlane an upscale feel inside. You'll quickly spot the custom center console, which neatly slots into a cut-out in the seats, seamlessly blending old and new. Ford fans will find the dash familiar, with a domed instrument cluster that's framed by a custom Budnik billet wheel on a tilt steering column. Aftermarket auxiliary gauges in the custom center console monitor the upgraded engine and they're really the useful dials anyway. Three round dials in the center of the dash house the heater/defroster controls, original radio, and clock, although the original radio is supplanted by an AM/FM/CD stereo head unit in the console. A neatly-integrated A/C unit uses subtle vents to deliver plenty of cool air and despite the Ford's rather compact, trim proportions, there's a massive trunk that will easily carry a week's worth of luggage for your entire family. Power comes from a neatly installed 351 cubic inch Ford V8 that's a lot more potent than the original Y-block lump. It's tucked in there between the original fender wells and heater blower setup, and includes a long list of new equipment. There's an Edelbrock intake manifold and 4-barrel carburetor, chrome air cleaner and valve covers, serpentine belt drive system, and a massive aluminum radiator, so it's an easy cruiser that never gets cranky. It runs superbly, with a smoothness and polish that you'd expect from a build like this. The AOD 4-speed automatic transmission shifts neatly and there's a 9-inch rear end fitted with 3.50 gears on a limited slip. It also includes 4-wheel disc brakes, a set of custom headers feeding a mellow-sounding dual exhaust system, and it's solid and unrestored underneath, so you can see that this is a good car with no needs. A set of four 215/75/15 wide whitewall radials have been installed on chrome steel wheels with full wheelcovers to preserve the look but update the handling. A comfortable, flashy, smooth '50s cruiser that looks great and remains very useable. What a great way to show up at the next cruise night. Call today!
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