1956 Ford Customline hardtop

[Nick in Fayetteville]

Does any one know how rare this car might be? I have seen a ton of Customlines and owned one, but until now haven't seen a two door hardtop. Thanks for any info or help...

[55Brodie]

Introduced mid-year 1956

33,000 and change production I believe.

[Herman Munster]

They were a bit rarer than the Fairlane hardtops at about 33,000 made. My wife's grandfather had one.

[raceron1120]

There are a few around here: FB member Customline Vicky has a very nice one:

Here's another one - FB member Bob Love's:

[JohnSunliner]

Wow, they sure have nice lines and look GOOD!

[52merc]

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better looking than a fairlane

[Milt/Las Vegas]

Originally Posted by 52merc

better looking than a fairlane

There's no comparison a fairlane is much better looking.A 56 fairlane is one of my favorites.

[raceron1120]

Originally Posted by Milt/Las Vegas

There's no comparison a fairlane is much better looking.A 56 fairlane is one of my favorites.

Mine too.

[Gerry]

If any one is interested I have a daily driver that I would like to sell. Not a perfect car but a great driver...$12,000

[dullchrome]

Originally Posted by Gerry

If any one is interested I have a daily driver that I would like to sell. Not a perfect car but a great driver...$12,000

Pics?

[Gerry]

PICS. I am not at home and trying to do this remotely. Will be back home in about 2 weeks.
please send me an e mail and I will send them directly.
[email protected]

[phat rat]

An acquaintance of mine used the Customline trim on his Crown Vic. Really looks great

[zoegrant]

any chance of seeing a picture of that car ?....a crown vic with Customline trim must look incredible....John

[LOWRIDER]

I had a 56 Meteor Crown Vic way back. Along with the extra chrome trim on the rear 1/4's, the front fender trim ended like the Customline trim. IMO the car looked waaay better than the American version. One car I wish I still had or at least some pics of it.

[Motorhead6]

Well it certainly is striking. Didn't know there was such a thing as a Meteor Crown Victoria.

[56 Fairlane]

Sorry to be hi-jacking your thread Nick but just wanted to add that there were only 151 Meteor Crown Victorias built in 1955. 1956 was a little bit more popular with 206. Rare even here in Canada. Beautiful cars.

[LOWRIDER]

That blue/white Meteor CV pic posted by Motorhead6 is exactly the colors of the one I had. Like so many others I had to sell it when I got drafted. I might add that I grew up in Detroit & bought the car from a Canadian where I worked. When I went through US Customs to declare it the guy I talked to lived just down the block. Went through no problems.

[1936ford64]

The cheap 1956 Ford hard top is a beautiful car and is far more rare than the type of people that bought them

[Fortunateson]

Bringing this thread back from the dead. How rare is a "56 Meteor Rideau Victoria? Any on this site?

[s55mercury66]

Concerning the Meteor Rideau question, I don't know how many survive, but I have only seen one in my 53 years. It belonged to a friend in Rawlins, Wyoming, and he purchased it off E-Bay a few years ago. It came from California, and someone had stripped it of it's Crown Victoria specific parts to convert a Victoria into a Crown. It was surprisingly solid, and he was gathering up all the parts to put it back together. He has since moved to Central America, and I believe the car, along with some other '55-'56 Fords, is still here, for sale.

[RCM]

Pretty, pretty!

[s55mercury66]

Originally Posted by Fortunateson

Bringing this thread back from the dead. How rare is a "56 Meteor Rideau Victoria? Any on this site?

I just realized you are asking about a Victoria, and not a Crown Victoria, sorry for my lack-of-sleep earlier response

[mercman from oz]

1956 Ford Customline Victoria. Recent Import

[Daves55Sedan]

I bought a '56 Customline 2-dr hardtop in 1978. When I first saw it, I thought it was a Fairlane because someone had stripped off all the Customline body side trim and put on '56 Victoria trim. Someone had put a Ford 390 in it but it was removed by the time I got it. I took it home, dropped a '55, 272 Y-block/Fordomatic in it, added a '56 Fordomatic steering column/linkage, '56 power steering and Fordomatic brake bracket and pedal. I had to completely strip the exterior paint down to bare metal. A previous owner had painted over the factory red/black with cheap white rattle cans. I redid the interior with beautiful white crushed vinyl with blue accents and painted the exterior with white acrylic enamel. I re-installed the Vicky body side trim. It was a good looking car.
Ford only made the Customline 2-dr hardtop in the '56 model year. In 1986, I saw another one in a Bloomington, illinois auto parts swap meet for sale at one of the booths. Mine and that one are the only ones I have ever seen, other than photos of them.

[mercman from oz]

Another 1956 Ford Customline Victoria in Australia

[mercman from oz]

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This is how the 1956 Ford Customline Victoria in Post 25 looks today, as displayed at the Hot Rod Show in Victoria.

[mercman from oz]

This is how the 1956 Ford Customline Victoria in Post 25 looks today, as displayed at the Hot Rod Show in Victoria.

[JimNNN]

That is attractive side trim on the car, and unique in that you don't see it very often. I won't get into the debate (as in the ancient part of the thread) as to whether it's more attractive than the Fairlane or not. Fairlanes are nice. I will say, though, that the Customline trim looks a good deal better than the '56 Chevy's mid and lower level trim (210 or whatever.)

[mercman from oz]

Yet another 1956 Ford Customline Victoria that has made its way to Australia in recent years.

[KULTULZ]

Well (deep subject), I am going to tell you ...

As for early FORD (to me), I had no interest in any other year but 1957. I had a friend that had a 56 PARKLANE (and it was a beautiful tu-tone blue he found) and we were working on it.

I started to look and see how strangely it was assembled in the engine compartment (steady-rest and splash pans - blower motor in the middle of everything - heater control valve spoiling the appearance of the engine) and never fooled with one after that.

But as I look back, it was the most beautiful car I have ever seen (if dressed out properly). And it is one of the few that can wear factory skirts and look as they are part of the car (IMO).

My grandfather ran a mail route (50's) between Roanoke and Lynchburg twice a night and he took me on frequent trips. It was around 0400 I guess one morning and two 56 FORDS passed and blew by us at speed. He mentioned that they were most likely running shine.

[mercman from oz]

Looking good - Lovely 1956 Customline Victoria as posted by KULTULZ

[Ford Freak]

My first car @ 16yrs. of age was a 1956 Ford Country Sedan 6 passenger wagon w/very similar trim as shown above. 292, 3spd., & solid as a rock. It cost me all of $175.00!!
F F

[mercman from oz]

1956 Ford Customline Victoria, as illustrated in the original Sales Brochure

[KULTULZ]

Here is some info regarding differing TU-TONE PAINT SCHEMES on the FAIRLANE and CUSTOMLINE.

- https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...rades.1275500/

It is from ANOTHER FORUM but contains interesting info on the 56 FORD.

[mercman from oz]

1956 Ford Customline Victoria - Unusual Two Tone painting of Head Light Rims

[KULTULZ]

Notice on this 56 customized FAIRLANE SUNLINER how the TU-TONE HDL DOOR treatment has been modified -

As compared to the 55/56 FORD FAIRLANE OEM HDL DOOR PAINT SCHEME -

It's little things like this that can make a car really stand out (IMO), especially a nice street car.

[Patrick brophy]

Why would someone destroy the hood on that car?

[KULTULZ]

Originally Posted by Patrick brophy

Why would someone destroy the hood on that car?

RUST MAGGOTS ... ???

I never did understand radical customizing. A lot of cars/good sheet metal has been destroyed (donor and donee).

I go on H.A.M.B. to just catch occasional tech.

- CASE IN POINT -

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

(DO NOT ENTER IF OVERLY SENSITIVE -

If remote whistling and or dueling banjos are heard in the background -

CLICK OUT!)

- https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...fords.1210072/

[KULTULZ]

I Think I May Need An Intervention As This Is Getting To Me ...

- SQUAREBIRD FRONT DRESS -

Really cleans up the 55/56 grille which I personally always had trouble with.

[KULTULZ]

Originally Posted by Patrick brophy

Why would someone destroy the hood on that car?

Oh, you ain't seen nothing yet ...

Notice the 1969 TORINO COBRAJET DECAL on the fender? That is worth at least 30HP.

I have come to discover that the louvers (Fr.) are part of an EVAP RETROFIT that allows the heat soak dispersion of the engine after shutdown so as not to allow the fuel in the carb to boil after shutdown.

[Patrick brophy]

Originally Posted by KULTULZ

Oh, you ain't seen nothing yet ...

Notice the 1969 TORINO COBRAJET DECAL on the fender? That is worth at least 30HP.

I have come to discover that the louvers (Fr.) are part of an EVAP RETROFIT that allows the heat soak dispersion of the engine after shutdown so as not to allow the fuel in the carb to boil after shutdown.

Pat's was good, but John's Roast Pork was the best ,followed by Geno's.
That a rough camp down there now. If you go there now, you better take two guns and a bag of bullets...........

[KULTULZ]

GENO'S!

That was what I was trying to remember!

Plenty of Italian Sub Shops in S. Jersey.

Believe me, I ain't going into Philly. I used to truck the NE and would use I-95 to save the toll on the NJTP.

No further north than Chester and no further west as Camden

Used to run into Jersey City and Brooklyn most nights.

Have you watched U-TUBE on KENSINGTON AVE?

[Patrick brophy]

20-25 years ago Philadelphia was a great city to visit. They had wonderful restaurants and clubs. Small little mom and pop corner pizza shops to die for were everywhere.

The town was legendary for their sports teams, as their fans were rabid. Don't go to an Eagles game with a New York Giants jersey on, as you would not make it out of the parking lot on the way in. Hell they even booed Santa Claus at one game.

Now you can't even park on the street ,never mind walk down it. The drug dealers and homeless have pretty much destroyed a historic city.
The politicians call this progress.

[slumlord44]

A friend had one in 1963. 312 stick as I recall. Haven’t seen any since then.

[mercman from oz]

Yet another 1956 Ford Customline Victoria that now calls Australia home

[FoMoCoMIKE]

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Nice car

[mercman from oz]

Number 99 - 1956 Ford Customline Victoria - Winner 1956 Darlington Southern 500 - Curtis Turner.
Watch the 1956 Darlington Southern 500 Race - https://youtu.be/m8Hai2kUKCQ

[scicala]

Originally Posted by mercman from oz

Number 99 - 1956 Ford Customline Victoria - Winner 1956 Darlington Southern 500 - Curtis Turner.
Watch the 1956 Darlington Southern 500 Race - https://youtu.be/m8Hai2kUKCQ

Great video with a few under hood shots. Saw some things I always wondered about. Answered some old questions for me, like the Hemi in the Chrysler using Holley teapot 4 barrel carbs. And the Fords using the Holley teapots as apposed to a lot of people claiming they used Carter WCFB carbs.

Sal

[5851a]

Teapot would have been Holley's top offering in 56 I believe. Sure did look strange on the hemi though. Very nice video. Thanks

[scicala]

Originally Posted by 5851a

Teapot would have been Holley's top offering in 56 I believe. Sure did look strange on the hemi though. Very nice video. Thanks

Yes, I had to rub my eyes and look again, when I saw Holley teapots on the Chrysler hemi.
Thought for sure they would have Carters.

Sal

[mercman from oz]

1956 Ford Customline Victoria - Canada

[57Fordor]

That's one pretty car.

[Daves55Sedan]

Tell that guy that has the black & white 56 Customline in Canada that his air cleaner is on backwards. The bumped up portion at the top should be facing front so that the majority of the air enters around the back. It has a standard 272 with Holley 2100 bug-sprayer type carb. None of the '55/56 cars had the upper air-deflector unless they were equipped with the 4-bbl carb, dual-exhaust engine.
Also has two-tone paint job, rocker trim, fender skirts and full-wheel covers all of which would be kind of odd on a Customline. It appears somebody got a little creative with this one.

[mercman from oz]

Beautiful 1956 Ford Customline Victoria Stiggy imported into NZ

[mercman from oz]

Neat 1956 Ford Customline Victoria