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11-10-2021, 06:33 PM | #1 |
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What Model is This 56
What is this called? A Mainliner? I had a car exactly like this when I was 16 in 1964. 272, three on the tree (for a while) two door post. It was really engine smoke and not burning rubber going out behind it.
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11-10-2021, 06:38 PM | #2 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
That's a '56 Mainline.
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11-10-2021, 06:50 PM | #3 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Hey Dobie, I don't think it is a Mainline. I have had two and the brightwork does not go on to the front fender. On the door is a short piece that is about ten inches long.
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11-10-2021, 07:20 PM | #4 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Looks like a customline to me. Has the stainless trim around the back glass. Don’t believe mainlines had any there — just the rubber gasket
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11-10-2021, 08:28 PM | #5 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Customline
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11-10-2021, 08:43 PM | #6 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
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1956 Ford Mainline Tudor Sedan. |
11-10-2021, 08:46 PM | #7 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Illustration of the 1956 Ford Mainline Tudor Sedan from the original Sales Brochure when it was first released. Notice that there is no chrome strips on the sides. |
11-10-2021, 08:49 PM | #8 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Illustration of the 1956 Ford Mainline Tudor Sedan from the updated original Sales Brochure dated 1/56. Notice the added chrome strips on the sides. |
11-10-2021, 09:44 PM | #9 | |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Quote:
You're correct, it's a Customline. My bad...
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11-10-2021, 09:50 PM | #10 | |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Quote:
Winner, winner=chicken dinner .
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11-10-2021, 10:11 PM | #11 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Hey guys, this car is a 1956 Ford Mainline, not a Customline. How much more proof do you want? |
11-10-2021, 10:52 PM | #12 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
I'm not convinced. It has all the Customline side trim. It looks like someone added the stainless piece below the white paint that leads to the tail light. They did an excellent job of it, too.
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11-10-2021, 11:21 PM | #13 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Dobie Gillis, Check out this page from the original updated Ford Sales Brochure, and you can see that Ford added this extra Trim part way through the Model Year. What more proof do you want? |
11-11-2021, 08:32 AM | #14 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Both of my two door Mainlines had stainless trim around the windshield and the back glass. My first one had the side trim of the Tudor "Business" Sedan and the second (which I still have) has the side trim of the Tudor Sedan. All Mainlines only had the short spear side trim.
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11-11-2021, 09:39 AM | #15 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
OK, I'm saying "uncle". I wasn't aware of the mid-year change.
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11-11-2021, 10:34 AM | #16 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
The Customline had a side trim that went all the way to the front where the Mainline did not. Mainline cars started out as trimless early in 1956 production but changed to the abbreviated side trim at the rear and added trim around front and rear glass. There were other interior trim differences and exterior options but the external side trim differences do stand out enough to tell the tale.
I can't say if there were differences in Canadian production or not. This link is a good one, https://1956-ford.com/1956-ford-cars-all-brochure.html |
11-11-2021, 11:41 AM | #17 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
I wonder ... ... as I often do, if ....
If it would be a good idea to break the car down in question by the PATENT PLATE (SERIES CODE - BODY CODE - BUILD DATE)? Seems to me as more accurate than, "As I remember" ...
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11-11-2021, 11:51 AM | #18 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
As I remember, mine did not have the stainless strip across the fenders and doors. I have an old girlfriend who has a picture of the actual car, think I should call her and ask? Ha ha, probably not, she's on husband number three!!!!!!! I could have been number one, just lucky I guess!
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11-11-2021, 12:03 PM | #19 | |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Quote:
Sal |
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11-11-2021, 12:08 PM | #20 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
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11-11-2021, 12:11 PM | #21 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
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11-11-2021, 12:36 PM | #22 | |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Quote:
rotorwrench, your link is a very good one. The '56 in question, here, has all the markings of a Customline. .
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11-11-2021, 12:56 PM | #23 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
The additional piece of trim in the lower position on the rear quarter panel looks similar to some of the 4-door sedan Mainline types but it doesn't seem to be common to the 2-door sedan. I don't have any idea what the option in that area might have been but it may or may not be OEM for all I know. The original factory sales literature would likely answer the question one way or the other.
Folks have been customizing these old cars for years so nothing would surprise me much. Most may prefer a Fairlane but those that liked a more subtle approach would be fine with a lower trim grade. I'm sure there are more clones that a person can shake a stick at. |
11-11-2021, 01:18 PM | #24 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
A SALES BROCHURE features an artists rendition of how a car supposedly will look when released.
It also depends on the date of the sales brochure. |
11-11-2021, 01:39 PM | #25 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
That Fairlane could've had the trim added. I did the same thing with my 58 Chevy Yeoman. The only dash trim on the lowest trim level Yeoman was the aluminum trim around the speedometer. I added the BelAir trim to make it look better.
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11-11-2021, 03:34 PM | #26 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
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11-11-2021, 05:06 PM | #27 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
1956 Ford Mainline - update model with the extra side trim. |
11-11-2021, 06:22 PM | #28 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
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11-11-2021, 06:40 PM | #29 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
1956 Ford Fairlane Reversing Lights fitted to this 1956 Ford Mainline, as mentioned by scicala. |
11-11-2021, 06:42 PM | #30 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
See Attached -
1ST - MAINLINE TUDOR SEDAN (70A) 2ND - CUSTOMLINE TUDOR SEDAN (70B)
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11-11-2021, 07:27 PM | #31 | |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Quote:
... hmmph ... I did not know that ... !thanx!
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11-11-2021, 07:49 PM | #32 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
it is a mainline came out in the later year in 56
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11-11-2021, 08:17 PM | #33 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
To make the waters murkier, it looks like the hood has a Customline/Mainline hood Ford crest emblem but a "Fairlane" insignia just below it? Are my eyes deceiving me?
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11-11-2021, 08:24 PM | #34 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
1956 Fairlane Script on 1956 Mainline, as correctly mentioned by Hot Rod Reverend |
11-12-2021, 12:21 AM | #35 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
No, you are correct. The owner took certain liberties ...
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11-12-2021, 12:47 AM | #36 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Photo added by KULTULZ. Notice that the 56 Fairlane has a small Ford Badge with three gold points like a crown above the FORD name. |
11-12-2021, 01:00 AM | #37 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
The Small Ford Badge used on the 1956 Ford Fairlanes |
11-12-2021, 01:02 AM | #38 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
The Larger Ford Badge used on the 1956 Ford Customline and Mainline. |
11-13-2021, 04:12 AM | #39 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
MERCMAN -
Can you blow-up the below attachments?
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***** - WHY IS IT ... - ... that everything you buy in the grocery store is either wrapped in or contained in plastic but the government doesn't want you to carry it out in a plastic bag? WONDERING IN W(BY GOD)V ...
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11-13-2021, 05:52 AM | #40 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
This is as big as I can get these Illustrations - Mercman <>< |
11-13-2021, 08:51 AM | #41 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
I like the larger emblem better.
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11-14-2021, 04:16 AM | #42 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
1956 Ford Mainline Tudor Sedan update model. |
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11-14-2021, 11:23 AM | #43 | |
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Re: What Model is This 56
... hmmph ...
Something new learned everyday ... Quote:
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11-14-2021, 12:10 PM | #44 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Ford may have been using up the Customline stainless since the upcoming '57s were a completely different body and the '56 trim wouldn't fit. Just a guess. This was well before "just in time" manufacturing so they may have had several months of inventory on these items which represented an investment that might go to waste otherwise.
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11-14-2021, 05:09 PM | #45 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Early and Update models of the 1956 Ford Ranch Wagon. This "entry model" was based on the Mainline Series. |
11-14-2021, 06:02 PM | #46 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
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It was just pointed out to me that the above picture of the updated model has 55/56 Mercury front fenders and tail lights. Here is a picture of the true Updated model of the 1956 Two Door Ranch Wagon |
11-15-2021, 12:30 PM | #47 | |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Quote:
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***** - WHY IS IT ... - ... that everything you buy in the grocery store is either wrapped in or contained in plastic but the government doesn't want you to carry it out in a plastic bag? WONDERING IN W(BY GOD)V ...
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11-15-2021, 12:39 PM | #48 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Unless Mainline sales were so dismal they wound up with "extra" trim. Sales forecasting is somewhat of an arcane science and I'm sure wasn't any easier back in the day.
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11-16-2021, 03:05 PM | #49 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
1956 Ford Mainline Tudor Sedan. While these Updated models are rare, a few still exist, mostly Tudor Sedans. |
11-17-2021, 08:49 AM | #50 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
I still have the original dog dish hubcaps as shown in the above picture. I replaced them with baby moons of course. The 56 is long gone, but the hubcaps remain! I also have a set of the “full cover” hubcaps for another 56 I had for some time.
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11-18-2021, 06:59 PM | #51 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Don't know if you were aware of it but the '56 Customline models had the triangular-shaped bright metal trim stamped with the word "Customline". The Mainline models had this same triangular shaped stainless between the upper and lower trim strips, but it was blank.
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11-18-2021, 07:08 PM | #52 | |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Quote:
My speculation is that Fomoco may have planned to introduce the Mainline with body side trim from the beginning, but maybe they couldn't get enough of all the pieces needed in the beginning of the model year, so they went ahead and produced Mainlines without the trim, then went ahead and quickly generated a new sales brochure showing the car illustrated without the trim for the beginning of the model year and saved their original version with the trim for later, after the plant started getting in full sets of trim pieces. Just wild speculation. I doubt it had anything to do with low sales due to lack of pizzaz. The Mainline cars went faster than hotcakes, trim or no trim. |
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11-23-2021, 08:52 PM | #53 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
1956 FORD - CUSTOMLINE TUDOR SEDAN (70B) EXT TRIM and MAINLINE TUDOR SEDAN (70A) EXT TRIM - Factory Drawings supplied by KULTULZ |
01-02-2022, 02:15 AM | #54 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
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02-15-2022, 06:34 PM | #55 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
The car in the picture has '56 Fairlane backup lights. Customline and Mainlines that had backup lights used the '55 style backup lights. Most had the delete plates same as '55 instead of backup lights.
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02-16-2022, 01:21 AM | #56 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
That is true. Only the Fairlane models had the fancy backup light housings with the red reflector. All other '56 models that had backup lights used the '55 backup light housings and lenses.
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02-23-2022, 04:33 AM | #57 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Touring Mt Rushmore in an "updated" 1956 Ford Two-Door Ranch Wagon |
04-03-2022, 03:53 PM | #58 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
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04-06-2022, 08:03 PM | #59 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
Still hasn’t said what the data plate on the left door under the windshield says. The end of the vin will give how late in the year. Also color, and model.
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04-09-2022, 05:08 AM | #60 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
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01-30-2023, 05:56 AM | #61 |
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Re: What Model is This 56
1956 Ford Six-Passenger Country Sedan with late model revised side trim |
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