AACA Senior First Place Winning Crown Victoria

Any time we get stunning 50s era Detroit metal into our RK Motors Charlotte showroom, it tends to attract a lot of attention and usually doesn't stick around very long. This 1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria is a 2004 AACA National Senior First Prize Award winner that has been painstakingly restored to its top of the Ford line status. It's the perfect car for anyone who wants an accurate, exceptionally well done restoration for half the price of doing it themselves.

Undoubtedly a six figure, frame off project, this car takes everything that was great about the first generation Fairlane and wraps it in outstanding workmanship. From top to bottom, the body of this car is as straight as when it rolled out of Fords San Jose California factory. Dressed in its original Ford code KE Buckskin Brown and Snowshoe White, the cars paint is restored to better than factory condition and features an excellent shine with no major flaws or damage. The Buckskin Brown combines with the Snowshoe White to give the car a luxurious feeling that just can't be matched by most cars of this era. Panel gaps are at factory tolerances and this car is so well put together that it's likely to be a trophy winner anywhere you choose to take it.

All of the chrome and trim has been restored to like new condition to further enhance the feeling of luxury. The front and rear curved bumpers feature a liquid shine and include factory front and rear bumper guards. The concave grille aligns perfectly with the stainless trim on the edge of the hood and displays the cars 2004 AACA Senior Award plaque. New marker lights combine with the Crown Victoria exclusive browed headlights to preview the stacked light designs of the 1960s. A hood mounted, intricately detailed reproduction Ford emblem and “Fairlane” script appear brand new against the Snowshoe White hood and line up perfectly below a new hood ornament. The now famous 'Fairlane strip' flows from the top of the front fenders down the side of the car and hits the tail lights mid fender. Centered on the 'Fairlane strip' in the middle of the doors is great looking Ford emblems with gold and silver “Crown Victoria” badges. Along the rocker panels of the car, spotless stainless trim highlights pronounced front fender openings and optional rear fender skirts. Ahead of the front fender openings, V8 emblems highlighted with red inlays announce the presence of a Ford Y block. Tinted glass that is in excellent shape all around is accented by the Crown Victoria exclusive chrome 'basket handle' roof piece and stainless window trim. Out back, the jet-age taillight lenses look new and the trunk is detailed with a reproduction trim piece below the detailed Ford emblem and “Fairlane” script. On the right side of the trunk a “Ford-O-Matic” script announces the presence of a hydraulic transmission. Details abound, with a unique finned radio antenna mounted on the trunk, lock cylinder covers all around and an optional combination spotlight and rear view mirror mounted on the driver's door.

As the body tag reads, this Fairlane is a top of the line car that features a correct 272 Y-block V8 with an 8.5.1 compression ratio and 182 horsepower. An upgraded “Power Pack” 4 barrel carburetor tops the hotter option engine, sitting below a factory correct air cleaner housing that is complete with a service instructions decal. A correct intake manifold sandwiched between Ford V8 decaled correct valve covers is painted orange to match the block. Mounted on top of that intake is a correct gloss black coil that runs power to a correct points distributor. To the right of the motor, Ford's first year factory option Magic Aire system is painted gloss black and stamped with correct decals. In front of the engine a gloss black generator and pulley mounted 3 blade cooling fan sit right behind a correct gloss black radiator. On the left side of the motor, neatly ran stainless fuel lines complement a silver brake reservoir and silver factory optioned power steering reservoir. Not a detail has been missed in this engine bay; the Snowshoe white from the body coats the firewall and complete, insulation equipped hood to complement the gloss black inner fenders. And the car even features a correct “See Clear” windshield washer fluid bag and a final approval Ford inspection stamp.

The frame and underside of the car are almost as clean as a museum piece and have obviously not seen much road time. The floors are solid with no signs of rust and the frame is straight without any indication of damage with all the parts underneath being functional and well-maintained. The satin black frame is bolted to a body color floorpan with Stainless fasteners and features an A-arm factory suspension up front complete with coil springs and drum brakes. Behind the orange oil pan sits the hydraulic Ford-O-Matic 3-speed transmission that sends power to a fresh satin black driveshaft and axle. At the ends of that axle are leaf springs and drum brakes that appear to be in excellent condition. The exhaust system features a set of aggressive glasspack-style mufflers and stainless turn downs at the rear of the car for a gnarly burble. Keeping the car to the pavement is a set of wide whitewall G78-15 Coker Classic radials on the original color-matched Fairlane 15 inch steel wheels with gorgeous full wheel covers that feature highly detailed ford logos on a red inlay.

Inside this classy and comfortable interior, the two tone seats have been excellently restored and likely look and feel better than the day they came from the factory. A new headliner is tight across the roof and features the bottom side of the Crown Victoria 'basket handle'. In front of you, a perfectly restored dash houses a final production year 120mph swept speedometer above fuel and temperature gauges, warning lights and a gear selector window. In the center of the dash you'll find a clock, and a unique AM radio. The locking glove box features cool Ford script and a small V8 emblem. Great looking door panels flow back from the dash mirroring the 'Fairlane strip' on the outside of the car and house chrome handles for the door and window. The steering wheel, complete with chrome horn ring, is absolutely gorgeous and would give way to Fords first dished wheel for the sake of safety in 1956. New carpet flows throughout the interior to tie everything together and complete the look. The restored trunk features Snowshoe White from the body, a correct mat and a spare whitewall tire on a color matched steel wheel complete with an extra hubcap.

This is an exceptionally clean '55 Fairlane that has been restored to a high level of detail and carefully maintained. If you wanted to restore a car to this level on your own, you'd be well into the 6 figure range and probably sink years into the project. Beautiful, solid, well done cars like this don't come along too often and given the attention it draws in our showroom, I expect it to be rolling out the door before too long. Call now!