Crown Victoria: The Jewel of Ford's 1955-56 Fairlane Lineup

The year 1955 brought innovations like wraparound windshields, tubeless tires, sleek flying saucer wheel covers, and a palette of colors more vivid than a series of Canadian sunsets. It's no surprise that Ford's stylish Crown Victoria became an enduring icon of the era, even if it wasn't the top seller. Tom McCahill, a road tester for Mechanix Illustrated, famously described it as "packed with more marketable appeal than a ship filled with Marilyn Monroes."

The 1955-1956 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria stood as the pinnacle of the vibrant two-tone and chrome-dominated period. As one of the most inventive cars of a creative decade, it soared in aesthetics but fell short in sales. This article delves into what makes the Ford Crown Victoria unique, from its design origins to its engineering.

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1955 was an exciting year for first-time car buyers. Chevy introduced a sleek V-8 engine, exuding the charm of Kim Novak in a nylon swimsuit. Meanwhile, Plymouth turned heads with Virgil Exner's "Forward Look" design and its own powerful V-8. Ford, building on its second-year overhead-valve V-8, showcased cutting-edge styling closely tied to the new Thunderbird.

The competition between the "Big Two" was fierce in 1954, with high-performance cars dominating the scene. Dealers faced intense pressure, and independent manufacturers were forced to merge or fade away. Despite the challenges, 1955 marked a record-breaking year for the auto industry, with production nearing eight million units.

A Look at the Numbers:

In 1954, Ford narrowly outproduced Chevy for the model year, with 1,165,942 units compared to Chevy's 1,143,561. However, Chevrolet edged out Ford in calendar-year sales, selling 1,417,453 units versus Ford's 1,400,440—a difference of just over 17,000. This sparked endless debates over who truly held the title of "USA-1." Ford hoped to surpass Chevy in 1955, but Chevrolet ultimately led with 1,640,081 sales to Ford's 1,573,276, a gap of about 67,000 units.

Model-year production told a clearer story: Chevrolet dominated with 1,704,677 units, while Ford trailed with 1,451,157. Plymouth, as usual, lagged behind with 705,455 units. Despite a notable increase of 240,000 units from 1954, Plymouth couldn't overtake Buick, which surged ahead with 737,035 units for the model year.

What Made the Ford Crown Victoria News?

Ford's Crown Victoria, the standout of the new Fairlane series, rivaled the Chevrolet Nomad wagon in innovative design. Named after Henry Ford Senior's Fair Lane estate in Dearborn, the "Crown Vic" was a breathtaking "non-hardtop hardtop." It featured a stainless steel tiara, or "basket handle," arching over the roof. Ford described it as a "bright metal roof transverse molding." This fixed structure, stretching between the B-pillars, meant the Crown Victoria didn't offer the uninterrupted side view of a true hardtop.

The Crown Victoria's roof was notably lower than the standard Victoria, marking Ford's first closed car under five feet in height. It was also flatter and longer, with rear pillars extended by three inches. This unique roofline was shared with the 1955 Mercury Montclair hardtops, while Mercury's Custom and Monterey models retained the taller Victoria design. The Crown Vic's windshield, borrowed from the Sunliner convertible, was also lower.

Despite appearing longer, the Crown Victoria matched the standard hardtop in length, with both measuring 198.5 inches overall and sharing a 115.5-inch wheelbase from 1954. The Crown Vic boasted a visored stainless windshield molding, vibrant vinyl bucket seats, dazzling chrome and stainless-steel accents, and a rear-seat center armrest. Custom door panels and a spacious trunk added to its appeal.

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Inspiration for the Crown Victoria

The Crown Victoria's design may have been influenced by the Lincoln XL-500, a fully functional show car created by Bill Schmidt and Elwood Engel for Ford's 50th Anniversary in 1953. This model featured a vibrant scarlet fiberglass body and a transparent roof adorned with a stainless steel tiara.

Another potential inspiration for the Ford Crown Victoria was the Mystere, a non-operational fiberglass concept car. This showpiece explored futuristic styling elements that influenced 1955 and later Ford models, though it never reached production or public driveways.

Joe Oros, who was part of George Walker's external styling team and later led Ford's design department, disputes the claim that the Mystere directly inspired production cars. He argues that various design "themes" were being developed simultaneously, many of which appeared on the Mystere and other production vehicles.

Who Designed the Ford Crown Victoria?

The Mystere project involved stylists like Bill Boyer, L. David Ash, Frank Hershey, and John Najjar, who explored design themes later seen in advanced concepts and production cars. Frank Hershey led the 1955 Ford designs but was dismissed by George Walker upon his takeover of Ford's styling department. Hershey's team included Bob Maguire, Damon Woods, John Najjar, and Art Querfeld, with the latter two now retired in Florida.

L. David Ash, known for the transparent top on the 1954 Ford Skyliner and Mercury Sun Valley, primarily handled interiors. He also introduced the iconic V-spear chrome trim, featured on both the Mystere and production Fords.

Ford designer John Najjar revived the peek-a-boo theme in the 1954 Ford's "Astra-Dial Control Panel," which continued into 1955 with a slightly flattened speedometer to minimize windshield glare. The Astra-Dial included turn-signal arrows, warning lights for the generator and oil pressure, and gauges for fuel and engine temperature. The dashboard featured a MagicAire heater, radio, and clock in three large circles, with a stem-wind clock standard on Fairlanes and an electric clock optional. The heater and radio controls required some familiarity to operate.

How the Body Style Got Its Classic Look

Dave Ash, who played a significant role in the Crown Victoria's development, revealed that the model originated in 1953 as a full-size clay prototype. It featured a "distinctly lower roofline and a more angled rear roof compared to the standard Victoria hardtop" and was initially named the "Special Victoria."

Donald E. Petersen, a young product planner who later became Ford Motor Company's President and Chairman, was part of the team that impressed engineers and executives with this car. Petersen successfully argued that a low-roof design could be achieved without compromising interior headroom.

Before this project, Ash had pioneered the Plexiglas roof concept for the 1954 Ford. He was then tasked with contributing to the full-size clay model of the 1955 Special Victoria. Ash played a crucial role in refining the "Crown" and Plexiglas top for the 1955 model, though he never claimed full credit for the design. Art Querfeld handled most of the Crown Vic's distinctive interior trim.

Two Versions of Crown Victoria

The 1955-1956 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria was offered in two variants: a bubbletop version priced at $2,272 and an all-steel roof model at $2,202. Ford produced 13,344 "Skyliners" in 1954, 1,999 Crown Victorias with transparent roofs in 1955, and only 603 Crown Victoria "Skyliners" in 1956 (using Ford's official terminology of the time). These models are now considered remarkable bargains.

The Mercury Sun Valley debuted in 1954, selling 9,761 units. Few know that 1,787 Sun Valleys with Plexiglas roofs were produced in 1955. Although it shared the same body code as the 1955-1956 Ford Crown Victoria, the Mercury's glass top was larger and lacked the tiara. Rumors suggest one or two 1956 Mercury Sun Valleys were made, but none have ever been found.

The Plexiglas top, an additional $70 for the 1955 Ford Crown Victoria, proved impractical. It overheated passengers on sunny days, especially in the Southwest. The top featured a blue-green tint to block 60% of heat and 72% of glare, complemented by a zippered nylon headliner. While optional on the 1954 Skyliner, it became standard on 1955-1956 Crown Vics, though zipping it up defeated the purpose of the transparent roof.

Unsurprisingly, the bubbletop failed in showrooms and used car lots. None of these models continued into 1957, and even today, their rarity doesn't translate to high market value.

A Sedan That Stood Apart From Other Vehicles

The 1955 Fairlane series, featuring two- and four-door sedans, a Victoria hardtop coupe, two Crown Victoria variants, and a Sunliner convertible, captivated the public. Total Fairlane production reached 626,250 units, accounting for 45% of Ford's 1955 output. Crown Victoria models numbered 33,165, with an additional 1,999 Skyliner versions. The Victoria hardtop, a public favorite since 1951, sold 113,372 units, priced $107 lower than the Crown.

The 1955 Ford body, with its expansive GM-style windshield (nearly 1,100 square inches), appeared new but was a clever redesign of a four-year-old structure. Inner panels and frame rails saw minimal changes, as Ford had already invested heavily in fixing 1949-1951 body issues with the 1952 redesign. A complete overhaul for 1955-1956 was unnecessary.

The Crown's tiara, though steel-reinforced, was not a roll bar. Its strength derived from the standard Victoria hardtop frame. The 1955 Ford frames featured a lower center section and increased kickup at both ends. Sedans and wagons used a K-shaped center cross-member, while convertibles, Victorias, and Crown Victorias had an X-shaped support for added rigidity.

Ford's ball-joint front suspension, introduced on the 1952 Lincoln and 1954 Ford and Mercury, saw key upgrades in 1955. The most notable change was angling the front wheel spindles forward by three degrees, creating the "Angle-Poised Ride." This innovation reportedly reduced road shock by 15%, enhancing passenger comfort.

Mechanics of Crown Victoria

The 1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria was powered by Ford's second-generation "Y-Block" overhead-valve V-8 engine, known for its valve lubrication issues at the top end but praised for its durability at the bottom end.

The Y-Block engines boasted "rigid deep-block construction," with a crankcase skirt extending below the crankcase for enhanced strength. While the 239-cid 1954 Ford V-8 matched the displacement of the classic flathead, it had a larger bore relative to its stroke. However, the 1954 V-8 lacked significant power.

In 1955, the engine displacement increased by 14% to 272 cid, surpassing Chevy's new 265 V-8. The compression ratio rose from 7.2:1 to 7.6:1 in the standard model, with Ford highlighting its short-stroke "Low-Friction Design" and "Automatic Power Pilot." The latter was described as "Ford's unique carburetion-ignition-combustion system, ensuring the perfect gas mixture ignites at the ideal moment for maximum efficiency and performance."

Ford also promoted high-efficiency "Turbo-Wedge Combustion Chambers" and new 18-millimeter spark plugs, designed to resist deposit buildup and improve sealing with "tapered seat construction." These enhancements boosted horsepower to 162, a 32-horsepower increase over 1954.

The Introduction of Power Options

Starting with the 1954 V-8, Ford introduced a "Power Pack" option, featuring high-compression heads, a four-barrel carburetor with automatic choke, and dual exhausts. This setup required premium fuel. In 1955, for $35 above the base V-8's $100 price, this package offered 8.5:1 compression and a four-barrel carb, increasing horsepower to 182—but only with Fordomatic. Dual exhausts were standard on all Fairlane V-8s.

Two additional power options were introduced. One was the 292 V-8, borrowed from the new Thunderbird and 1955 Mercury, with 8.5:1 compression, a four-barrel carb, and 198 bhp. This was part of a special-order package for Fairlanes and wagons, including Fordomatic. Later in the year, a 205-bhp "Interceptor" 292, intended for police use, emerged, influenced by Ford's NASCAR racing efforts.

The standard engine for all 1955 Fords was the "High-Torque I-Block Six," a 223-cid overhead-valve six introduced in 1952, now producing 120 horsepower. Optional upgrades included V-8 engines, overdrive ($109), and Fordomatic transmission ($178). Crown Victorias were rarely, if ever, equipped with the six-cylinder engine.

The 'Speed-Trigger' Start

In 1955, Ford marketed its three-speed automatic as "Speed-Trigger Fordomatic Drive." This system featured "a new automatic low gear for rapid acceleration or safer passing at lower speeds. ... With the selector in Drive (Dr), you could start in either low or intermediate gear. For a quick 'Speed-Trigger' start, pressing the accelerator to the floor engaged low gear, with the transmission shifting automatically through intermediate to direct. For regular driving, starts typically used intermediate gear, as in earlier Fordomatics." In contrast, Chevy's Powerglide and Plymouth's PowerFlite were two-speed transmissions.

The updated Fordomatic included a "Safety-Sequence Selector ... positioned on the control panel above the steering column for better visibility. It was illuminated for easier nighttime use." This safety sequence followed the Park-Reverse-Neutral-Drive-Low pattern, which later became an industry standard (GM still placed Reverse below Low).

All the Luxurious Add-Ons You'd Expect

During the 1952-1954 period, Ford introduced a variety of convenience features. In 1955, Crown Victoria buyers could add "Power-Lift Windows" for $102, a "4-Way Power Seat" for $64, "Master-Guide Power Steering" for $91, and "Swift Sure Power Brakes" for $33.

Air-conditioning was available but rarely chosen before 1956, when it was rebranded as "SelectAire Conditioner" and priced at $435. Other optional extras included "I-Rest" tinted glass and rear fender shields. While the base price of a 1955 Crown Victoria V-8 was $2,302, a fully equipped model often approached $3,500. The Crown Victoria Skyliner V-8 started at $2,372, making it $48 more than the Sunliner V-8 convertible but still cheaper than the $2,633 Country Squire V-8.

Motor Trend tested a 1955 Customline four-door with the 162-bhp V-8 and Fordomatic, achieving a modest 0-60 mph time of 14.5 seconds and a top speed of 95.2 mph. With overdrive, the 0-60 time improved to 14.1 seconds. Even with the Power Pack, breaking 13 seconds was challenging, though Road Test magazine recorded a top speed of 108 mph in a similarly equipped Ranch Wagon.

Overall, Ford couldn't compete with Chevy, which, with Power Pack and Powerglide, could accelerate from 0-60 mph in about 11 seconds.

1956 Crown Victoria

In 1956, Ford introduced only subtle styling updates, retaining the popular Crown Victorias and extending their longer, lower roofline to all Victorias and Mercury hardtops. A four-door Victoria was added, though not in the Crown variant.

Ford introduced a 12-volt ignition system (Chevy had it in 1955) and offered three V-8 options. The two-barrel carbureted 272 produced 173 bhp with a manual transmission and 176 bhp with Fordomatic, but it was limited to Mainlines and Customlines. The 292, dubbed the "Thunderbird Y-8" and borrowed from the 1955 Thunderbird and Mercury, powered Fairlanes. It featured a Holley four-barrel carb, 8.0:1 compression, and 200 bhp (manual); with 8.4:1 compression, it delivered 202 horses (Fordomatic). Mid-year, the "Thunderbird Special" 312 became optional, producing 215 bhp (manual) and 225 bhp (Fordomatic).

All V-8s used a Holley four-barrel carburetor. Additional 1956 upgrades included an automatic choke for all V-8s, increased valve lift, a new distributor control diaphragm, and differential improvements. The standard six-cylinder engine, now with 8.0:1 compression, was boosted to 137 bhp.

The 1956 Ford front end featured a "pod"-style parking light design inspired by the Mystere. Fairlanes received wider V-spear side trim and updated taillight lenses. Inside, the dashboard underwent a significant redesign, replacing the Astra-Dial with a "Thunderbird-type control panel" featuring a hooded instrument cluster, clear round dials, and a streamlined MagicAire heater/defroster system.

How Safe Was the Ford Crown Victoria?

After a record-breaking 1955, most automakers saw sales decline. Ford's drop has often been attributed to its safety campaign, though this remains debated. Inspired by Cornell University's research and its own 1955 crash tests, Ford launched the "Lifeguard design" advertising campaign in 1956, emphasizing safety.

Standard features included reinforced "double-grip" door latches, a "deep-center" dished steering wheel, recessed instruments, and safety-focused door and window handles. Buyers could also opt for a safety package with a padded dashboard, sun visors, and seat belts. (Seat belts were first introduced by Ford in 1955.)

Market research revealed that safety-focused messaging deterred some buyers, but Ford continued to prioritize safety until 1968, when federal regulations made it compulsory for all manufacturers.

Crown Vic's Impeccable Handling

The 1956 Ford maintained the excellent handling and ride quality of the 1955 models but delivered more power. With a 292 engine and Fordomatic, Motor Trend achieved a 0-60 mph time of 12.2 seconds, 2.3 seconds faster than in 1955. However, Ford still trailed Chevy, which outperformed Ford at Daytona and in early 1956 NASCAR races, though by smaller margins than in 1955. Ford's comeback came with the 312 V-8, which dominated Chevy later that year.

Floyd Clymer conducted an extensive test for Popular Mechanics, driving a 1956 Ford Crown Victoria Skyliner with a 292 engine and Fordomatic for 3,098 miles. Clymer, who focused less on speed and more on endurance, noted minor issues but praised the car's comfort during long drives, effortlessly covering 900 miles on the final day of testing.

Motor Life tested a 202-horsepower Fairlane with Fordomatic, achieving a 0-60 mph time of 11.6 seconds. The magazine praised its handling: "The car's ability to navigate tight turns and accelerate smoothly out of corners, thanks to the 292 engine's low-end power, makes it a joy to drive." They also highlighted its firm yet comfortable ride, noting, "Comfort hasn't been noticeably sacrificed."

The End of an Era

In 1956, Ford raised prices across the board, with the Crown Victoria V-8 increasing by $66. The Crown Vic's popularity waned, as production dropped to 9,209 units, plus only 603 Skyliner versions. However, standard Fairlane Victoria production rose to 177,735 two-doors and 32,111 four-doors. Total Fairlane production for the year reached 645,306, about 19,000 more than in 1955.

The Customline series also introduced a Victoria model ($1,985 with a six-cylinder engine), selling 33,130 units. The standard Victoria's success over the Crown can be attributed to its shared roofline with the Crown Vic, offering a similar look for $144 less in the Fairlane V-8 series and $245 less in the Customline V-8.

For 1957, Ford deviated from its three-year styling cycle, unveiling its most significant redesign since 1949. While a Crown Victoria would have enhanced the 1957 Victorias, only a few preliminary sketches were made, as public demand didn't justify the added cost. The Crown Vic's lack of popularity remains unexplained, though its non-true hardtop design with visible B-pillars likely played a role. Similarly, the 1955-57 Chevrolet Nomad wagon also saw limited sales.

Gone But Not Forgotten

Ford's 1956 production fell by 42,679 units to 1,408,478, while Chevy's dropped by 137,550 to 1,567,117. Interestingly, Ford's sales relative to Chevy improved from 85.1% in 1955 to 89.9% in 1956. This challenges the notion that Ford's safety campaign hurt its sales, as Ford actually closed the gap with Chevy in 1956.

The 1955-1956 model years represent a distinctive chapter in Ford's history, celebrated for their superior handling, advanced engineering, and timeless design. Crown Vic Skyliner models have even been honored with Milestone Car status by the Milestone Car Society. These Crown Victorias are the shining gems of Ford's lineup from the "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" time period.

Ford Crown Victoria: A Cherished Classic

The Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria embodies the sophistication and engineering excellence of its time. With rear-wheel drive and a torque converter in automatic models, it delivered smooth power delivery. The dual exhaust system not only boosted performance by optimizing exhaust flow but also added to the car's striking appearance.

While lacking modern features like traction control or power locks, the Fairlane Crown Victoria was a technological marvel of its era. Its robust rear end ensured smooth handling, blending luxury and performance into a vehicle that remains a beloved classic.

1955-1956 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria Specifications

The 1955-1956 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria models mark a distinctive era in Ford's legacy. Below are the engine specifications for these models, along with detailed specs for the 1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria.