The 1955-1956 Ford Fairlane was the first Fairlane, introduced for 1955 as the new top trim line of the full-size Ford, replacing the Crestline. It rode the 115.5 inch wheelbase full-size Ford chassis and took its name from Fair Lane, Henry Ford's estate in Dearborn. Power came from the 223 cubic inch overhead-valve six or Y-block V8s of 272 and 292 cubic inches, with the 312 Thunderbird Special V8 joining for 1956. The line included the stainless-banded Crown Victoria, the transparent-roof Crown Victoria (the glass-top car known as the Skyliner), and the Sunliner convertible.
Other Ford Fairlane generations
Platform
The 1955-1956 Ford Fairlane is a trim series of the full-size Ford, not a separate platform. Ford reskinned the car completely for 1955 with new wraparound-windshield bodywork on a 115.5 inch wheelbase, and Fairlane sat at the top of the range above Mainline and Customline. The name honors Fair Lane, Henry Ford's Dearborn estate. Fairlanes carry a full-length bodyside stainless spear (the "Fairlane stripe" with its dip ahead of the rear wheel) that lower series did not get. For 1956 Ford switched the whole line from 6-volt to 12-volt electrics.
Engines
- 223 six: the 223 cubic inch overhead-valve inline six was the base engine both years, rated 120 hp gross in 1955 and 137 hp in 1956 after a compression bump from 7.5:1 to 8.0:1.
- 272 Y-block V8: the volume V8. In 1955 it was rated 162 hp gross with a two-barrel, with a four-barrel Power Pack version at 182 hp. For 1956 the two-barrel 272 was rated 173 hp with manual transmission and 176 hp with Ford-O-Matic.
- 292 Thunderbird V8: the 292 cubic inch Y-block, shared with the Thunderbird, was the top Fairlane option in 1955: 193 hp gross with a manual transmission (8.1:1 compression) or 198 hp with Ford-O-Matic (8.5:1). For 1956 it was rated 200 hp with manual and 202 hp with Ford-O-Matic.
- 312 Thunderbird Special V8: new during 1956, the 312 cubic inch Y-block brought the Fairlane to 215 hp gross with the overdrive manual or 225 hp with Ford-O-Matic.
All the V8s are Y-block engines, a deep-skirt pushrod design introduced for 1954. All published horsepower figures for these cars are SAE gross ratings.
Drivetrain and transmissions
Every 1955-1956 Fairlane is front-engine, rear-wheel drive with a live rear axle on leaf springs. Three transmissions were offered: a column-shifted three-speed manual, the same three-speed with optional electric overdrive, and the Ford-O-Matic automatic. The higher Thunderbird V8 ratings were tied to Ford-O-Matic cars, which got slightly higher compression, but the 292 could be had with a manual at 193 hp in 1955 and 200 hp in 1956.
Year-by-year changes
- 1955: Fairlane debuts as the top full-size Ford series, replacing Crestline. All-new body with wraparound windshield, 223 six standard, 272 and 292 Y-block V8s optional. Crown Victoria introduced, including a transparent-top version that Ford cataloged simply as the Crown Victoria with transparent top.
- 1956: Facelift with revised grille, parking lamps, and side trim. 12-volt electrical system adopted. The 312 Thunderbird Special V8 joins the option list, the glass-top car officially takes the Skyliner name, and the Town Victoria four-door hardtop is added during the model year. Ford promoted its Lifeguard safety package this year (deep-dish steering wheel, stronger door latches, shatter-resistant rearview mirror, optional padded dash, padded sun visors, and lap belts).
Body styles and variants
- Town Sedan and Club Sedan: the four-door and two-door post sedans.
- Victoria: two-door pillarless hardtop; the Town Victoria four-door hardtop joined during 1956.
- Crown Victoria: a two-door with a wide brushed stainless band wrapping over the roof behind the doors, giving a hardtop look on a fixed-pillar body.
- Crown Victoria Skyliner: a Crown Victoria with a transparent green-tinted acrylic panel over the front half of the roof. Ford badged the 1955 car as the Crown Victoria with transparent top and used the Skyliner name for 1956. Production was 1,999 for 1955 and just 603 for 1956, which makes it the scarce one today.
- Sunliner: the full convertible, carried in the Fairlane series both years.
For 1957 the Fairlane name moved to a new, longer full-size body with the Fairlane 500 above it, ending this two-year first generation.
Asked all the time
What engines came in the 1955-1956 Ford Fairlane?
The 1955-1956 Ford Fairlane came standard with the 223 cubic inch overhead-valve six (120 hp gross in 1955, 137 hp in 1956). Optional V8s were the 272 Y-block (162 hp two-barrel or 182 hp Power Pack in 1955, 173-176 hp in 1956) and the 292 Thunderbird V8 (193-198 hp in 1955, 200-202 hp in 1956). For 1956 the 312 Thunderbird Special V8 was added at 215 hp gross with overdrive or 225 hp with Ford-O-Matic.
What is the difference between a Crown Victoria and a Crown Victoria Skyliner in 1955-1956?
Both are 1955-1956 Ford Fairlane two-doors with the wide stainless band over the roof. The Crown Victoria has a solid steel roof, while the glass-top car replaces the front half of the roof with a green-tinted transparent acrylic panel. Ford cataloged the 1955 glass-top as the Crown Victoria with transparent top and used the Skyliner name for 1956. Production was 1,999 cars for 1955 and only 603 for 1956, so it is the rarer and more valuable car.
What changed on the Ford Fairlane from 1955 to 1956?
For 1956 the Ford Fairlane got a revised grille and side trim, a switch from 6-volt to 12-volt electrics, the new 312 Thunderbird Special V8 option (215-225 hp gross), a four-door hardtop body style (Town Victoria) added during the year, and the Lifeguard safety package with a deep-dish steering wheel, improved door latches, a shatter-resistant rearview mirror, and optional lap belts and padded dash.
Was the first Ford Fairlane a separate model or a trim level?
The 1955-1956 Ford Fairlane was the top trim series of the full-size Ford, replacing the Crestline series, and shared its 115.5 inch wheelbase chassis and engines with the cheaper Mainline and Customline. Fairlane did not become a distinct mid-size model until 1962.
What transmissions were available in the 1955-1956 Ford Fairlane?
The 1955-1956 Ford Fairlane offered a column-shifted three-speed manual, the three-speed with optional electric overdrive, or the Ford-O-Matic automatic. The strongest V8 ratings were paired with Ford-O-Matic: 198 hp for the 292 in 1955 and 225 hp for the 312 in 1956, against 193 hp and 215 hp in manual-shift cars.
Which 1955-1956 Fairlane is the one to look for?
Among 1955-1956 Ford Fairlanes, the glass-top Crown Victoria (the Skyliner) is the scarcest at 1,999 built for 1955 and 603 for 1956, followed by the steel-roof Crown Victoria and the Sunliner convertible. A 1956 car brings 12-volt electrics and the 312 V8 option; mechanically the 272 and 292 Y-blocks are well supported and any of them is straightforward to keep on the road.
The wall · registered 1955–1956 Fairlanes
Sorted by depth of documentation. Click any vehicle to open its permanent record.
