1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria Skyliner

(Let’s do something classy today.)  Rumor has it the original inspiration for the Crown Victoria was Lincoln’s XL-500  show car for the 50th Anniversary of Ford in 1953. It sported an all-fiberglass scarlet body and an all-glass (or Plexiglas) roof with a stainless steel tiara.

The 1955-1956 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria came in two versions: you could have the bubbletop over the driver's compartment for $2,272, or the all-steel roof for $2,202. Ford built 1999 Crown Victorias "with transparent roof" for 1955, then a mere 603 Crown Victoria "Skyliners" for 1956.

The 1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria had the second-year version of Ford's "Y-Block" overhead-valve V-8.  Ford had offered a "Power Pack" option with high-compression heads, four-barrel carburetor with automatic choke, and dual exhausts.  In 1955, for $35 above the $100 cost of the base V8, this package had higher 8.5:1 compression and a four-barrel carb, raising the horsepower to 182,  but was available only with Fordomatic. Dual exhausts were standard on all Fairlane V-8s. Two other power options were added. One was the bigger-bore 292 V-8 from the new T-Bird and 1955 Mercury, with 8.5:1 compression, four-barrel carb, and 198 bhp. Late in the year, a special 205-bhp "Interceptor" 292 for police use  appeared on the list, a benefit of the factory's efforts in NASCAR stock-car racing.

For 1955, Ford called its three-speed automatic "Speed-Trigger Fordomatic Drive."  That was because it embodied a new automatic low gear for extra-fast starts or quicker, safer passing at low speed. Along with the reworked Fordomatic was a "Safety-Sequence Selector, mounted in control panel just above steering column where it's easier to see.  It was illuminated for easier reading at night. That safety sequence was the Park-Reverse-Neutral-Drive-Low arrangement that would later be adopted industry-wide .

For 1955, you could equip your Crown Vic with "Power-Lift Windows" for $102, "4-Way Power Seat" for $64, and "Master-Guide Power Steering" for $91 and "Swift Sure Power Brakes" for $33. Air-conditioning was also offered, but seldom chosen prior to 1956, when it was called "SelectAire Conditioner" and cost $435.  Although the base price of a 1955 Crown Victoria V-8 was $2,302,  fully loaded was closer to $3,500.

A 1955 Ford with the 162-bhp V-8 and Fordomatic had a lackluster 0-60 time of 14.5 seconds and an average top speed of 95.2 mph.  (With overdrive 14.1 seconds.)  Even with Power Pack, it was hard to break 13 seconds, although magazine tests pushed one so equipped Ford to a top speed of 108 mph.  So it wasn’t exactly a ¼ mile terror by any means, but they still were beautiful.  And prized by collectors and Ford enthusiasts today.  They are just breathtaking...

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