1956 Ford Fairlane

Hardtop

428 Interceptor

C6

Clear

It is said if you want to build the best possible car, start with the best car possible. To that end, this low mileage Southwestern Victoria was chosen for a total frame off restoration. The car was updated with the legendary 428 Police Interceptor engine, smooth shifting C6 transmission, and 9 inch rear end, modern power steering and power brakes. The goal was a car that will be competitive in any car show, but it must also deliver a "modern driving experience." Body: The body is flat and straight. Excellent panel fitment. The paint is best described as a black mirror, you can read a catalog in the reflection. PPG urethane was mixed in Ford Raven Black. Paint was allowed to cure 3 months prior to wet sanding and polish. "Mile deep and slick as glass" I consider the paint flawless. All glass new except quarter windows. All body and glass rubber parts replaced. The paint in the engine compartment, bottom side of the hood and trunk are just as nice as the top side of the body and have excellent detail. Chassis: Stripped and painted, new gas tank, 9" Rebuilt Ford rear end with 3.00 gears for easy cruising. All suspension bushings new, front end rebuilt. New Eaton Detroit springs. Front springs are custom wound and provide better ride and handling. 11" self adjusting drum brakes on the rear, Power boosted dual master cylinder, Granada spindles with 11" disc brakes on the front. Quality fast ratio Borgeson power steering box with a 6 pass cooler mounted behind the grille. Borgeson inline vibration dampener/coupler for extra comfort. KYB gas shocks. High efficiency radiator with a fan shroud and a polished surge tank. Drivetrain: 1966 428 Police Interceptor hydraulic lifter block, .030"over with Forged Sealed Power pistons, balanced. Comp Cams 268 H. (Mild cam) The engine still carries the original and rare Ford Police Interceptor aluminum intake manifold. Dura Spark distributor for fast starts and low maintenance. Valve seats are hardened for unleaded gas. New electric choke Holley carb. The engine was assembled by an FE pro and the "common sense" upgrades these engines benefit from were employed, including adjustable rockers. FPA 4 into 1 headers were selected to replace the restrictive log manifolds. The collectors terminate at the level of the frame so there are no low hanging collectors to cause road clearance issues, and they feature ball and cone connections that require no gaskets and never leak. The "Big Block" 2.5" exhaust system is coated, including the welds, and the exclusive to Victoria through the bumper exhaust ports are all new. Polished stainless steel turbo mufflers. The exhaust pipes are mounted with new original mounts and muffler shields and gives the appearance of a factory made system. This legendary engine was rated at 459 ft. lbs of torque at only 3,200 RPM from the factory. The exhaust upgrade alone has conservatively boosted the output of the engine 10% plus, resulting in over 500 ft. lbs. of torque at a low RPM where you will feel it with every drive. Transmission is a rebuilt 1974 C6, smooth shifting with a stock convertor. Interior: The upholstery is custom stitched. The pleated pattern on the seats closely resembles the original Victoria, but in colors and materials not offered by Ford. The seats are padded with two densities of foam to provide maximum comfort. The dash insert is painted Maroon to match the pleats, providing the classic two-tone so desirable in 50"s cars. The rear seat back and trim are from the Crown Victoria, and the package tray was treated to deep pleats for a mild custom effect. Dash is as original. All gauges function with NOS sending units, warning lights are operational, clock was rebuilt and keeps accurate time. What appears to be a very nice original radio was converted to a high power stereo amp that plays the music you want through I Pod, or MP3. A 6"x 9" stereo speaker is in the stock location. The steering wheel is leather wrapped. Electric two-speed wiper conversion, and operates with the original knob. The horn circuit was modified to operate with the horn ring as original following the steering upgrade. "Fairlane" logo embroidered floor mats. The driving experience: The car was built so it could be driven anywhere, anytime. The linear, smooth delivery of power from the 428 will always put a smile on your face. The single best upgrade to the car is the modern fast ratio power steering. I compare the steering to a late model Camaro Z-28. The car tracks "dead straight" on the highway. It can be steered with one finger in a parking lot. The large power brakes stop the car on a dime without effort. The custom wound higher rate front springs provide a smooth ride while cancelling "bounce" and have reduced the body roll in the corners. 6" wide wheels and radial tires help provide a modern car feel. The car has been tested in 100 degree traffic and will not run hot. 65-90 MPH on the highway with one relaxed hand on the wheel. This 1956 Fairlane Victoria is considered on of Ford's greatest styling achievements. Collector quality, SHOW and GO. Cruiser, Collector Car, Ford, Fairlane, Victoria, 7.0 Litre, 428, Police Interceptor, Show Car, Street Rod, Resto Mod, Restored