I'd be interested, building a Black 56 Period-Correct Street Machine next after I finish my current customer car. Shoot me a PM with pics and a price.
They’re not mine. An old speed shop in Birmingham Al had them. They still might. They had lots of old traction bars. Rocco and Cheaters is the name They are in FB They ship The guy is also here. @Stang65
I recently picked up this '56 from a very interesting lady in SoCal. I've had several '57's but never a '55 or '56, so I figured it was about time. I made a happy Hamb'r by selling my Model A to Terry Hamb, so figured I had to do something. The lady was interesting in that her Grandfather appears to have bought this critter new, and gave it to his "driver" sometime before he became the President of Mexico back in 1976. The President's daughter bought it back some years later, and then gave it to her daughter, whom I bought it from......Did you catch all that?? That's on the Mothers's side..... On the Father's side, the Great Great Grandfather was President of Mexico in 1930..... Got it ???? Now for the fun part.... In 1955 through 1957, a limited number of "Baby Birds" were sold new in Mexico City. They were not licensed to ***emble them in Mexico, but could sell them as parts. So they were shipped partially dis***embled to the La Villa Ford p***enger car plant in Mexico City, where they were re***embled and sold as new. In '56, 91 such critters were sold, and of those, three are known to exist, mine being one of them... Somewhere around 1980, my Bird was modified with the installation of a 302 and an SROD 4-spd transmission. It also lost the connie kit, and had a spacer made to fill the bumper gap. I have picked up a '55 bumper, and lowered the critter to a reasonable level. Since it was already modified, I don't feel bad about making a few subtle changes.... In a few months three of us well seasoned Idahoans are driving down to LARS... Should be a fun trip !!!!
Have you got any pics of the rear bumper filler that was made to fill where the continental kit was? I’m doing something similar on mine. Thank you.
Actually, I believe they were all standard non-porthole, but when the porthole option came available, in 1956, that's what everyone bought..... I could be wrong...
I don't think there's a way to make the split '56 bumper look okay, since it is so much heavier looking. I bought a '55 rear bumper to use on mine, since they look much lighter and simpler... I got mine from an outfit back East, at what I thought was a reasonable price, based on what they are selling for. PM me and I'll forward their info... Nice guys !!
Thanks for the pic and reply. I agree that the 55 bumper is thinner and nicer, but I’m going to keep working on my filler. I want it to be able to go back original if the next person wants it.
Phord never respected the 'Bird either. It started out as compe***ion for the Corvette. It ended as a 4dr fleet car. Basically a twin to the Crown Vic. But then Phord had tried to kill off the Mustang over the years too!!
Here’s my ‘56 the way it’ll run this year. I removed guards, skirts and continental kit. Made a filler using old bumper ends that came with car and covered it with the best chrome wrap I could find. Also made a bumper filler panel and painted black to cover small void behind bumper. It can be put back to original in a few hours time if wanted. Added Aerostar springs with half coil cut off and Lancer caps.
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