A little progress on my 1955.5

Yes, I'm in a rut, but it's MY rut.

 

What did you do? looks good! any other plans for it?

 

It looks good Tony, I will see you in the Morning.

John

 

In a rut over what? Looks pretty good to me.

 

I don't see no stinking rut.

 

My "rut" is making phantom Ford Victorias that span two years. My green car is a '51 disguised as a '50; this is a '56 pretending to be a '55. '56 Fairlane vic with '55 Customline side trim, '55 grille, '55 Olds headlight doors, and a hood scoop from a '65 Goat. Minor changes around back.

 

sounds more like a niche' than a rut. good work!

 

I like the head lights...maybe I will do that to my 56. I shaved the door handles and sealed the holes for the moldings

 

looks good to me. mine has a ways to go before it looks half as good.

 

Your car is looking pretty nice. I like the headlights.

 

Hi-I'm working on a '55 customline also. Having trouble locating the side trim. Any suggestions?

Thanks!
Tracy

 

And '90s Crown Vic wheels? ........

Malcolm

 

Nothing wrong with that, sounds like a custom to me.


CBB

 

I believe I found all the side trim on eBay -- used the "watch for" function seeking <1955 Ford (molding, side trim, stainless)>. Found some that was decent used, and some NOS. There's also a national club called the "Crown Victoria ***ociation" that caters to all '54-'56 Fords, and some vendors who specialize in this stuff advertise in their magazine. Of course, Hemmings is a useful source too, although I don't think I looked there this time around.

 

Yeah, well... I don't get a lot of agreement about that particular detail, but I like them. The concave face of the spokes simulates the pattern of a real wire wheel pretty well, and they provide a texture similar to Skylark wires for a fraction of the cost.

 

I actually wasn't trying to give you **** about the wheels - I just noticed them. I'd never really thought about using them on a mild custom, but they actually don't look too bad on your car. Just a personal opinion here - they'd look even better with wide whites.

Your car is looking great!

Malcolm

 

I am diggin it, mains!
and being a muscle car ****, I really dig the 65 hood scoop...Very innovative!

And Yeah- the Crown wheels- simple, styled, and clean- especially if you do something with the centercaps.

 

Thanks, I'm glad you're liking it. I thought at length about the whitewall width, and did the enclosed exercise to see how it would look with skinny vs wide whites. From these pictures, I concluded that the wides gave it a distinct '50s vibe, and the skinnies looked more '60s -- which is kinda what I'm going for on this car. I also felt that the wide whites, extending all the way to the rim, didn't "stage" the wheel as well as the black margin inside the skinny white. Can you see where I'm going?

 

I have been checking ebay for mouldings. I found a new rear quarter (1 piece of 3) for $169.00 and a door piece for $94.00. This seemed high to me for one piece of stainless, but I'm new to this. What do you experts think?

 

I kinda like the wider whites. The small stripe tires, look like you just took them off another car and bolted them on.

 

I don't recall exactly what I paid for my stuff, but I'm thinking it was about $30 a piece for fairly good used front fender and door trim. The rear quarter pieces, which are more than 6' long, were more expensive -- maybe $150/pair. Then I found and bought a pair of NOS front fender pieces that weren't much more than the used ones.

I think the door piece you found seems too expensive, but you may not be able to do any better for the quarter piece. If you can be patient, most of what you need will eventually show up.

You probably already know this, but just in case: the quarter panel piece is the same for both Customline and Fairlane, but be sure it's for a 2-door rather than a 4-door. The door parts are Customline only, and again are different for 2- and 4-doors; the front fender are Customline only but are the same for all body styles.

I was told that there were some repops made -- I think the quarter panel piece -- but that they are no longer in production and are sold out through the restoration channel.

 

Man, you took the best parts of two of my favorite cars and merged them together. I Love it. I gotta agree, the wheels just don't "do it" for me. what the hell do I know, My 55's a flat black frankenstien pile'o'**** post car. The 56 Ford HT has to be one of the best looking cars-ever. Alot of times when they get customized it just ****s them up, kinda like 40 Fords. but you managed to not destroy the beauty of the car and still build somthing unique. Very cool.

Drew

 

Funny you should mention this -- I'm hoping to do a '40 next. Thanks for the kind words.