John Lloyd posted this shot he took on a walk. It’s a terrific shot, which shows how (exaggerate by the angle) American cars were rapidly losing height during the period between these two Fords. The ’56 Fairlane Victoria is the last year of a generation of cars that goes back at lest to 1952, if not to 1949. The ’63 Galaxie 500 four door hardtop sits on the “cowbelly” frame that first appeared in 1957. Lower, longer and wider, but not without sacrificing certain qualities.
Oh, and the house makes such a fine backdrop, although it predates the ’56 by a couple of decades or so.
Is his name Robert? Sorry. I just couldn’t resist it.
Sweet house, even sweeter cars.
Agree, that shot could have been taken 50 years ago, easy.
Nice shot! There was a driveway down the street from me with similar cars, but not trimmed so nicely. The father of one of our childhood babysitters liked blue Fords with overdrive. He had a 56 sedan and a 61 sedan, both navy blue. This was in the late 60s.
That house could double for a million places in the small towns I used to visit as a kid. 50s cars were still not terribly uncommon in my grandma’s neighborhood in a small county seat town in northwest Ohio. I remember a 55 Chrysler across the street and even a 46-48 Chevy Fleetline next door. Again, by the mid to late 60s they did not look as good as the subject cars.
I never much liked fender skirts on rear-wheel cutouts with a “lip,” and so feel the same way, Jason. That said, I’d LOVE to be the owner of either car–this is a great photo that really sets my FoMoCo heart aflutter!
This scene looks like it was photographed in 1963. The ’56 looks great with it’s skirts, you can see how the body was designed for them.
The ’63 would look better skirtless, they look so added on in comparison.
I’m a bit OCD…Neither car car hits my love button. However, I’d rather have a ’55 with no skirts. Same for the ’63…but given the two, gimme the 1955 Fairlane!
Gimme my druthers…1957 Fairlane with a ’58 front clip. A/C, AT, PW, PS, PB and all the other good junk. I’m not the kid I used to be! (I can live with the three-on-the-tree.) I’ll take the 292 V8, I ain’t proud. 🙂
Pretty sure the skirts on the ’63 are aftermarket. In the ’60s, lots of different aftermarket fender skirts were available for lots of cars. The ’55 and ’56, though, were designed with factory fender skirts in mind, sort of like what Chevy did with the Caprice in the late ’60s through ’76.
What a great scene! 60’s Americana, transported into 2017.
My Uncle Bob had a 56 Crown Vic with stick shift. That was a great car. Thanks for the picture, as it brought back fond memories.
Yes I agree about the skirts looking “natural” on the 56 and somewhat out of place on the 63. The 52- 56 Ford were ‘made” for skirts, as were the corresponding Mercurys. Here is my 53 Merc, which is for sale (I think).
Paul, could it be a ’55? Thought the 56’s had the exhaust outlets in the bumper.
Definitely a ’56. The side trim is different from the ’55.
It’s definitely a 56, maybe the bumper exhaust was an option or the car originally had single pipe.
Suddenly it’s the early to mid 1960s again!
I’m sure there must have hundreds of similar scenes in Findlay or Lima, OH back then when I was in elementary school.
I like the 56 we didnt get the two door cars new only the fordor but I like em.
The 56 looks better with the fender skirts than the 63 IMO.
It’s hard work to find something in the photo that *isn’t* period. The 2nd-floor A/C could about pass, and it’s nice to see the 3-tab shingles (from before the “laminated” ones came to market). Is that a cable-TV wire or two I see?
Once more: great picture, great to see the cars getting the love, with someone “keeping them nice for the next guy.”
If that ’56 had been a sedan, the height difference would be even more pronounced – Victorias like this had a lower roof than the rest of the range.
Love that Victoria .
Both cars sport Foxcraft skirts .
-Nate
My 2 cents worth is as follows. The fender skirts on these beauts fits them perfectly. A few days ago, that beautiful 1962 Galaxie was featured. Most of the respondents didn’t like those fender skirts. Most likely because they just screamed “after market” I like all cars, (Well, ok those bullet nosed Studebakers are an acquired taste that I never achieved ) But may favorite is Ford. 40’s on up. Would be proud to have either of these in my driveway.
The only cars that should have skirts are ones that were designed at the factory to have them IMHO.
OOOOH! That 56! DROOL!! My dad bought a 55 Town sedan in yellow & white off the showroom floor; a great uncle had a red & white Victoria like this one. His also had a period continental kit, which was not that common then….unlike every restored car you see at shows now with EVERY possible add on option!! 🙂
BTW: I’ve come to the conclusion that the 55/56 Fords are much prettier than the 55/56 Chevy (IMO)!!
The narrower band white walls are not period correct for the 1956. They appear to be radials which, likewise, aren’t 1956 correct. Also, fuzzy dice hanging from mirror on 1956 isn’t period correct.
It strikes me as a little odd that in the ‘See-the-USA-in-your-Chevrolet’ 1950’s, Ford marketed a car with the name ‘Crown Victoria’. It’s more what one would have expected from Austin or Armstrong-Siddeley.