If you’re a fan of those “I’ve never seen one of these” kinds of cars, this 1956 Ford may interest you. It was converted into a flower car for use with serving the needs of the dearly departed. We don’t know if someone did it as a one-off, or if it was done by a coach builder (we found one in Canada that built a few). This 1956 Ford Crown Vic looks like an early Ranchero, and it’s said to be in great shape due to an earlier restoration. Located in Piedmont, Alabama, this rare find is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $18,900. Thanks for the Ford tip, “Moparman”!
We’ve seen Cadillacs and Lincolns used as flower cars, but this is my first Ford. They picked the top-of-the-line model to do it with in the Crown Victoria. So, if you were going to base this on a Ford, it would be the one to pick. The Fairlane arrived in 1955, and the Crown Vic was the top trim level on that car, only offered as a 2-door hardtop. It came with unique B-pillars, which had a wide stainless-steel band whose “crowning” led to the model’s name. The 1956 edition had minor changes with turn signal lenses and taillights.
Specialty vehicles like this would not have been built by Ford, who would have outsourced the custom work. Often, they were based on lower models, like the Sedan Delivery. One such coach builder who is thought to have worked on some of these was J.J. Little in Ontario, Canada. Whether they had anything to do with this build isn’t known. This Ford may have hauled a lot of flowers in its day, as it has 136,000 miles to its credit.
We’re told this rarity has only had two owners in its 70 years. It comes packed with a 312 cubic inch V8 and a Cruise-O-Matic automatic tranny. The seller says it has been restored, but we don’t know how long ago that was. It’s said to be a great runner and would be perfect for making the car show rounds. Chances are, if you show up with it anywhere, yours will be the only one.
Nice! Some may gasp at what someone did to a “glass top Vickie”, but did an outstanding job. Love the “big footie” gas pedal. There’s not much consolation in seeing these wonderful creations paraded away as some object to bolster finances, but these were much more than that to the builder/user, and I suppose we can can take solace in knowing, whoever made this had a vision, and followed through, and enjoyed it. Can’t argue with that. Fun to see what neat cars some folks had.
Howard I didn’t see where it was mentioned that this conversion was a glass-top. And if it is, that’s just plain sacrilegious! Only 603 of those were built in `56, so they are the scarcest Ford offering that year. To hack up an original for this I would frown on, personally. It’s nice for what was done to it, but I hope this was a steel-top Crown and not a glass-top! (Seen a `55 glass-top done like this in a super tacky bright yellow & white! Urp!)
Pictures sure look like a glass top, but to my eye looks like a non-factory glass panel. Didn’t know they had 312 engines in 56, thought 292 was biggest in 56. Don’t guess it matters, it’s a really neat lookin’ car. Just buy it, add A/C, and drive it til the wheels fall off!
I had a 56’ Ford in highschool which indeed did have a 312 in it. Ran pretty good. Used to clean up at a local drag strip.
Henry. Most of my 50’s Ford cars had a 312 in it. My Buddy had a farm so lots of space to put all of our 50’s for parts. If we blew an engine another was put in before the day ended. Luckily most parts were interchangeable throughout the 50’s. But we loved our 312’s I put a 390 in one of my 6cyls with a floor shift. Just moving forward from a start position was heaven. Don’t remeber the name of the 3 speed shifter but from 1st gear if pushed up it went into 2nd by itself. I did a lot of street racing during the 60’s.
1956 was first year for the 312 parents bought one new 225hp 312 was called Thunderbird special V8 where 292 was just called Thunderbird V8 what they did not have in 1956 was cruiseomatic they still only had fordomatic which looks like this car has
then it was just another car to be ordered,cheaper than a caddy and looks alot better
I am not sure, on one hand I think it is very cool. But then some photos it seems off a bit. I don’t think it was a glass top. If I got this car, I would take it all apart and start over. I would want to make it look exactly like Ford did it, with a very cool vibe.
Nice find Moparman and writeup Russ. Too bad I can’t get into FB to take a closer look. This car is unique and very interesting, seems to be priced reasonable.
You do not need to be a FB member to view the listing. I am not a FB member and I had no problem viewing the listing. The listing is now marked as sold.
I will take it!!!!!!!!!` Cadillac sorta owned the funeral car business, I have heard that NASCAR driver Bill Elliott’s father, a life long Ford dealer, had it written in his will that he was to take his last ride in a Lincoln Hearse..
Guess that is what gave the idea to Ford to start producing them.
I always wanted a Cadillac flower car but these Crown Vics were just too nice to cut and make this ugliness. I’m sure I’m one of the few that thinks it’s ugly but I sit here thinking our nice it was when it rolled out of the factory door.
The car may well be a factory “glass top” (Crown Victoria Skyliner) as it does look like one from the pics. The factory code 64B denotes Skyliner (glass top) and code P denotes the 312 Y-Block. If one could get a shot of the data plate could verify authenticity quickly. As a kid growing up in a small Mississippi town in the 1960s/1970s, our next door friends owned the local funeral home. The undertaker probably would have LOVED this car as he didn’t like “new” vehicles. He had a 1942 Plymouth Hearse/Ambulance, 1964 Pontiac Catalina Hearse/Ambulance and a “new” 1970 Cadillac Hearse. (All were supposedly at least 10 years old when he bought them – probably cheaply.) As a kid I thought those big monsters were cool! All were black and shined to a tee every day.
could pass this off as a ranchero. it looks factory.
If I had the cash money? I’d be on the way to Alabammy, with my checkbook on my knee!
Vic-chero?
Nice touch with the blue oval on the back of the cab in the flower bed! I don’t remember seeing trim ride up onto the fender top? Only thing i don’t like is the wood on the door cards
How to cut the value of your car in half and waste hours of your life. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
as rare and beautiful as a crown victoria is , this hurts to look at . not because its a hack job . but because it was done to such a rare car .
1956 TBird had 312 with 2bbl, 4bbl, 2/4bbl options … 1957 would offer a supercharged 312 … my 55’s only had 292 4bbl …
there never was a 312 with a single 2 barrel
i can,t figer out all the replys,cut up a rare car,when this was built you could all you wanted at your local ford dealer was not a collector car,just a fancy ford