Any classic car can look tired and frayed around the edges after more than sixty years, and this is particularly true of station wagons. They tend to live life harder than most, but this 1956 Ford Country Sedan is an exception to the rule. It presents exceptionally well for its age, and the V8 under the hood should make it a sprightly performer. It needs a new home, with the seller listing it here at Barn Finds Classifieds in Polk City, Florida. You could drive home in this gem by handing the seller $18,500.
Ford introduced its Second Generation Country Sedan in 1955. Although it wasn’t as well-equipped as its more expensive Country Squire sibling, it easily outsold it because it offered outstanding value for money. This Country Sedan is 1-of-85,374 sold during 1956, which is a considerably higher figure than the Country Squire’s 23,221. It makes a positive first impression, which only improves the further we delve into its overall condition. The striking Green and White paint shines beautifully, with the seller describing its condition as an easy 8/10. That assessment might be marking it harshly because there are no significant flaws or issues. It retains a wonderful depth of color and shine, with no evidence of patchiness or checking. It cloaks panels as straight as an arrow with tight and consistent gaps. Classics from this era developed a reputation for rust problems, but this Ford avoided that fate. It is rock solid, from its panels to its floors and frame. The chrome and trim look excellent for a survivor of this age, and the glass is spotless. This Country Sedan belonged to the same family most of its life, with its condition proof that it was considered a valued family member.
The positive impression continues when we examine this Country Sedan’s interior. This is one area of classic station wagons that can suffer more than others as time passes. Most serve as basic family transport, with small children, sticky fingers, the family dog, and moving luggage capable of exacting a high toll on trim and upholstery. That isn’t the case with this gem because the Gray and White cloth and vinyl trim is free from rips and tears. There are no stains or other marks, and the carpet is excellent. Possibly the most impressive aspect is the rear cargo area. There is no evidence that floating luggage or other items have inflicted damage, which is rare in a vehicle of this type. You must search long and hard to spot defects, and these are minor and add to the vehicle’s character. There is a repairable crack in the wheel and some slight marks on some painted surfaces, but these are acceptable for a survivor-grade classic and could remain untouched. The new owner will find life pleasant thanks to the vintage air conditioning, while the radio/cassette player should relieve boredom on long journeys.
Buyers could order their 1956 Country Sedan with a six under the hood, but this Ford’s original owner selected the 292ci V8 producing 200hp. The power feeds to the road via a three-speed manual transmission. Although outright performance probably wasn’t the driving factor behind the choice, the wagon’s ability to cover the ¼-mile in 17.3 seconds looks impressive for a vehicle of this type and age. For potential buyers, the positive news continues. The Country Sedan is in excellent mechanical health, with the seller describing it as a joy to drive. The engine is strong, the transmission is smooth, and it has no issues requiring attention. It rolls on new tires, and the brakes were recently replaced. The seller includes a box of parts, manuals, and documents that trace this classic’s history.
Choosing a suitable classic to fit your lifestyle can be challenging, particularly for an enthusiast with a family. The lure of a muscle or pony car can be hard to resist, although such cars might prove impractical in such circumstances. That is where vehicles like this 1956 Ford Country Sedan fit into the equation. Turning the key produces the wonderful bass rumble only available from a V8, its presentation is hard to fault, and it will comfortably accommodate the entire family. That it has survived for sixty-seven years and still presents so well suggests it has been treated respectfully throughout its life. Its solid nature means it is conceivable that it could still be plying our roads in another sixty-seven years. That could make it a perfect family heirloom, and I can’t see anything negative about that idea. Can you?
Nice-looking car and I’d say listed at a fair price, especially given the installation of the A/C system. Maybe all it needs is a recharge?
To nice to be a daily driver given the mileage. If it was mine, I’d have a matching Airstream or Shasta behind it. The V-8 should be able to pull a vintage under 20-foot vintage trailer, no sweat.
What say the rest of you?
My heart has just been stolen. Wish I had the bucks and a ɓigger garage, this would look sweet parked next to my 56 F100.
What a well preserved beauty.
Would love to park this beauty next to my 55 F100. But I’ve been on the waiting list for a new C8 for over a year and our number came up a couple weeks ago. Torch red Stingray convertible due to arrive 1st week of April! That will take the remaining garage space.
We had a 1956 Ford Customline Fordor sedan (same trim style with the triangular panel on the rear doors for 32 years. I was almost born in that car as I came in an hour and 20 minutes from contraction#1 and my 55th birthday was recent on 3/5/23. Dad did 80 all the way to the hospital! We named that car The Sherman Tank because it was in a couple of fender benders over the years and it sustained only minor damage while totaling the poor sap’s car that ran into it! That was in 1966 and 1973 respectively! The car finally died in 1992 when I was the unlucky one driving it when the engine blew. The rear main oil seal gave way and the idiot light for the oil came on about 2 seconds before one of the rods blew a hole in the side of the engine block.
Anyway, this is a beautiful wagon but the interior has been completely reupholstered including the door cards and rear cargo area. The original design for the door cards followed the trim design on the exterior and had rectangular stamping in the vinyl. The shape of the designs on the seats are different too. That being said, they did a nice job on that and if you don’t care about exact historic matching materials, it looks really good.
I have missed that car for all these years and would love to have another one. Ours had the 272 V8 and the Fordomatic transmission. Ours was diamond blue (light powder blue) with a white top and a darker blue interior. Whoever winds up with this car is definitely getting a gem to enjoy and appreciate. I don’t have the garage space or the extra funds to shell out that much for it, but I hope whoever winds up with it will treasure it as much as my family treasured our beloved Sherman.
You’ll love your new C8. My buddy in Atlanta ordered is, expecting to wait for 9-12 months. He told the dealer that he wouldn’t pay more than the $92K list price (other dealers wanted a premium over list of between $30-$40K – the Burlington, NC dealer wanted $129K). My guy had a 2015 C7 with !8K miles to trade and he got a call 2 months later asking if he was ready. Paid list but with the trade-in of $45K, got out with half the list price in cash. I told him it was because they were going to sell his trade for $80K at least.
Hope you do as well.
I ordered mine from Payne Chevrolet in Springfield, TN. They can’t mark the price up if you order and receive it. If they order it and put a few hundred miles on the car, then they can sell it for more. I got mine at the retail price of 64K and with the Stingray package and convertible top it’s 74 and some change. You can’t even touch a new Tahoe for that now. Zero to 60 in 2.9 seconds, 11 second quarter Mike and 195 MPH top speed. Enzo who?
parents bought a new country sedan in 1956 had the Fairlane side trim difference was ones like subject car was a 6 passenger with customline trim the one with Fairlane trim was the 9 passenger had the third seat ours had a 312 automatic and was fast for that time great car
We had a 55 Country Sedan in red and white, 6 cylinder, 3 speed on the column. They bought it used for my mother from Jackson Ford on Croton Avenue in Ossining, NY when the 51 Kaiser Traveler breathed its last. It was a nice station wagon and I remember that it had a distinct odor of pipe tobacco that never left it in the years she owned it. The dash was a little different from the 56 in that the radio was a circular dial with a chrome ring around it and a horizontal set of push buttons at the bottom. There were minor differences between 55 and 56. For example, the front parking/turn lights were round rather than the 56’s horizontal, and the 55 tailights didn’t have the chrome ring on the inner circle (which I note are missing on this 56). A nice car, but it couldn’t touch her next used car – 1957 black Olds 88 convertible.
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The instrument cluster was also totally different between 55 & 56.
And Ford also made the change from 6 to 12 volts in 1956.
Very nice car and looks to be priced well
Have to agree with YBLOCKER, if only I had the money and more room in the garage. Would be happy and proud to take it to ‘Cruise Night’.
Coming from a large family 6 children our dad didn’t have a choice but to buy, have and drive Fully Sized Beach Wagons. He had a total of 6 throughout the years. 2 Dodges, 2 69 Chevy Caprice Estates, a 72 Ford LTD Country Squire and a 75 Mercury Brougham Grand Marquis Colonial Park LS Park Lane Beach Wagon. The Wagon that we fondly remember the most was the 1960 Black Dodge 9 Passenger Beach Wagon. It was Black with Sky Blue Interior a Roof Rack with the Tail
Fins. We Nicknamed it The Batmobile. Because of the Tail Fins on the rear quarter panel fenders. The Taillights were six inches wide and 2 -3” deep. The back up Taillights were just as big and wide.
How can I forget about the Tailgate glass of which in order to get that
air flowing through the Wagon you had to roll down the Tailgate Glass with the Armstrong Crank Manual Handle.
Of which it was folded back into position to lock it back in position of the way it was made and manufactured. What memories to have to remember.
Sincerely Yours Truly😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎