Between 1952 and 1974, the Country Sedan was akin to the Ford Country Squire but without the side wood paneling and some of the creature comforts. It was more popular than the Squire, selling 85,000 copies in 1956 vs. 22,000 units of the more expensive wagon. This beauty from ’56 is a one-family-owned vehicle that may have been restored at some point but doesn’t run. Whether it’s a simple or complex fix, this Ford is available in Austin, Texas, and here on Facebook Marketplace for $15,000. Chalk another cool tip up to T.J!
Ford reworked its cars in 1955, going head-to-toe with Chevrolet in terms of having an “all-new” product in the showrooms at the same time. Sales were brisk, so changes were minimal in 1956 with thin parking lights replacing round ones. But the interiors were quite different with a new dash layout and steering wheel. Ranch Wagons were the base people mover followed by the Country Sedans and Squires. Four engines were offered, starting with a 223 cubic inch inline-6 and V8s ranging from 272 to 312 (the 292 was in between).
You’d think the seller of a one-family car like this would brag about its 69 years on Planet Earth. But no such luck here. We’re guessing the Sunset Coral and Colonial White paint has been reapplied, but when? Rust doesn’t seem to be an issue, and all of the ample chrome is nice and shiny. The interior seems tidy, as well, but the covering on the floor of the storage area in the rear looks a bit rough.
The seller says the 312 V8 resides in this gallant machine (transmission choice unknown, also the mileage). Something is amiss as the motor turns over but doesn’t want to catch. It could be something minor, and I would have addressed it before putting the car up for sale. Perhaps the seller has inherited the auto, knows little about it, and just wants it gone without having to deal with any issues.
If you are of a certain age, you will remember how ubiquitous wagons were in the ‘50’s. In a two-car family, it was usually Mom who drove the wagon to haul the kids around and pick up groceries. The family of a classmate had a ‘56 Country Sedan and I was amazed to see seat belts for the rear seats! Apparently that was part of an available “safety package.”
This looks like a twin to the one my grandparents bought in ’56. Except theirs was a 2 door. They bought brand new for their retirement to the family farm in upstate N.Y. Up north these were serious rusters. On a trip back to the city (Queens, NY, NY) my grand father was involved in an accident. This was about 1965, and the car was totaled. Only had about 25,000 miles on it, but it was rusty. NY winters and a garage with a dirt floor took its toll. I remember as a kid, me and my brother would sit on the tailgate while my grandfather drove through the fields to go out and pick corn. We also stood on the rear axle of the tractor and held on to the fenders while he drove through the fields. I doubt anybody would let kids do that now.
“Four engines were offered, starting with a 223 cubic inch inline-6 and V8s ranging from 272 to 312 (the 292 was in between).”
Three engines were offered, not four. The 272 wasn’t offered in ’56 wagons. Engine choices were the 292, the 312 or the 223 six.
We had a used ’55 base model with the 6 and 3 on the tree that Ma drove us around in. Think they paid $500 for it from Jackson Ford in Ossining on Croton Avenue. Nice ride with the round radio (sort of the omega shape) and smelled nicely of pipe smoke (although none of us smoked a pipe, including Ma). Don’t recall why we got rid of it, but perhaps because her next car was a 57 Olds 88 convertible with all that chrome.
That was the only year Ford used the round radio. In ’56 they got the standard-looking linear one. And all 55-56’s were nice looking cars, from the basic “Tudor” Club Sedan to the Crown Vic. My favorite is the Victoria (non-Crown).
A similar round radio was used in slightly later pickups. My Dad bought a ‘60 F100 Custom Cab with the wraparound rear window. It came with the “deluxe” round dial radio. It was virtually useless. Never did work worth a hoot.
By the way, a Victoria without a Crown is like a sundae with no cherry on top. 🍒
Looks like a nice car, and Ford’s Y-block is an easy engine to work on and there’s honest-to-goodness room to do the work too! And when running and fitted with straight pipes and glass packs, Y-blocks make sweet music.
The beauty of these old cars was diagnosing was simple. Lack of fuel or spark. This gem looks well preserved and worthy of being back on the road.
I’d love to get my hands dirty working on this and bring it back to life!
Looks great and doesn’t seem like it needs much. Is that paint on the back seat floor? I like that western-style “cattle brand” pattern upholstery – just right for a Texan car!
Brings back lots of memories. Mom and dad an aunt and uncle would pile in and some of us kids would sit in the rear facing back seat.
We had one just like this same color combo as well. Dad traded it for a 59 Chevrolet Brookwood wagon,
Anybody out there remember a man named Dan Pixler I think from Iowa he was a major authority on 55-56 fords and a restorer . He came to my house near Chicago to buy a bunch of NOS parts for a 55 I had, probably over 30 years ago ! Great guy .
If I remember correctly the 55 Fords had six volt systems, but changed to 12 volts for 56. That makes 56 modes more desirable to me. This wagon looks beautiful to me and it probably wouldn’t take much to have it back on the road and driving in a short time. The problem that I would have, though, is that I would want to remove the engine and fix what it needed, and detail under the hood, go through the transmission to make sure it was good, paint the engine and install a set of Thunderbird valve covers and an original style 312 air cleaner, and install a Vintage Air a/c system. Then definitely a sweet sounding set of dual exhaust to finish it off. This is a nice wagon that I would love to have. I hope that whoever get’s it takes good care of it.
‘56 was 12V Positive ground. Finally figured it out in ‘57
Bunky, you are right about that. I had a 56 Ford pickup with12 volt system with positive ground. Older Fords had positive ground and many of them got hooked up backwards which didn’t really cause big problems as far as I remember.
parents bought a new 1956 country sedan red and white 9 passenger had 3 seats this one is only a 6 passenger doesn’t have 3rd seat easy to tell difference 6 passenger has custom line trim 9 passenger had Fairlane body trim parents was a 312 ci 225 hp great car I was 11 years old older sister turned 16 in 1956 got license her and I used to go for rides in it
I bought a Country Squire out of North Dakota and shipped it to Adelaide Australia in 1988. I drove it straight of the dock, unregistered with a broken exhaust I drove it 1200 klm without a hitch. This was a time before speed cameras and over zealous cops. A ground up restoration and many years of pleasure with this Ford!