Listed as being in original condition and having covered 70,000 miles, this two owner 1956 Ford 6 Passenger Country Sedan is a beauty. With loads of room for the family, and a factory Thunderbird V8, this Country Sedan is ready to take you to the next local car event. Wearing a Cream and Salmon color scheme, this attractive wagon is priced at $23,500. Find it here on craigslist out of Los Angeles, California.
The 292 cubic inch V8 and the engine bay itself look clean, with a moderate shine to the paint on the firewall. The 200 horsepower V8 is backed by an automatic transmission. The 292 was also used in the Thunderbird, but was a factory option for this country sedan, along with a 223 cubic inch inline 6 that produced a mere 137 horsepower. Clearly the 292 was the check box to mark.
The interior looks fantastic, and almost too good to be true. The seller claims there to be patina, but it isn’t the most apparent patina from the photographs. The front seat fabric appears a little stretched from time and use. The dashboard looks as if it were new, as well as the rest of the interior. The “A” pillar on the driver side has a paper label that appears to be vintage. Also the trunk space where the spare tire is located appears to have a paper label that is still there, but it may no longer be legible. The exterior looks clean and mint for the most part. The paint does appear to be older, there looks to be some minor swirl and buff marks in the paint from some of the photos. The chrome looks perfect as well. There appears to be no real evidence of rock chipping, or really any damage to the front end of this car for it covering 70,000 miles. The seller seems quite adamant that this Ford is all original, so perhaps this is just an excellent example of a 6 Passenger Country Sedan? Take a look at the craigslist ad, and tell us what you think.
Assuming this Ford is truly a survivor, its likely that its one of, if not the best, surviving example of a 6 passenger Country Sedan. The color scheme is very ‘50s and with a Thunderbird 292 V8, this seems like a nicely optioned Country Sedan. Likely to be more of a time machine, this Ford would certainly fit in at the local hamburger joint car show, as well as any large events. If this is a genuine survivor, we would be hard pressed to drive it too much, but it we would certainly have to get it to a few shows a year. Does this 1956 Ford 6 Passenger Country Sedan tickle your fancy? Do you indeed think that this is a survivor, or perhaps an older restoration? What would you do with this Country Sedan?
It’s a work of art. I love it. I don’t love the price tag however.
Beautiful….but I wish it was the 2dr ranch wagon version.
The “tri-five” Fords were wonderfully proportioned cars and the wagons were no exception. I personally liked the Country Squire with the wood trim better but this one is definitely sweet. More great nostalgia from the guys @ Barn Finds. Thanks again.
Front doors been fiddled with – hinges probably – superb find – full points
I thought that a “P” in the vin was a 312 cu.
I think you are right. the rocker covers are original T-Bird, the air cleaner also. A 312 would be the upper engine option. 1957’s had all 3, 272,292, and 312. I think 56’s did as well.
Al
Drove one just like this my senior year ’66 of high school, color was the factory red and white, had the small v8 and she did roar with glass packs added. Good times and some great memories especially weekend date night at the local drive-in theatre…
Would sure like to have this wagon but a bit out of my price range, nice find!
Love old SW’s. Hard to believe this one’s original but it’s possible.
I’m waiting to see if there are ANY ’50s two-tone wagons in nice original condition that I don’t like.
About the only thing I’d do after making sure everything works properly is get a skilled upholstery person to install fresh padding under those nice seat covers. And then I’d drive. And drive. This is just about my favorite mid-’50s station wagons, I think, especially in this color scheme.
“And never had any patch work done with a lot of original paint on it also.”
Still, even though not ALL of the paint is original, pretty nice car
Gorgeous! I bought, but never got, a ’56 Ford wagon this same color a few years ago for $750. It had belonged to a small funeral home in Seagraves, TX, where it had been the community ambulance for several years. It was taken out of service in the early ’80s, but the owner held on to it, allowing his boys to drive it as a school car once the lights and siren, etc., were removed. Never thought much about it again and ended up back in Midland from Lubbock in the ’90s. A business trip to Lubbock about 15 years ago took me through Seagraves. I stopped by the funeral home, which had changed hands. But the original owner’s eldest son and his wife lived next door; and turned out that they still had the old wagon. I offered to buy and the son said sure because he knew I’d restore it as an ambulance. He had to talk to his mom but foresaw no problem. On my way back a few days later, I stopped by the place. Talked to the wife and the mother-in-law agreed to sell. My offer was accepted and the wife took my payment. But I couldn’t take the car because it needed to be made-ready and the old lady had to sign the title. I got a receipt from the wife, but I’ve never seen them or the car since. With multiple trips into Seagraves over the years, I’ve never found them, and then the car was gone. And suddenly a year or so ago a friend of mine who’s a member of the Professional Car Society (PCS) and lives in AZ called me. He asked me if I knew anything about Connally Funeral Home in Seagraves, TX. and had I ever seen their ’56 Ford. Of course, I said I did and that the wagon was mine, and had he seen it. It had turned up at a car show near Phoenix, totally restored with lights, siren, etc. The guy who now has it had gotten it from the son and a lot more than the $750 I had spent. And to this day I’ve never found the son or his wife. I was tempted to contact the current owner; but I was afraid I’d get pissed and make a scene, so I didn’t!
Been there, done that. (kinda).
I suppose civil court might give you 2 years to sue in many states. It is actually criminal, but you have to convince someone to take up your case. It might not hurt to make a plaintive, personal visit to the local sheriff or police chief. If this is a normal business method for the family, the local authority might make a house call. this is the way business used to happen in the old days, and there is something to be said for it. (Of course, this would only get your money back, but still better than a slap!)
Sellers never have as much motivation as when their hand is extended for the money. I would never have given much money till I had physical possession.
and then there is the problem of the title. Years ago, when paper checks were more accepted, one could present a personal check witha memo: “TITLE ATTACHED, Ford Vinxxxxxxxx”, and the check (once verified that the said title was attached) would go thru clearing as a collection item, usually about a week in the US, and the seller would have the money deposited in his/ her account. I did this once on a damaged Porsche 911. But, the seller was an attorney, assistant Attorney General in a southern state, and of course a first class person. Whether it would work with all sellers? Might possibly work, but they need to have a bank account.
I had a somewhat similar situation a few years back. Since I would never buy a car without seeing it first, I flew out to NJ to look at the car. The transport company was going to pick up the car in a few days but I did leave with the title and a notarized bill of sale after paying for the car. When it came time to pick up the car, the seller wouldn’t release it. I called the local police and told them I had the title, a notarized bill of sale, and that I didn’t want to file a stolen car report but I didn’t know what other choice I had. The detective called the seller and about an hour later he said it was ok to pick up the car.
I have a similar car. I have owned my ’56 Country Sedan for 19 years and it always gets comments at car shows or just cruising around. The Fiesta Red and Colonial White color scheme are real attention getters. Wagons are cool !!!
My dad bought a Fairlane (next model up from this one), 9 passenger Country Sedan in Oct. of ’55 from Southwest Ford in Cleveland. It had the 292 T Bird Y block V8 but had stick. Really great car. Not sure what the rear end ratio was, but I could get the wheels to chirp going into third gear. Early problem: exhaust system rot – every 2 years. Found out what the problem was, not enough heat going through the dual exhausts. After the first replacement system went out (car was 4 years old), I talked my dad into glass packs. I was going to try to talk him into Smitty steel packs but I figured that would be pushing it. So my dad went out and bought Walker Continentals, probably the cheapest (not surprised knowing my dad) and loudest glass packs made. When you would wind it up in gear and let it back down, it would produce the sweetest rap I’ve ever heard. Dad didn’t see, or hear, it that way. But the nemesis of ’56 Fords, rust, caught up with the hauler in ’61 and dad went for a Falcon -whoopee
Nice car. For that money, though, I’d think you would fix the damn heater core.
And put the correct air cleaner on it.
something like that happened to me in reno nev bought a 59 edsel conv only for 6500 paid for the car sent trucks thee times no car the owner said he put it in storage and didn’t pay the storage said I took to long to get the car and he didn’t know what happened to it ebay wasn’t any help contacted reno sherfs dept they said hire a laywer which wanted 3000 to take the case and said with no car it might not be worth more money to this day I never found out what the real story was that was 2012
Hmmm…CA plates but the phone number and map are East Coast (and the background in a couple of the pics looks Martha’s Vineyard-ish. Hmmm…