Disguised a bit as it is now, but this cool-looking 1955 Ford wagon is a four-door Country Sedan. It has been detrimmed, relieved of its door handles, and finished in such a way that it projects an old-school, not overdone, vibe. Randy J. found the listing for this Oak Hill, Florida, automotive surfer-dude, and it’s available here on craigslist for $10,950.
Ford had its work cut out for it in 1955; specifically, its nemesis, Chevrolet, had a whole new modern design and a significant V8 engine that would go on to set records. Still, Ford managed to knock out 1.4 M vehicles, giving it a second-place finish in the great domestic production race. As for the Country Sedan, 106K found its way into America’s expanding and sprawling suburbia. The seller tells us that this wagon has undergone a “frame-off” restoration (which, I guess, is really a body-off resto, but I digress), and it has been finished in a deep burgundy shade with little trim or chrome visible. The bumpers have been painted black – I’m not sure about that effect, while the steel wheels are finished in silver paint and topped with trim rings and conical chrome hub centers, yielding a very 50’s hotrod feel. Finally, we have what looks like side-mounted Lake pipes – they’re not connected and appear to have gotten in the way of the paint sprayer. I do find it curious that nothing is said regarding the shaved door handles. One would assume “poppers” are in place to kick the doors open, but I guess an inquiry will need to be made to ascertain that rather important detail.
As for catching a wave, a 302 CI V8 engine of unknown provenance provides the go-factor, but nothing in terms of specifics is offered. The engine is topped with a rusty open-element air cleaner, which appears to be perched on top of a four-barrel carburetor, and it’s fired by a Mallory ignition system, but that’s all I got. Note the broken fan shroud; it reminds me of a late sixties V8-equipped Chevy with those defective engine mounts. The engine lifts, and the shroud is the first thing to go (along with a stuck open throttle – ask me how I know!) An automatic transmission is in place, one that’s actuated by a ratchet shifter, but that’s all I got for you on that front. The seller adds, “Mostly driven to car shows.”
The interior is finished in red velour upholstery, and it looks to be in good nick, but the included images (both of them) aren’t comprehensive or detailed. The layout appears to be the stock configuration with a front bench seat, and fronted, of course, by the aforementioned, hardly inconspicuous shifter. It would be nice to catch a glimpse of the wayback, but no images are included.
Neat? Yup, I’d say so. I like this Ford’s understated, old-school look, but the listing is light, a little too light on details in my estimation. And considering the amount of work that went into this build (that frame-off business), more details are warranted, wouldn’t you agree?
Either way this is a neat old wagon.
Seems like a fair price for a decent car.
The bumpers are painted because re-plating is incredibly expensive. This is a reasonable price considering what you’re getting.
Wonder how often they wash the salt water off bottom..
What’s wrong with door handles? Lose the surf board & lake pipes and you’ve got a cool wagon. Not a fan of the blacked out bumpers either.
Price seems right if it is a solid runner, & hopefully clean underneath. Though I’d still rather have door handles cause I’d want to use it daily.
I agree about the “Black Bumpers”, a term for a sect of Mennonites possibly, who would appreciate this car, not because they couldn’t afford chrome but because it was ostentatious or not plain. They would paint all of the chrome black even if the car was new. I agree about black bumpers as being ugly especially on a car with dark paint. I had a 53 Ford back in the 60’s, my first car, and it ran very well for a $50 car. After I tuned it up one of the first things I did was paint the bumpers with “chrome” paint, more like silver color.
Yes ‘chrome’ silver would be preferred. Maybe keep the grill blacked out, but only the grill.
Chrome plating prices have gone to the moon. Had one of the stamped out thin metal grills for my latest Bugeye build rechromed for a bit more than $500 plus shipping. If it had been a show car it would have cost me over 1K.
really like the wagon era here (’52/7?). Just the right design (in my DNA as I grew up w/this model). Almost a pontoon slab side compared to the bulgem0bile sedan/coupe (which I do not like – tri5 etc). One color scheme looks good too (not many of the gen after the 1st yr or 2 I think). I C it in europe w/the Wolwo Duett (544) nother I like (fergedid, I like most wagons).
We moved from Baldi-mur, MD to Bosson, MA abt 1960 in one of these. Lasted a yr or 2 up here till as the momie-kid-buss she slid on ice into a tree (bursitis of the knee life long after a dash smash to our ma-tron). Thenceforth dad supplied her w/a more controllable SIMCA 1000, renault dauphine, fiat 128 etc lill guy. I wrenched on them, enthralled by the lill Italian jewels (fiat, alfa, lancia). Finally maturing (only a lill) into my own wagons (till this day) from ’72 – now. I hada reach back in time (’85 in ’22) to satisfy, but I’m back to fords too (an LTD fox-body).
How can I be the first? The surfboard is on backwards. Nothing do debate, it just is. Final answer!