Ford’s 1956 Lineup: From Mainline to Thunderbird

In the United States for the 1956 model year, Ford’s passenger-car lineup comprised the Mainline, Customline, and Fairlane series (including Victoria, Crown Victoria, Skyliner, and Sunliner variants), the two-seat Thunderbird, and a broad station-wagon family—Ranch Wagon, Custom Ranch Wagon, Parklane (one-year-only), Country Sedan, and Country Squire—plus the Courier sedan delivery and F-Series trucks (F-100, F-250, F-350 and medium/heavy-duty variants). Below is a detailed breakdown, with notes on body styles, wagons, and global variations.

U.S. Passenger-Car Series and Body Styles

The core Ford car range in 1956 was organized into three trim series—Mainline (entry), Customline (mid), and Fairlane (premium). Within these series, Ford offered multiple body styles to cover sedans, hardtops, convertibles, and specialty trims.

• Mainline (entry level): 2-door and 4-door sedans (commonly Tudor and Fordor types), aimed at value-focused buyers and fleet use.
• Customline (mid level): 2-door and 4-door sedans with upgraded trim and interiors over Mainline.
• Fairlane (top series):
  

  • Club Sedan (2-door) and Town Sedan (4-door) with pillars.
  • Victoria (2-door hardtop) and Town Victoria (4-door hardtop).
  • Crown Victoria (2-door hardtop with distinctive stainless-steel “crown” band).
  • Crown Victoria Skyliner (Crown Vic with the tinted acrylic “glasstop” roof panel).
  • Sunliner (convertible).

Together, these series covered the heart of Ford’s 1956 car market—from basic sedans to premium hardtops and convertibles—anchoring the brand’s volume lineup that year.

Station Wagons (One of Ford’s Strongest 1956 Segments)

Ford’s station wagons spanned budget to premium, with both two- and four-door offerings. The lineup also included a notable, single-year premium two-door model.

• Ranch Wagon (2-door): Base wagon offering, effectively the entry wagon in the lineup.
• Custom Ranch Wagon (2-door): Trim-upgraded version of the Ranch Wagon.
• Parklane (2-door): One-year-only premium 2-door wagon for 1956, positioned as a high-trim alternative.
• Country Sedan (4-door): Mainstream 4-door wagon, offered in 6- and 9-passenger configurations.
• Country Squire (4-door): Top-trim “woodgrain” wagon, also available with 6- and 9-passenger seating.

This wagon range gave Ford a presence from utilitarian two-doors to family-focused four-doors, capped by the upscale Country Squire and the unique, short-lived Parklane.

Thunderbird: The Glamorous Two-Seater

Ford’s 1956 Thunderbird continued as a two-seat personal car with V8 power. For 1956, it added the now-iconic porthole hardtop option and moved the spare tire to an external rear “continental” mount to free trunk space, reinforcing its blend of style and sport.

Commercial, Utility, and Trucks

Beyond passenger cars, Ford offered work-focused models that shared styling DNA but targeted business and utility needs.

• Courier sedan delivery: A car-based, two-door panel variant aimed at commercial users.
• F-Series pickups: Light-duty F-100, F-250, and F-350 models, plus medium and heavy-duty variants (e.g., F-500, F-600 and up), along with panel and chassis-cab configurations for specialized bodies.

These offerings rounded out Ford’s 1956 portfolio, ensuring coverage from personal-use cars to commercial transport and fleet workhorses.

Engines and Notable Features

Ford’s 1956 cars offered the 223-cubic-inch inline-six and a family of Y-block V8s (272, 292, and 312 cubic inches), including the “Thunderbird Special” V8 in higher-performance applications. A key storyline in 1956 was Ford’s Lifeguard safety campaign, which promoted seat belts, a deep-dish steering wheel, improved door latches, and padded dashboards—unusual safety emphasis for the era.

Canada and Overseas Variations

Model names and badges varied outside the U.S. In Canada, Ford-branded models generally mirrored U.S. Mainline/Customline/Fairlane offerings, while Ford of Canada also supported Canada-only companion marques (Meteor and Monarch) sold through Ford-Mercury dealer networks. In Europe, Ford of Britain sold compact models such as the Anglia, Prefect, Popular, and the newly updated Zephyr/Zodiac Mk II range during 1956, while Ford of Germany offered the Taunus 12M/15M—demonstrating how “1956 Fords” could look quite different depending on the market.

Summary

For 1956 in the U.S., Ford’s lineup centered on the Mainline, Customline, and Fairlane series; a robust station-wagon family (Ranch Wagon, Custom Ranch Wagon, Parklane, Country Sedan, Country Squire); the stylish two-seat Thunderbird; the Courier sedan delivery; and F-Series trucks. The year also marked Ford’s push on safety with Lifeguard features and showcased broad variety—from budget sedans to premium hardtops and wagons—tailored to virtually every buyer segment of the time.

What models did Ford make in 1955?

The 1955 Ford offered several full-size car models, including the base Mainline, the mid-range Customline, and the premium Fairlane. Also available were several station wagons like the Country Sedan, Country Squire, Custom Ranch, and Ranch Wagon. Additionally, Ford introduced the stylish two-door Thunderbird and a range of F-Series trucks, such as the F-100, for the 1955 model year.
 
Full-Size Cars

• Mainline: Ford’s most basic and affordable full-size car model. 
• Customline: The mid-range option, positioned above the Mainline. 
• Fairlane: The premium full-size model for 1955, offering various body styles, including sedans and the convertible Sunliner. 
• Thunderbird: A unique personal luxury coupe, often considered America’s first personal luxury car, also available as a convertible. 

Station Wagons 

• Country Sedan: and Country Squire: Four-door station wagons, with the Country Squire featuring distinctive wooden side moldings.
• Custom Ranch Wagon: and Ranch Wagon: Two-door station wagons.

Trucks

• Courier: A sedan delivery commercial vehicle. 
• F-Series Trucks: Including the popular F-100 and heavier-duty F-250 and F-350 models. 

What cars did Ford make in 1956?

The 1956 Ford offered several distinct model lines, including the Fairlane (with versions like the Crown Victoria, Sunliner, and Town Sedan), the Fairlane Customline and Customline Victoria, the Mainline, and various station wagons such as the Parklane, Ranch Wagon, and the upscale Country Squire. The luxury-oriented Thunderbird was also a prominent model, alongside the Ford F-Series line of pickup trucks, including the popular F-100.
 
1956 Ford Passenger Car Models

• Fairlane: The premium offering, available in several forms:
  • Fairlane Victoria: A 2-door hardtop model. 
  • Crown Victoria: A distinctive model featuring a stainless steel band on the roofline. 
  • Crown Victoria Skyliner: A rare, limited-production model with a transparent acrylic top panel. 
  • Fairlane Sunliner: A 2-door convertible. 
  • Fairlane Town Sedan: A 4-door sedan version. 
  • Fairlane Fordor Victoria: A 4-door version of the Victoria. 
• Mainline: The base series of Ford cars, offered as 2-door (Tudor) and 4-door (Fordor) sedans, and a 2-door Business Coupe. 
• Customline: A mid-range offering, available as Tudor and Fordor sedans. 
• Station Wagons:
  • Ranch Wagon: A more basic 2-door wagon. 
  • Parklane: A 2-door station wagon from the Fairlane line. 
  • Country Squire: The premium station wagon, with simulated wood paneling. 
  • Country Sedan: A 6-passenger, 4-door wagon, available with Customline trim. 
• Thunderbird: Ford’s personal luxury car, known for its unique styling and a two-seater configuration at the time. 

1956 Ford Truck Models

• F-Series: A line of trucks, including:
  • F-100: A half-ton pickup truck. 
  • F-250: A 3/4-ton pickup truck. 
  • F-350: A 1-ton pickup truck. 
• Courier: A small, light-duty pickup truck. 

What was the top of the line 1956 Ford?

Fairlane
The Fairlane was Ford’s top-of-the-line model in 1956, and the Victoria variant was a stylish two-door hardtop that emphasized elegance and flair.

What was the most popular Ford car in the 1950s?

Ford Thunderbird
The T-Bird came packed with features like power windows and an array of engine options, giving it an edge over competitors. Instantly a classic, it became a cultural milestone, solidifying Ford’s place in the luxury market.