Elite Dealer

1956 Ford Fairlane

Michigan

$12,495

Vehicle Details

Make

Ford

Model

Fairlane

Year

1956

Mileage

135,123 miles

Body Type

Sedan

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Engine

is in excellent running condition with the exception of a leaking carburetor

Condition

Good

Description

1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan, a genuine West Coast original with minimal modifications and authentic patina throughout. The engine runs excellently aside from a leaking carburetor—rebuild kit ordered and ready for installation. Two straightforward mechanical items need attention: rear wheel cylinders will be replaced, and the heater/blower assembly is missing along with door stops.

The interior presents beautifully in very good condition except for the headliner, which requires replacement. Paint shows excellent color and gloss from normal viewing distance; closer inspection reveals expected surface imperfections consistent with the car's age. This is a solid, honest Fairlane that has been well-preserved and stands ready to become a reliable, enjoyable cruiser with minimal finishing work.

A genuine classic that's earned its story.

Ford Fairlane Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Mike Sullivan

Muscle Cars

1955–1961

~3 min read

Updated Apr 2026

Before the Fairlane became a mid-size platform, it was the crown jewel of Ford's full-size lineup — a large, chrome-laden car named after Henry Ford's estate that outsold every competitor and defined what an American family car could look like in the 1950s.

This guide covers

✓ 8-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 4 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Fairlane Buyer's Guide

Ford Fairlane Market Overview

Based on 75 Ford Fairlane listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$42,014

Avg. Asking Price

1955–1969

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site — Below Average

This car: $12,495

Low: $7,495 High: $550,000

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 64%

Manual 20%

Condition Distribution

Excellent 11%

Good 8% ◄

Fair 3%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 75 listings →

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Ford Fairlane Buyer's Guide

Mike Sullivan here. The Ford Fairlane is a name that means different things depending on which decade you're talking about. Most enthusiasts think of the mid-size 1962–1969 Fairlane — the performance platform we've covered separately. But the name started as a full-size prestige designation in 1955, and the original full-size Fairlane of 1955–1961 is a genuinely great car that deserves its own guide.

The full-size Fairlane was Ford's answer to a simple question: what does the buyer who can't quite afford a Mercury want? The answer was chrome, color, and a sense of occasion — and Ford delivered all three in abundance. Named after Fair Lane, Henry Ford's personal estate in Dearborn, the Fairlane carried prestige alongside its specification sheet.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Fin Area Rust (1957–1959) — Probe the rear fin areas where horizontal chrome joins — water collects here and rusts from inside out.

✓

Lower Quarter Rust — Check lower rear quarters and door bottoms — probe with a pick, not just visual inspection.

✓

Floor Pan Condition — Inspect floor pans from underneath and inside — sill welds are the most common perforation point.

✓

Y-Block Oil Consumption — Test drive at highway speed and watch for blue exhaust smoke — manageable but important to know.

✓

Supercharger (if equipped) — On supercharged 312 cars, verify the McCulloch blower is original and builds boost — seal replacement is available.

✓

Two-Tone Paint Documentation — Verify the paint scheme matches factory records — body tag should confirm original color combination.

✓

Skyliner Mechanism (if applicable) — On Skyliner retractable models, cycle the roof through full open and close — all 10 motors must function.

✓

Chrome Completeness — Inventory all exterior chrome — 1957–1959 cars have extensive trim that is expensive to reproduce correctly.

Common Issues

Rear fin rust on 1957–1959 models from water accumulation in the chrome join areas. Lower quarter and door bottom rust on northern-state cars. Y-block V8 oil consumption from worn valve stem seals — manageable but should be known. FE engine oil leaks from rear main seal on high-mileage cars. Correct two-tone paint documentation can be difficult to verify on repainted cars. Supercharged 312 blower maintenance and seal replacement.

What to Look For

Inspect lower rear quarter panels and door bottoms for rust — these are the structural concern areas on full-size Fords of this era. Check the floor pans from underneath, particularly at the sill welds. On 1957–1959 models, inspect the fin area carefully — water collects in the horizontal fin joins and rusts through from inside. Verify the Y-block or FE engine runs without excessive oil consumption. On supercharged 312 cars, verify the McCulloch supercharger is original and functional — these are rare and the blower adds significant value.

Price Guide

1955–1956 Fairlane sedans and Victoria hardtops: $12,000–$28,000. 1957–1958 Fairlane two-door hardtops: $15,000–$35,000. 1957–1958 Skyliner retractable hardtop: $40,000–$80,000+. Supercharged 312 cars (documented): $35,000–$65,000. 1959–1961 Fairlane hardtops: $12,000–$25,000. 1960 Starliner: $18,000–$38,000. Convertibles add 25–40% across all years.

Did You Know?

The "Fair Lane" name came directly from Henry Ford's 1915 estate in Dearborn, Michigan — a property now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The 1957 Ford Skyliner was the world's first (and only) production car with a fully retractable hardtop that folded into the trunk — an engineering feat that required 10 electric motors, four power switches, and a mechanism that weighed 800 pounds. The Crown Victoria trim name first appeared on the 1955 Fairlane and remains in Ford's commercial vehicle lineup today, making it one of the longest-lived automotive names in American history.

Elite Dealer

$12,495

1956 Ford Fairlane

Michigan

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Model History

How the Ford Fairlane evolved (1955–1970) — 4 generations.

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