1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria – johnnyzs

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1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria

1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria

1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria

The Crown as it arrived in Melbourne

The sill panels on the Crown were way out of alignment

Sill panel replacement and rectification underway

New sills folded and shaped and welded in place

As a result of fixing the sill panels the doors needed to be extended to fit

As a result of fixing the sill panels the doors needed to be extended to fit, so both the door frame and the door skin needed to be modified

As a result of fixing the sill panels the doors needed to be extended to fit, so both the door frame and the door skin needed to be modified

As a result of fixing the sill panels the doors needed to be extended to fit, so both the door frame and the door skin needed to be modified

Over the years the Crowns rear quarters had taken quite the beating

Over the years the Crowns rear quarters had taken quite the beating

Both rear quarter panels needed to be re-radiused

Both rear quarter panels needed to be re-radiused

Both rear quarter panels needed to be re-radiused

All new metal rolled and welded in

The top of the rear quarters and boot lid need lots of work too

The top of the rear quarters and boot lid need lots of work too

The wheel arch was out of shape to accept the wheel spat so modifications were required

Wheel Arch modifications complete, wheel spat fit so much better now

The gap is now much better

Wheel Spat and Body Trims in place for alignment

Inner bonnet structure was totally rusted away so a replacement piece was required

Replacement piece folded shaped and made to suit

Totally replaced welded and dressed

Body and panels prepared for Primer

Body and panels prepared for primer

In primer

In Primer

Body off the chassis to be put on a rotisserie for underside to be repaired and painted

Firewall repaired, underside of the body repaired and painted in original black

Engine in primer, to be painted the original Ford Red with Black Rocker covers

Oil Bath Air Filter, Rocker Covers all repaired and in primer, ready for paint

Engine reassembled and put back into the freshly repaired refurbished chassis

Body in two tone Black and White awaiting final assembly

Debuted at the Victorian Hot Rod Show

Debuted at the Victorian Hot Rod Show

Debuted at the Victorian Hot Rod Show

Debuted at the Victorian Hot Rod Show

Engine bay returned to original spec including original style quality control stamps

Original style boot mat hides the immaculate paint and completed bodywork underneath

The repaired and finished dash exactly how it would have been in 1955

The 1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria was the flagship model of the 1955 Ford fleet and the restoration on this particular car has reflected that. The repairs that were required to the body were fairly extensive, requiring new sill panels, the rear quarter panels need to be re-radiused to allow the bumpers to fit correctly, nearly sixty years had certainly taken their toll on the car. The gaps and shutlines all around the vehicle had many hours spent on them to make them far better than factory and the end result was worth all the extra effort. Every stainless trim piece was painstakingly repaired, restored and re-plated, the interior trim was done to match exactly how it would have appeared in 1955. Since its debut after it’s restoration the Crown has won many awards and accolades from all over Australia the best reward for the team is to see the owner driving it and enjoying the many thousands of miles he has put on it since its completion.