Ford Zephyr MkII — Ford Town Victoria Hardtop, 1957
Image courtesy of The Ford Heritage Vault

Ford cars of the 1950s - USA

Ford started the 1950s offering value for money, but nevertheless large and spacious automobiles.

Like the other major car makers Ford followed a policy of annual model revisions. They offered a variety of body styles and trim levels to suit different preferences and pockets.

The company facelifted the basic model every year. They launched a brand-new model periodically with a significantly restyled body.

For each model year there was a range of body styles and trim options. For example, the original 1949 Ford was available in Tudor (two-door) or Fordor (four-door) body styles. There was also a more up-market custom trim level.

Ford expanded the range throughout the decade. The top of the range models became more luxurious. All Fords became longer, lower and wider during the 1950s. Ford followed the trend of rocket and space-age styling that was a feature of the 1950s. Their cars, however, were restrained compared to other makes. Huge tail fins were never a feature of Fords.

In 1955 Ford broke with the one-model tradition and introduced a completely new model, the Ford Thunderbird Convertible.

A new body style was launched for Ford's main range of cars in 1952, 1955 and 1957. Each model was offered as two or four door sedans, coupes and convertibles. There was also a hard top option from 1952, called a Victoria. The Victoria had a more stylish roofline than the sedan.

Ford moved trim levels down the range as time went by. Custom was the top level of trim in 1950, it became the base level in 1957. Fairlane was introduced as the top level of trim in 1955, it was supplanted by Galaxie in 1959. This gave buyers the impression that they were trading up, but in fact buying an equivalent model in Ford's newer range.

By the end of the 1950s the terms Tudor and Fordor applied only to the cheaper cars. Ford used the terms Club and Town to represent two and four door models on its more up-market trim levels.

A complete list of Ford cars from the 1950s is:

1949 Ford 1948-51
1952 Ford 1952-4
1955 Ford 1955-6
1957 Ford 1957-9
Ford Thunderbird (First generation) - 1955-7
Ford Thunderbird (Second generation) - 1958-60

Ford also owned the brands Lincoln and Mercury. The company launched the misjudged Edsel brand in 1957.

1949 Ford (1949-51)

1949 Ford Club Coupe
Image courtesy of The Ford Heritage Vault

The 1949 Ford was a departure from Ford's previous range, which was based on a 1941 design. It had a new body in the modern three box shape known as 'Ponton'. The design was simple and understated.

The 1949 was available in five different body styles:

Fordor Sedan
Tudor Sedan
Business Coupe
Club Coupe
Station Wagon

The Business Coupe only had a front bench seat. The rear seat was omitted for extra storage for salesman's samples.

Trim levels varied over the three years of the 1949 Ford body style.

1949 model year

The original line up was:

Fordor Sedan
Tudor Sedan
Business Coupe
Club Coupe
Custom Fordor Sedan
Custom Tudor Sedan
Custom Club Coupe
Custom Convertible Club Coupe
Custom Station Wagon

All cars were available with either a six-cylinder or a V-8 engine.

1950 model year

Ford Fordor, 1950
Image courtesy of The Ford Heritage Vault

For the 1950 model year the car got some new brightwork and detailing. The basic spec was now called Deluxe. Models available were:

Deluxe Fordor Sedan
Deluxe Tudor Sedan
Deluxe Business Coupe
Custom Deluxe Fordor Sedan
Custom Deluxe Tudor Sedan
Custom Deluxe Club Coupe
Custom Deluxe Convertible Club Coupe
Custom Deluxe Station Wagon

The Custom Deluxe spec included horn ring, two sun visors, locking glove compartment, extra chrome trim inside and out, cigar lighter, clock and a wide choice of upholstery, including leather seats.

On 9 July 1950 Ford launched the special Ford Crestliner. The Crestliner brought a touch of glamour to the Ford range.

There was a choice of two two-tone paint finishes, red and black or green and black. The roof was covered with black basket weave vinyl. To underline the luxury status of the car the word 'Crestliner' was picked out in gold.

Inside the car was loaded with features not usually fitted to lower-priced cars:

Two-tone dashboard
Leather-trimmed seats
Fully carpeted interior
Electric clock
Cigar lighter
Arm rests
Four-spoke steering wheel with chrome horn ring

Whilst the Crestliner was not a huge success, it provided the inspiration for the new Crestline and the Victoria hardtop launched in 1952.

1951 model year

Ford Custom Fordor, 1951
Image courtesy of The Ford Heritage Vault

Ford continued with the 1949 Ford as the basis for the 1951 model year. There were some styling changes, including a new grille. The model line up was the same as for the 1950 model year.

Deluxe Fordor Sedan
Deluxe Tudor Sedan
Deluxe Business Coupe
Custom Fordor Sedan
Custom Tudor Sedan
Custom Club Coupe
Custom Convertible (V8 only)
Country Squire (Woody) Station Wagon
Crestliner (V8 only)

The basic level of trim was still Deluxe. The mid-range cars were now just Custom and the Crestliner topped the range.

This was the last year of the 1949 Ford body. A new body was introduced for the 1952 model year.

1952 Ford (1952-4)

Ford refreshed the range in 1952 with a new style body. The new cars were longer, wider and roomier. For the first time the Fords did not have a split windscreen.

Ford split their range into three distinct 'lines'. Mainline (basic), Customline (mid-range) and Crestline (top of the range).

Mainline - basic value for money cars
Customline - mid-range cars
Crestline - Ford's most luxurious cars

Crestline represented the best of Ford. There was a coupe, a convertible and a Woody station wagon.

1952 Model year

Ford Country Squire, 1952
Image by Rex Gray licensed under Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0).

Mainline Tudor Sedan (six or V8)
Mainline Fordor Sedan (six or V8)
Mainline Business Coupe (six or V8)
Mainline Ranch Wagon (six or V8)
Customline Tudor Sedan (six or V8)
Customline Fordor Sedan (six or V8)
Customline Club Coupe (six or V8)
Customline Country Sedan (It was a station Wagon) (V8 only)
Crestline Victoria Coupe (V8 only)
Crestline Sunliner Convertible (V8 only)
Crestline V-8 Country Squire (Woody) Station Wagon

There were station wagons in all ranges, called Ranch Wagon, Country Sedan and Country Squire.

1953 Model year

Ford Mainline Fordor Sedan, 1953
Image by JOHN LLOYD licensed under Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0).

Mainline Tudor Sedan (six or V8)
Mainline Fordor Sedan (six or V8)
Mainline Business Coupe (six or V8)
Mainline Ranch Wagon (six or V8)
Customline Tudor Sedan (six or V8)
Customline Fordor Sedan (six or V8)
Customline Club Coupe (six or V8)
Customline Country Sedan (it was a station Wagon) (V8 only)
Crestline Victoria Coupe (V8 only)
Crestline Sunliner Convertible (V8 only)
Crestline V-8 Country Squire (Woody) Station Wagon

There were only detail trim changes for 1953. The line up remained the same as in 1952.

1954 Model year

1954 Ford Crestline Convertible.jpg — 1954 Ford Crestline Convertible
Image courtesy of The Ford Heritage Vault

Mainline Tudor Sedan (six or V8)
Mainline Fordor Sedan (six or V8)
Mainline Business Coupe (six or V8)
Mainline Ranch Wagon (six or V8)
Customline Tudor Sedan (six or V8)
Customline Fordor Sedan (six or V8)
Customline Club Coupe (six or V8)
Customline Country Sedan (it was a station Wagon) (six or V8)
Crestline Fordor Sedan (six or V8)
Crestline Victoria Coupe (six or V8)
Crestline Skyliner Coupe (six or V8)
Crestline Sunliner Convertible (six or V8))
Crestline Country Squire (Woody) Station Wagon (six or V8)

For 1954 the Crestline was expanded to include a Fordor Sedan and the new Skyliner with a tinted transparent roof panel. Ford also offered six-cylinder engines in the Crestline range for the first time.

1955 Ford (1955-6)

Ford introduced a new body style for 1955. It was once again longer and wider than the previous model. It was also lower, giving the cars a more modern look. A wraparound windshield completed the classic mid-1950s look of these cars.

The range was also updated. Station Wagon was now a line on its own. Mainline was still the basic level of trim, with Customline the mid-level. Crestline was gone and Fairlane was the top trim level.

The name came from Fair Lane, Henry Ford's estate in Dearborn, Michigan.

1955 Model year

Ford Mainline Tudor, 1955
Image courtesy of The Ford Heritage Vault

Mainline Tudor Sedan (six or V8)
Mainline Fordor Sedan (six or V8)
Mainline Business Coupe (six or V8)
Customline Tudor Sedan (six or V8)
Customline Fordor Sedan (six or V8)
Fairlane Town Sedan (4-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane Club Sedan (2-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane Victoria Hardtop (2-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane Crown Victoria Hardtop (2-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane Skyliner Coupe (2-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane Convertible (2-door) (six or V8))
Station Wagon Ranch Wagon (2-door) (six or V8)
Station Wagon Custom Ranch Wagon (2-door) (six or V8)
Station Wagon Country Sedan (6 passenger) (4-door) (six or V8)
Station Wagon Country Sedan (4-door) (six or V8)
Station Wagon Country Squire (Woody) (8 passenger) (4-door) (six or V8)

1956 Model year

Ford Fairlane Victoria Hardtop, 1956
Image courtesy of The Ford Heritage Vault

Ford gave the 1955 model a cosmetic facelift for 1956. There was a revised grille and new tail lights.

Ford offered a choice of higher power V8 engines for the first time in 1956.

Mainline Tudor Sedan (six or V8)
Mainline Fordor Sedan (six or V8)
Mainline Business Coupe (six or V8)
Customline Tudor Sedan (six or V8)
Customline Fordor Sedan (six or V8)
Customline Tudor Victoria Hardtop (six or V8)
Fairlane Town Sedan (4-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane Tudor Club Sedan (2-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane Victoria Hardtop (2-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane Fordor Victoria Hardtop (six or V8)
Fairlane Crown Victoria Hardtop (2-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane Crown Victoria Skyliner Hardtop (2-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane Convertible (six or V8))
Station Wagon Ranch Wagon (2-door) (six or V8)
Station Wagon Custom Ranch Wagon (2-door) (six or V8)
Station Wagon Parklane (2-door, Victoria style chrome trim) (six or V8)
Station Wagon Country Sedan (6 passenger) (4-door) (six or V8)
Station Wagon Country Sedan (4-door) (six or V8)
Station Wagon Country Squire (Woody) (8 passenger) (4-door) (six or V8)

1957 Ford (1957-59)

1957 and 1958 Fords, showing the different tail treatment
Image courtesy of The Ford Heritage Vault

The basic Ford body was substantially revised for 1957. It was larger than the outgoing model.

Ford also revised the range again. Custom was now the base level trim and Custom 300 the intermediate level. The Fairlane and the new Fairline 500 had a longer wheelbase than the two lesser cars.

1957 Model year

For 1957 the Skyliner Coupe had a retractable hardtop that folded down into the boot at the push of a button.

Custom Tudor Sedan (six or V8)
Custom Fordor Sedan (six or V8)
Custom Business Sedan (six or V8)
Custom 300 Tudor Sedan (six or V8)
Custom 300 Fordor Sedan (six or V8)
Fairlane Town Sedan (4-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane Club Sedan (2-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane Victoria Hardtop (2-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane Town Victoria Hardtop (4-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane 500 Town Sedan (4-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane 500 Club Sedan (2-door) (2-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane 500 Victoria Hardtop (2-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane 500 Town Victoria Hardtop (2-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane 500 Crown Victoria Hardtop (2-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane 500 Convertible (2-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane 500 Skyliner (retractable) Coupe (2-door) (V8 only)
Station Wagon Ranch Wagon (2-door) (six or V8)
Station Wagon Del Rio Ranch Wagon (2-door) (six or V8)
Station Wagon Country Sedan (6 passenger) (4-door) (six or V8)
Station Wagon Country Sedan (4-door) (six or V8)
Station Wagon Country Squire (Woody) (9 passenger) (4-door) (six or V8)

1958 Model year

1958 Ford Ranch Wagon
Image courtesy of The Ford Heritage Vault

The cars got a cosmetic makeover for 1958. All models had twin headlamps and a new grille. The 1958 Fords had a passing resemblance to the 1957 Desoto Firelite, made by rival Chrysler, from the front. Ford though eschewed the huge tail fins of the Desto.

The entry level range was now the Custom 300. The lineup for 1958 was:

Custom 300 Tudor Sedan (six or V8)
Custom 300 Fordor Sedan (six or V8)
Custom 300 Business Sedan (six or V8)
Fairlane Town Sedan (4-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane Club Sedan (2-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane Club Victoria Hardtop (2-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane Town Victoria Town Hardtop (4-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane 500 Town Sedan (4-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane 500 Club Sedan (2-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane 500 Club Victoria Hardtop (2-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane 500 Town Victoria Town Hardtop (4-door) (six or V8)
Fairlane 500 Convertible (2-door) (six or V8))
Fairlane 500 Skyliner (retractable) (2-door) Coupe (V8 only)
Station Wagon Ranch Wagon (2-door) (six or V8)
Station Wagon Del Rio Ranch Wagon (2-door) (six or V8)
Station Wagon Country Sedan (4-door) (6 passenger) (six or V8)
Station Wagon Country Sedan (4-door) (9 passenger) (six or V8)
Station Wagon Country Squire (Woody) (4-door) (9 passenger) (six or V8)

1959 Model year

Ford Galaxie Town Victoria, 1959
Image courtesy of The Ford Heritage Vault

Ford did another makeover for 1959 but fell short of a complete new model. They retained twin-headlamps but the new cars had a grille made up of chrome stars. There were large tail lights which resembled the rear of a jet engine. To complete the space-age theme, a new top level of trim, Galaxie, was introduced.

Despite the makeover Ford, as always, remained conservative compared to the other large volume car makers, GM and Chrysler.

The range for 1959 was:

Custom 300 Tudor Sedan (six or V8)
Custom 300 Fordor Sedan (six or V8)
Custom 300 Business Sedan (six or V8)
Fairlane Fordor Town Sedan (six or V8)
Fairlane Tudor Club Sedan (six or V8)
Fairlane 500 Fordor Town Sedan (six or V8)
Fairlane 500 Tudor Club Sedan (six or V8)
Fairlane 500 Tudor Victoria Hardtop (six or V8)
Fairlane 500 Fordor Victoria Hardtop (six or V8)
Galaxie Town Sedan (4-door) (six or V8)
Galaxie Club Sedan (2-door) (six or V8)
Galaxie Victoria Hardtop (2-door) (six or V8)
Galaxie Town Victoria Hardtop (4-door) (six or V8)
Galaxie Convertible (2-door) (six or V8))
Galaxie Sunliner Convertible (2-door) (six or V8)
Galaxie Skyliner (retractable) Coupe (2-door) (V8 only)
Station Wagon Tudor Ranch Wagon (six or V8)
Station Wagon Tudor Del Rio Ranch Wagon (six or V8)
Station Wagon Fordor Country Sedan (6 passenger) (six or V8)
Station Wagon Fordor Country Sedan (9 passenger) (six or V8)
Station Wagon Country Squire (Woody) (9 passenger) (six or V8)