My dad called me up today from Winston Salem, NC. He turns 61 next week, and he is in the market to buy a 1955 or 1956 Ford Station Wagon. He looked at one locally today, and has now talked to me about it on the phone 3 times. I live too far away to see the wagon, but from the Ebay listing and my own dad's description of the car (he started it up and drove it), I think he could do better. He has limited mechanical skills, although he has a long list of buddies that would help him out (me notwithstanding! ).

Does anyone have a 1955 or 1956 (that is his preferred year) Ford/Merc Station wagon for sale somewhere near him?

thanks, Dan

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

If the car doesn't sell, maybe they would be open to a lower offer.  Then your Dad could have the things fixed that need attention.

Gary Ryan San Antonio.TX.

Gary, that is what he is thinking...I just want to make sure that he is taken care of. I really don't like trying to give him advice over the phone without seeing the car in person. You know how that is. For a long time, dad has come to me about 50's Fords and what to do. He has looked for a car at times, but he never has been as serious as he is now. The car seems solid enough, I will say that, and it is in driveable condition. The po put a B intake on it and a 4150 style holley. It has the 56 3 speed with overdrive...

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Daniel........If the wagon your Dad is looking at is the two-tone green one on ebay right now,and the description and the pictures are anywhere near truly indicative of condition,the buy it now price is a bargain.Wagons,even 4 doors, are hot property right now and that one looks like it would not require a lot to make it a great driver.

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO

Dad spoke with the owner today. Obviously the ebay listing with no takers. He speak with the owner this afternoon...pop told me that the very first words out of the guys mouth was literally, "I don't want to hear anything negative about the car." Sort of odd, Dad hadn't even started talking about anything yet.

He did look at the car in detail this past week, heard it run, sat it in it, moved it aroung the parking lot, and so on. Dad went through a list of everything he had found that he thought would make it something that he couldn't drive immediately, and they were definitely a few things that caught my attention. I told him what I thought he should offer the fella, and dad went about $500 below that just for starters. The initial price break on the phone with the owner was only $800 off where dad is at. I told him to go ahead and up it $500 more and the fella should bite. If not, tell the guy, "you've got my number".

Dad was concerned about an oil leak the Y block had after running for about 10 or 15 minutes...he couldn't crawl up underneath of it, but I told him, "Hey, don't worry about a Y block, if you got any issues, your son here is good for another one in tip top shape, free of charge! "  Could be any number of things on the oil leak. I don't think there is a pressure gauge for the oil, so that's another issue that we will have to work through if he does buy it.

If anybody has any leads on a Y block station wagon, let me know. But, just a reminder, it has to be Y block powered!

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Yes, Paul - that is (was) the one and the same in Kernersville, NC. Unfortunately though, the interior is in a whole lot worse shape than the photos show, and the other side of the wagon (not shown very well) is not in good shape.

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

That's one of the problems in buying a vehicle on ebay,or any other"for sale" site.The pictures and description are often  a lot better than the real thing.Lucky that your Dad was able to look at that one in person.

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO

Somebody won the bidding on said wagon - 6K even. Anyone on the site by any chance?

Any more leads on a 55 or 56 Wagon located in Virginia, NC, TN area?

thanks...

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com