Do any of the members on here live close to Pottsboro TX. that would be willing to go take a look at a car located there that's on ebay?My 56 got totaled a couple of weeks ago,and I need to find another one.

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO

Paul;

My wife and I have been looking for a custom ranch wagon like the one in Texas on Ebay, but you need to take a GOOD look at all the pictures he posted. Looks to me line someone gave it a pretty quick paint job over some shoddy body work to get it sold. Take a close look at the last two pictures of the underside of the wagon had you can see how mush rust/rot there is in the lower rear quarters and rockers. The interior isn't too bad, but I still think the wagon is a little overpriced. Just my 2 cents worth.

Rono

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

Paul,

I am about an hour south west of Pottsboro. Tx and would be glad to help. I bought my last 56 Fairlane in Frisco, TX in 1980, but grew up in Michigan. My TX car frame and underbody doesn't have a spec of rust. Several tiny paint bubbles are showing up on the drivers side dogleg (old rear windshield leak sealed in 1980 - but rust never rests) and in the driver side hidden front fender "trash" pocket that is near impossible to flush clean but otherwise no other rust. The 56 wagon has either spent extensive time on an ocean side beach front or has been driven several years over road salt to have that much under body rust. It only takes 9 years of road salt to be able to stand on the pavement in the back seat of a 56 Ford driven in Michigan. Been there, done that. Salt induced rust is impossible to stop because no matter how hard you try to flush all the salt away, it is impossible. It is buried inside inaccessible spot welded and crimped seams, beams and channels. It will continue to collect moisture from the air and rust, rust, rust. The following craigslist search will pick up 56 Ford wagons in the craigslist dallas area or whatever legitimate craigslist city you wish to put in its place: http://dallas.craigslist.org/search/cta?query=1956%7C56+Ford+Wagon+-parts+-classifieds&srchType=T&minAsk=1&maxAsk=50000&hasPic=1  Just as and example, today there is a reasonable looking 56 Parklane 2dr wagon showing up in Edenberg, TX by owner in addition to the Pottsboro add you found. Searchtempest.com, a craigslist car search extension tool, is another way to expand your search diameter or regions even further. Best of luck in your quest.

 Jerome

Paul,

I found searchtempest.com has changed significantly since I last used it. To access it's full functionality now, I had to first go to autotempest.com and fill in their search blanks. I put in the following:

Make: Ford, Any Model: skip, Within: 1000 miles, Zip/Postal: your zip, Keywords: Wagon, Price: skip, Years: 1955 to 1956. Then I clicked on Search. This brought up the automatic ebay results which were very sparce.

Next, I clicked on the Craigslist tab near the top of the page to activate full searchtempest.com functionality. This will give you Ford wagons out the wazzo (well at least over 25 of them). Just narrow your distance to how far you're willing to travel and wait for the perfect catch. You can create smaller area searches around different zip codes in no rust areas of the country say like Las Vagas. The possibilities are endless. 

Happy searching,

Jerome

Thanks Jerome and Rono......I noticed the same possible problems you guys did.That's why I wanted someone close to take a look before I drove 500 miles and got a big disappointment.

However,all is well,because yesterday I found a low mileage,almost pristine barn find just 60 miles from my house.I'll probably pick it up next week.

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO

Sorry to hear about your ‘56 meeting its demise.  Can you give any details on what happened?  With Pottsboro being very close to the Oklahoma border, maybe there’s someone in Oklahoma that can go look for you.  Unfortunately I’m in Central Texas so I’m too far away to do you any good.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Some of the details.......I was in the middle of a 5 vehicle pile-up on I-70,caused by one of the idiots that are so prevalent on our roads these days.I hit an 18-wheeler in the rear and was hit from behind by a large SUV.Result is that both ends of my car are destroyed.Fortunately,I had my car lowered enough that everything hit above the frame,which lessened the impact to my body somewhat and except for the alternator,water pump and motor mounts didn't damage anything but sheet metal.Only other damage is a bent steering wheel and two cracked ribs and a broken nose.

On a side note,I have my car insured with Grundy Worldwide and I couldn't ask for better service during this ordeal.They have been great in taking care of all the hospital bills and getting an adjuster here to get things settled.This happened about two weeks ago,and the check for my car is here already.Good company.



Another side note.......If any of you guys don't have seat belts in your old car,don't drive it until you install them.If you've got them,USE THEM!Without belts,I might not be able to sit here and post this.

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO

Paul, The important thing is that you are (mostly) OK. Gives you a chance to build another 56 the way you want it.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Paul;

Just curious...Did you find a Custom Ranch Wagon with the full lenth side trim or the standard Ranch Wagon?

Rono

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

Thanks Frank.........The only problem with building another one like I want is that it took me 8 years of part-time hours to get this one like I wanted it.At my advanced age,I don't have another 8 years or the energy to do another.So,I found one that doesn't need much done to it.It's not exactly what I want,but it will do.



Rono.........The car I found is not a wagon.I wasn't specifically looking for a wagon,just any 55/56 2 door.I just saw that one on ebay and thought it looked like a good buy,until I studied the pictures a little more.

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO