The Coronation of Queen Victoria occurred on June 28, 1838, so we figured now’s time to speak concerning the Ford nameplate she not directly impressed.
For those who’re not acquainted, Ford first used the time period “Crown Victoria” to indicate the luxurious trim stage on its then-new Fairlane method again in 1955. After disappearing for a number of years, the Crown Victoria title was resurrected on the beloved Ford Panther platform as a submodel of the LTD passenger sedan in 1979 earlier than changing into its personal nameplate in 1992. The Crown Vic ceased manufacturing in 2012.
However in case you ever questioned how Ford got here up with the “Crown Victoria” title to start with, fact is, the story behind it’s truly fairly attention-grabbing. And extra importantly, while you study the rationale why it was chosen, the title makes a complete lot of sense. So let’s dive in.
For starters, Ford up to date its passenger automotive lineup in 1955, introducing the soon-to-be iconic Fairlane as the highest mannequin. The Crown Victoria trim took issues up one other notch by including some extra beauty brightwork to the Fairlane.
However right here’s why Ford selected the title “Crown Victoria.”
It was truly a nod to the Victorian period, as a result of the Crown Victoria fashions featured a distinguished chrome hoop that prolonged from the Fairlane’s B-pillar and bisected the automotive’s roof. The placing design evoked the open entrance canopies of Victorian-style carriages from the nineteenth century.
Observe the massive assist bows on the collapsible roof of the carriage pictured under, and also you’ll see what we’re speaking about right here.
And the Victorian inspiration bought much more pronounced when consumers opted for the “Clear Prime” fashions which—you guessed it—featured a set clear roof panel over the entrance seats as an alternative of the usual metal roof of the standard Crown Victoria fashions.
The humorous factor is, the sunroof wasn’t a brand new characteristic—Ford truly launched it the 12 months prior on the 1954 Crestline, dubbing the sunroof-equipped coupes as “Crestline Skyliner” fashions. (There was a ragtop provided too, and Ford known as the convertibles by the equally-nifty “Crestline Sunliner” moniker.)
But regardless of utilizing the title “Skyliner” in 1954, for 1955 the Ford gross sales literature merely known as the clear roof a “Clear Prime.” However throughout the next 12 months, the advertising and marketing of us should’ve pushed again as a result of the Skyliner title returned in 1956.
And so the complete formal title of the 1956 Ford that pulled into the Summit Racing Retail Retailer car parking zone a number of days in the past is definitely a “Fairlane Crown Victoria Skyliner” to indicate the mannequin, trim, and the sunroof possibility.
Astute Ford followers would possibly affiliate the title Skyliner with the revolutionary Fairlane convertibles outfitted with the uncommon retractable roof—they usually’d be proper—however these hardtop convertible Skyliners didn’t seem till 1957.
So earlier than these retractable roof coupes arrived, the time period Skyliner referred to the clear acrylic sunroof. (And once more, for no matter cause, in 1955 the Skyliner title wasn’t used in any respect, and the sunroof possibility was merely known as a “Clear Prime.”)
Enjoyable Reality: Mercury bought its personal sunroof possibility too, solely they have been known as “Solar Valley” coupes in Mercury parlance.
The particular 1956 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria Skyliner we’re showcasing on this Lot Pictures automobile characteristic rolled into the Summit Racing retail retailer pulling a tidy little utility trailer—which made us grin contemplating the general rarity of the automotive. (We love seeing classic automobiles used as they have been meant.)
A set of polished Torq-Thrust wheels and a twin exhaust system inform us that it is a little bit of a hotrod as nicely. And that’s doubly true while you see a complement of Autometer gauges and a giant T-handle efficiency computerized shifter adorning the within.
Alas, we couldn’t monitor down the proprietor to get the complete particulars on the drivetrain of this superior experience.
Regardless of being a comparatively standard characteristic on the time, Ford’s flirtation with clear acrylic roofs solely lasted a number of years. As alluded to earlier, the shift to the totally retractable hardtop in 1957 all however killed the sunroof possibility. After 1959, Skyliner hardtop convertible manufacturing ceased too.
Fortunately, the Crown Victoria title endured longer that the sunroof and retractable hardtop choices did…
…Although the 63-year reign of the particular Queen Victoria (1837-1901) eclipsed all of them.
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If attention-grabbing historic automobile etymology is your jam, you’ll in all probability take pleasure in this text too: What’s a Brougham? We Discover the Carriage Design, the Man Behind It & How the Title Advanced
