In television commercials, Ford discussed the merits of the Customline when it came to dollar-for-dollar value. Retailing at around $1,800, the Customline was about half the price of a Lincoln Capri. In other words, American families (particularly those living in the suburbs who could use an extra set of wheels) could buy two relatively inexpensive cars for the price of one high-end car.
Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1955 Ford Customline. The car is being offered by a private seller in Bolivar, Missouri, and the auction will end Tuesday.
There is something attractive about the car’s no-nonsense exterior – characterized by restrained side moldings, subtle tailfins and steel wheels with wide whitewall tires. The Buckskin Brown and White exterior was recently refinished and appears to be in good shape from tip to tail, based on the photos.
The interior carries through the same color combination via bench seats with cloth and vinyl upholstery. As with the exterior, the cabin is simple and tidy, offering a few features like manual-crank windows, a column-mounted shifter, an AM radio and a “Magic Aire” heating and ventilation system. My favorite aspect of the interior is its unique see-through 120-mph speedometer.
The full-size Customline was sold between 1952 and 1956 in North America. When it launched, the car slotted as a mid-range model above the Mainline but below the Crestline. A second generation debuted in 1955 in two-door and four-door variants (wagons were now split off into separate lines).
Advertisements for the car said, “Step up to Customline and you’re in the top-flight of motoring.” The car was said to have 50 features that Ford called “Worthmore Features.” In other words, they were features that made the car worth more upon initial purchase as well as at final resale.
Peeking under the hood, power comes from a 223ci “I-block” inline-six (which carried a 120-horsepower rating) mated to a Ford-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission. This was the smaller of the available engines that year – the alternative was a 272ci V8.
The only mechanical update mentioned in the listing is with regard to the braking system, which has been upgraded with Wilwood power discs up front.
The Customline offered a compelling value proposition when it was sold new in 1955, and it continues to offer a unique collector-car opportunity 70 years later. You are only a bid away from making this Buckskin beauty yours.
The auction for this 1955 Ford Customline will end Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. (MST)
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery
