The Ford Mainline is an automobile which was produced by Ford in the United States in the models years 1952 to 1956.[1] It was introduced as the base trim level of the 1952 Ford range below the Customline and Crestline models.[2] The Mainline retained its position in the redesigned 1955 Ford range [3] but was dropped for the 1957 model year when the Ford Custom became the new base model.[4]
The Mainline was offered in 2-door sedan, 4-door sedan, 2-door coupe and 2-door station wagon body styles.[5] The station wagon was marketed as the Mainline Ranch Wagon [2] until it lost its Mainline tag for the 1955 model year when all Ford wagons were moved to their own series.[6] Mainlines were available with both inline six-cylinder and V8 engines.[7]
Australian Ford Mainline Utility
In Australia the Mainline name was applied to a locally developed 2-door coupé utility version of the Ford Customline sedan from 1952.[8] The Mainline utilized an imported station wagon chassis [9] with a large X-member from the Ford Sunliner convertible added for additional load carrying strength.[10] It sold alongside the Australian built Customline sedan, with both given yearly updates until production ceased in 1959.[11] The coupe utility slot in Ford Australia's lineup was filled by the first Ford Falcon utility the following year. Comment: Ford also sold a utility version of the English Zephyr 6 in the fifties and it was this ute which was closer in size and price to the first Falcon ute. The Mainline like the Customline was a more expensive premium product in the Australian market. The Mainline Utility was powered by an Australian produced version of the Ford side-valve V8 engine [12] until the introduction of the OHV V8 in the redesigned 1955 series.[13]
Gallery
See also
References
- ^ John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, pages 389-397
- ^ a b John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, page 390
- ^ John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, page 393
- ^ John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, page 397
- ^ John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, pages 390-395
- ^ John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, page 394
- ^ John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, pages 390-397
- ^ 1957 Ford Mainline Utility at shannons.com.au As archived at www.webcitation.org on 18 February 2010
- ^ Norm Darwin, The History of Ford in Australia, 1986, page 127
- ^ Norm Darwin, The History of Ford in Australia, 1986, page136
- ^ Norm Darwin, The History of Ford in Australia, 1986, pages126-137
- ^ Norm Darwin, The History of Ford in Australia, 1986, page127
- ^ Norm Darwin, The History of Ford in Australia, 1986, page131