All Ford Day highlight - 1956 Parklane wagon

This year’s All Ford Day in Victoria was the biggest ever, with records broken for both the amount of display cars (1,500+) and number of spectators (7,000+). Amongst those that made the pilgrimage to Geelong’s Eastern Gardens for the 32nd iteration of the event was this stunning - and super rare - Parklane station wagon.

Debuting for the 1956 model year, the Parklane was Ford’s response to Chevrolet’s stylish Nomad 2-door wagon that had arrived a year earlier. 

Although Ford already had the Country Squire and Country Sedan wagons, they were both 4-doors and arguably didn’t have the same “modern” and “sporty” appeal as the Nomad. To create a Nomad rival, Ford turned to their entry-level 2-door Ranch Wagon, glitzed it up with Fairlane trim and two-tone paint outside, and Thunderbird-inspired upholstery and trimmings inside.

Three factory colour options are known: Pine Ridge Green with Meadowmist Green; Bermuda Blue with Diamond Blue; and Buckskin Tan with Colonial White. There’s evidence of other colour combinations, but whether these are genuine factory finishes or not is unknown.

Exterior colours were continued on the interior trim, including the upholstery for the front and rear bench seats, the padded dash, doorcards and carpet.

Other features included unique bright metal trim on the B-pillar, a fully carpeted luggage area and a security screen for this space in the form of a colour-coded vinyl cover secured with press studs.

As well as matching the Fairlane in looks, the Parklane also matched it in specification, including options. Available engines ranged from a 223ci inline six to 272, 292 and 312ci V8s, matched to either manual or auto transmissions. In line with the Fairlane, most Parklanes were fitted with the 292 and a Fordomatic 2-speed auto with column shift.

As a challenger to the Nomad, the Parklane succeeded, outselling the Chevrolet by almost 2 to 1 in 1956, but with just 15,186 units sold, when 85,374 Country Sedans were sold in the same period, it was gone after 1956. While it was a one-year-only model, the Parklane concept would live on in ‘Del Rio’ wagons that were offered in 1957 and 1958. 

The rarity of Parklane sedans in general, and particularly in Australia, made the appearance of this fully restored example at All Ford Day all the more special.

For JUST CARS report from the 2023 All Ford Day, click HERE.