Hungry Horse news., 1955-09-23
SO Fords Go on Display FRIDAY

~ OlOS ~
The 1856 Ford with new safety
features and increased horsepower
to 2O2, goes on display at the two
Flathead Ford dealers starting Fri
day.
Showing the 1856 Fords will be
Carey Motor Co., Kalispell and
Rygg Ford, Whitefish.
Ford engineers have developed a
"lifeguard design in their 1856
models to prevent, or reduce the
severity of, injuries due to auto
mobile accidents.
The company is the first in the in
dustry to adopt the safety concept
of "packaging the passenger" as a
means of limiting accidental injury
The new safety features include:
A deep-center safety steering
wheel standard equipment) which
will absorb the energy generated in
a crash and distribute the force over
the drivers chest, helping to prevent
him from striking the steering col
umn
Safety door latches standard
eouipment) designed to prevent
doors from springing open under i'm
pact, thus protecting passengers
from being thrown to the road;
Safety rear-view mirrors (stand-
ard equipmenD with a special back
ing to keep the glass from falling out
if broken;
Seat belts (optionaD structurally
anchored to the car with a steel
plate, to retain occupants inside
the vehicle and reduce the chance
of being thrown forward;
Crash cushioning (optionaD for in
strument panels and sun visors,
which is five times more absorbent
than sponge rubber.
In addition, Ford has redesigned
the mirror frame, and the front and
back seat supports have been
strengthened to reduce the possibil-
ity of seats coming loose in an
accident.
STYLING CHANGES
Styling advances in the Ford for
IS include a new grille with oblong
parking lights at the outer ends, set
in frames which wrap, around the
fender sides. Body side molding is
re-styled for Fairlane, Station Wagon
and Customline models Newly de-
signed tail lamps and deck lid han
dies. a larger hood ornament, and
completely new instrument panel
are offered in all models.
For safer driving, all instruments
are clustered under a glare-prevent
ing hood directly in front of the
driver. All controls are directly
lighted for night driving.
In V-8 Fairlane cars, dual exhaus
ports emerge at the sides of re-de
signed rear bumpers.
Ford stylists have introduced L
exterior colors in the 1856 line
among them platinum grey and man
DARN orange.
Upholstery and trim selection
are matched to exterior cOlOrs, wit
As MANY as five different interio
color combinations in Fairlane MOD
els. Up to q optional two-tone es
terror color combinations are offere
in the line, with choices varying az
cording to model and series.
2o2 HORSEPOWER
A 'sThunderbird Y-8'' engine lead
the power selections available fo
1885. It is installed on Fairlane an
Station Wagon models, and develop
102 horsepower for Fordomatic, {
200 hp. for overdrive or standar
transmission. Customline and Man
line Fords offer a Y-8 engine deve
oping 176 hp. for Fordomatlc,
173 hp. for overdrive or convention
drive. Also, the economical Ford 81
increased to 1877 hip, is available
all models with all transmlsSlt
types.
An addition to the line is the Par
lane Station Wagon, two door c;
which offers an eight by five-to
load space with tailgate extende
It is fitted inside with deluxe u
holstery and trim combinations, al
has special bright metal trim msl,
and outside. Early in the MOD
year, Ford will start production
a new four door Victoria style
which side pillars have been ellml
ated to provide all-around vision.
A 12-volt electrical system IS sta
dard on 1856 models, providing
per cent faster engine cranklng a
more capacity to handle the :
creasing number of accessories
ing ordered on cars today. The NJ
30-ampere Ford generator has
per cent greater output than l;
years model. Batteries have ~ F
cent more capacity.
Optional convenience and comic
features in the 1856 Fords mclu
power steering, as well as pow
operated brakes, seats, and WIND
lifts. Air conditioning, fresh air ne
ers, and tinted safety glass are av;
able This year Ford offers sign
seeking radio which automatlca
SELECTS now stations. A dual raj