Ford Mainline | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Ford |
Production | 1952–1956 |
Assembly | U.S.A. |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Full-size |
Layout | FR layout |
Chronology | |
Successor | Ford Custom |
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 discontinued 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]
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 Mainline's position in Ford Australia's lineup was filled by the first Ford Falcon utility the following year. [12] 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 [13] until the introduction of the OHV V8 in the redesigned 1955 series. [14]