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22 economist suntribune wheels thursday oct 3 2002 volkswagen service store by malcolm gunn wheelbase communications is your volkswagen trying to tell you something 775msrp addrtional charges opply for 5cylindet 6cylindor and diesel engines- ask dealer lor details oil change 4cyiinder gasoline engine chango engine oil 5 l max insloh red folkswogen oil filter check and topotf broke windshield washer and power steering fluids if applicable- expires november 30 2002 10 off regular dealer price manufacturer recommended scheduled maintenance inspect adjust and replace parts according to manufacturer recommended spoctficafioos timo and uometro intorvols includes labour ports and fluids refer to your verido mdinlemnce manual fordolols expires november 30 2002 21 to 35msrp priced per pay wee votes bf model smartblades a pair of premium wiper blades vrth exduws wear xkay your volkswagen knows where to find expert service at competitive prices the greenbelt volkswagen service store its all here the people the parts and the price whether its time for an oil change new wiper blades or scheduled maintenance theres no reason to consider going anywhere else our factorytrained service experts know your volkswagen vehicle better than anyone and weve invested in the latest diagnostic equipment to make sure your volkswagen is serviced right right away we also use real volkswagen parts made to the exact same specifications as original parts your volkswagen wouldnt settle for anything less you shouldnt either weve put everything you need for your volkswagen under one roof service parts and accessories all at competitive prices bring in a coupon and take advantage of our service store specials call for an appointment today vfblksvwagenslcnreredvblksv drivers wanted vote imra coupon ot fcmo of writeup not o be combined wttfi fher often no redeemable or odwtived ipeoofv ptvioui purthoei or cnk greenbelt volkswagen the 1955 and 1956 fullsize ford cars were more than just fresh images on the automotive canvas they also managed to strike just the right note of youthful fun and exuberance that typified the era for the north american automobile industry the mid- 1950s proved to be the decades most prosperous period especially for ford the company had enjoyed steady if not spectacular growth and profits since its first allnew post-second- worldwar model hit the streets in 1949 that sleekly shaped landmark car was a tremendous hit with buyers which significantly boosted fords overall marketshare although it still trailed general motors three years later the automaker again hit one out of the park with the release of the completely redone 1952s solidifying its secondplace position within the general motorsfordchrysler triumvi rate by the fall of 1954 ford was poised for yet another grand slam the 1 955 models were longer lower wider and more chromeladen than ever before twotone pastel shades had replaced the pre vious years darker and more conservative monotone hues one of the more appealing designs of the fabulous 50s the 1955 and 56 fords combined style and power to win over buyers then there was the addition of the sensational ford thunderbird a twoseat per sonal luxury car with a big throbbing v8 that seemed to add luster to the entire lineup along with assembling the usual crop of two- and fourdoor coupe sedan and wagon body styles plus the mandatory convertible ford had at least one styling gim mick up its sleeve the top-of- theline fairlane crown victoria hardtop was not real ly a hardtop at all at least in the traditional pillarless sense instead a thick band of chrome swept up the side of the greenhouse directly behind the doors and flowed crown victoria fourdoor hardtop was added to the mix and those inescapable two- tone paint schemes were in even greater abundance easy credit terms became the order of the day and the infamous lee lacocca then one of fords district sales managers developed the 56 for 56 a new 56 ford for 56 a month promotion that helped take his philadelphia region to record sales heights these new fords also offered significantly more thrust thanks to an available 312 cubicinch thunderbird v8 that spit out up to 225 horsepower the only cloud in fords fine lines 195556 fullsize ford cars across the width of the roof the feature was to say the least eye catching and added more than a touch of glamour to the 2200 car for less than 100 more buyers could add a tinted plexiglass roof although most passed on this feature fearing they would unmerci fully roast on hot sunny days hey if you really wanted to check out the sky you could specify the ragtop for about the same price barebones mainline and customline models were commonly equipped with the economyoriented 1 20- horsepower 223 cubicinch ohv sixcylinder engine but checking the right box on the order form would take you straight to v8 land which included a 1 62horsepower 272cubicinch motor and a 200horse 292cube mill standard issue in the tbird that made the big ford fly in 1 955 it was all too easy to up your time payments by tacking on a few ritzy extras such as whitewall tires fender skirts am radio tinted win dows automatic transmission or power windows crown victoria owners could also add that quintessential 50s motif a continental kit that included the spare tire hung out over the rear bumper at the conclusion of the 1955 model year ford had experienced its best sales per formance since the heyday of the model t and with the launch of the 1956 cars the company would see more of the same a sparkling new otherwise clear blue sky was the manufacturers attempt to promote safety its hard to imagine today but back in the mid50s pushing features such as a deepdish safety steering wheel padded dash board optional seat belts and other lifeguard items not only turned prospective own ers off but probably shifted sales to brands that didnt employ such perceived scare tactics in their advertising although both the 55 and 56 fords are considered attractive especially the crown victoria hardtops and convertibles the 56 model is today regarded as has having the styling edge credit for this goes to a cleaner less toothy grille that combined with the outward location of the signal lamps makes the newer ver sion appear wider and lower after 56 fords passen ger cars began to bulk up and gain tailfins as well as some other unnecessary trim pieces well into the 1 960s that only served to clutter up the designs however for one all-too- brief period these fashionable 50s fords turned heads as they beautified driveways and highways across the land malcolm gunn is wheelbase communications chief road tester and historic writer wheelbase is a worldwide supplier of automobile news reviews and features