Ford Mainline

1954 Ford Mainline 4-door sedan

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 ^[6] until it lost its Mainline tag for the 1955 model year when all Ford wagons were moved to their own series.^[7] Mainlines were available with both inline six-cylinder and V8 engines.^[8]

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  1952 Ford Mainline Ranch Wagon

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.^[9] The Mainline utilized an imported Ford V8 convertible chassis ^[10] with the large X-member for additional load carrying strength.^[11] It sold alongside the Australian built Customline sedan, with both given yearly updates until production ceased in 1959.^[12] The coupe utility slot in Ford Australia's lineup was filled by the first Ford Falcon utility the following year. 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]

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  1952 Ford V8 Mainline Coupe Utility

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  1954 Ford V8 Mainline Coupe Utility

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  1958 Ford V8 Mainline Coupe Utility

References

1. John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, pages 389-397
2. John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, page 390
3. John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, page 393
4. John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, page 397
5. John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, pages 390-395
6. John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, page 390
7. John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, page 394
8. John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, pages 390-397
9. 1957 Ford Mainline Utility at shannons.com.au As archived at www.webcitation.org on 18 February 2010
10. Norm Darwin, The History of Ford in Australia, 1986, page 127
11. Norm Darwin, The History of Ford in Australia, 1986, page136
12. Norm Darwin, The History of Ford in Australia, 1986, pages126-137
13. Norm Darwin, The History of Ford in Australia, 1986, page127
14. Norm Darwin, The History of Ford in Australia, 1986, page131