When Wayne Carrier of Highland Heights, KY was a boy visiting relatives he saw a car being driven by “the richest guy in town.” It was a black 1956 Ford Crown Victoria. It took him a while but 13 years ago Wayne got his own Crown Vic.
The first Crown Vics hit the streets in 1955 as part of the Ford Fairlane marquee. It was a two door, six passenger coupe that was meant to sell against the Chevy BelAir.
Wayne’s Crown Vic came by way of a friend of his who bought six cars from an estate. “It was in total disarray,” Wayne said of the car that would become his.
Despite that, his friend didn’t want to let go of the classic Ford. “I talked my friend out of it,” Wayne said with a laugh.
While the car was basically in pieces, “boxes and laundry baskets” it had its original 312 cubic inch engine. And while the other parts were mostly there, many were not in working condition. So over the next four years Wayne searched for what he needed and totally re-stored the car.
“The hardest thing was finding the parts. There are a lot of Chevy parts available and they’re making new ones. It’s hard finding the old Ford parts,” Wayne said.
Wayne gets a great deal of enjoyment out of the car. “I drive it almost every day,” he said. Last year he even drove it to Memphis where he won first prize in a car show there. “I have video of me driving the car up to Graceland to get my prize,” he said.
Not bad for an every day driver.
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