Ford Motor Company, "1955 Ford Law Enforcement & Emergency Use Vehicles" brochure, printed 1954
1955 Ford Police & Emergency Vehicles
PAGE INDEX Click links or scroll down
• Mainline Tudor Sedan 2 dr, 6 pass
• Mainline Fordor Sedan 4 dr, 6 pass
• Customline Tudor Sedan 2 dr, 6 pass
• Customline Fordor Sedan 4 dr, 6 pass
• Ranch Wagon 2 dr, 6 pass, opt 2/3-1/3 divided back seat, opt side-hinged panel-type rear door
• Custom Ranch Wagon 2 dr, 6 pass, opt 2/3-1/3 divided back seat, opt side-hinged panel-type rear door
• 6-Pass Country Sedan 4 dr, std 2/3-1/3 divided back seat, opt side-hinged panel-type rear door
• 8-Pass Country Sedan 4 dr, std 2/3-1/3 divided back seat, std rear seat, opt side-hinged panel-type rear door
• Mainline Fordor Sedan 4 dr, 6 pass
• Customline Tudor Sedan 2 dr, 6 pass
• Customline Fordor Sedan 4 dr, 6 pass
• Ranch Wagon 2 dr, 6 pass, opt 2/3-1/3 divided back seat, opt side-hinged panel-type rear door
• Custom Ranch Wagon 2 dr, 6 pass, opt 2/3-1/3 divided back seat, opt side-hinged panel-type rear door
• 6-Pass Country Sedan 4 dr, std 2/3-1/3 divided back seat, opt side-hinged panel-type rear door
• 8-Pass Country Sedan 4 dr, std 2/3-1/3 divided back seat, std rear seat, opt side-hinged panel-type rear door
• Engines • Options • Clutches • Transmissions
• "Last-Longer" Car Body • Rear Axle Ratios • Tires & Rims • Mech Specs
• "Last-Longer" Car Body • Rear Axle Ratios • Tires & Rims • Mech Specs
1955 Ford Customline Fordor Sedan V-8 police car
1955 Ford Police & Emergency Vehicle Engines
• Opt Ford (Police) Interceptor Y-8 292-cid 188-hp P-code late model-year
• Std Ford Y-block V-8 272-cid 162-hp U-code
• Std Ford I-block Six 223-cid 120-hp A-code
Ford (Police) Interceptor Y-8 292-cid 188-hp P-code (specs here) late model-year
Opt all Police & Emergency Mainline, Customline, & stn wagon; all drives
$200 [est] over std Ford Y-block V-8 272-cid 162-hp U-code
Ford Y-block V-8 272-cid 162-hp U-code (specs here)
Std all Police & Emergency Mainline, Customline, & stn wagon; all drives
$120.77 (incld in V-8 car/stn wagon price) over std Ford I-block Six 223-cid-120-hp A-code
Ford I-block Six 223-cid 120-hp A-code (specs here)
Std all Police & Emergency Mainline, Customline, & stn wagon, (incld); all drives
(Incld in I-6 car/stn wagon price)
1955 Ford Police & Emergency Vehicle Clutches
(w/ Conv Dr or Overdrive transmissions)
• 9-1/2-inch w/ Ford I-block Six
• 10-inch w/ Ford Y-block V-8
• 11-inch w/ Ford (Police) Interceptor Y-8 (& all Thunderbird cars)
Pedal free-travel 1-1/8" to 1-3/8"
1955 Ford Police & Emergency Vehicle Transmissions
● Std Conventional Drive (manual 3-spd)
1st, 2nd (synchro), 3rd (synchro), & Reverse
All-helical gears, forged bronze synchronizers
Gear selector on steering column, "H" pattern
Gear selector on steering column, "H" pattern
● Opt Overdrive (manual 3-spd + auto 4th-spd Overdrive gear)
1st, 2nd (synchro), 3rd (synchro), auto 4th gear (30% lower eng rpm than 3rd), & Reverse
Gear selector on steering column, "H" pattern
Overdrive push/pull T-handle below instrument panel
Lock-in (engage OD) push in T-handle when car is stopped or at any speed & let-up throttle pedal when above 27-28 mph, (auto disengage & downshift to 3rd below 21-22 mph)
Kick-down (to 3rd, for hill climbing or passing) floor throttle pedal, (let-up pedal to auto return to OD)
Lock-out (disengage OD) pull out T-handle when car is stopped or in "kick down (3rd) operation
Overdrive push/pull T-handle below instrument panel
Lock-in (engage OD) push in T-handle when car is stopped or at any speed & let-up throttle pedal when above 27-28 mph, (auto disengage & downshift to 3rd below 21-22 mph)
Kick-down (to 3rd, for hill climbing or passing) floor throttle pedal, (let-up pedal to auto return to OD)
Lock-out (disengage OD) pull out T-handle when car is stopped or in "kick down (3rd) operation
● Opt Speed-Trigger Fordomatic Drive (automatic 3-spd)
Low (1st), Intermediate (2nd, Passing Gear), High (3rd), & Reverse
5-Possition Safety-Sequence Selector w/ illuminated indicator dial on steering column
P (Park)
R (Reverse)
N (Neutral) car can be towed up to 12 miles at under 40 mph, otherwise with rear wheels raised
• start engine
DR (Drive)
• start-out in 2nd & auto upshift to 3rd (typical driving)
• start-out at full-throttle in 1st (Speed-Trigger) & auto up-shifts to 2nd (30 mph) & 3rd (65 mph)
• full-throttle kick-down to Passing Gear (2nd) (below 65-68 mph & above 17-23 mph)
• full-throttle kick-down to 1st (below 17-23 mph)
LO (Low)
• start-out in 1st & hold (up to 35 mph), auto up-shifts to 2nd & 3rd if/when DR selected
• downshift to 2nd & hold (below 60 mph & above 17-23 mph - engine braking)
• downshift to 1st & hold (below 17-23 mph - engine braking)
P (Park)
R (Reverse)
N (Neutral) car can be towed up to 12 miles at under 40 mph, otherwise with rear wheels raised
• start engine
DR (Drive)
• start-out in 2nd & auto upshift to 3rd (typical driving)
• start-out at full-throttle in 1st (Speed-Trigger) & auto up-shifts to 2nd (30 mph) & 3rd (65 mph)
• full-throttle kick-down to Passing Gear (2nd) (below 65-68 mph & above 17-23 mph)
• full-throttle kick-down to 1st (below 17-23 mph)
LO (Low)
• start-out in 1st & hold (up to 35 mph), auto up-shifts to 2nd & 3rd if/when DR selected
• downshift to 2nd & hold (below 60 mph & above 17-23 mph - engine braking)
• downshift to 1st & hold (below 17-23 mph - engine braking)
View "Shifting Gears" Owner's Manual
1955 Ford Police & Emergency Vehicle Rear Axle Ratios (to 1)
Mainline & Customline Ford I-block Six
• Std Conv Dr - 3:89 (opt 4.11) (incld)
• Opt Overdrive - 4.11 (opt 3.89)
• Opt Speed-Trigger Fordomatic Dr - 3.30 (opt 3.55)
Mainline & Customline Ford Y-block V-8
• Std Conv Dr - 3:78 (opt 3.89) (incld)
• Opt Overdrive - 3.89 (opt 3.78)
• Opt Speed-Trigger Fordomatic Dr - 3.30 (opt 3.55)
Mainline & Customline Ford (Police) Interceptor Y-8
• Std Conv Dr - 3:73 (opt none) (incld)
• Opt Overdrive - 3.92 (opt none)
• Opt Speed-Trigger Fordomatic Dr - 3.54 (opt 3.31)
stn wagon Ford I-block Six, Ford Y-block V-8, & Ford (Police) Interceptor Y-8
• Std Conv Dr - 4.09 (opt 4.27) (incld)
• Opt Overdrive - 4.27 (opt none)
• Opt Speed-Trigger Fordomatic Dr - 3.54 (opt none)
1955 Ford Police & Emergency Vehicle Tires
Mainline & Customline
• Std 6.70 x 15" bias 4-ply BSW tubeless (incld)
• Opt 6.70 x 15" bias 4-ply BSW tire & tube
• Opt 6.70 x 15" bias 6-ply BSW tubeless
• Opt 6.70 x 15" bias 6-ply BSW tire & tube
• Opt 7.10 x 15" bias 4-ply BSW tubeless
• Opt 7.10 x 15" bias 4-ply BSW tire & tube
• Opt 6.00 x 16" bias 4-ply BSW tire & tube
• Opt 6.00 x 16" bias 6-ply BSW tire & tube
Ranch Wagon, Custom Ranch Wagon, & 6-Passenger Country Sedan
• Std 7.10 x 15" bias 4-ply BSW tubeless (incld)
• Opt 7.10 x 15" bias 4-ply BSW tire & tube
• Opt 7.10 x 15" bias 6-ply BSW tubeless
• Opt 7.10 x 15" bias 6-ply BSW tire & tube
8-Passenger Country Sedan
• Std 7.10 x 15" bias 6-ply BSW tubeless (incld)
• Opt 7.10 x 15" bias 6-ply BSW tire & tube
Opt tubeless tire & tire/tube prices not found
Opt White Sidewalls (5) +$26.80
Rims (here)
15" dia x 5" wide, 5 lug x 4.5" (114.3 mm), pressed steel
1955 Ford Mainline Tudor Sedan police car w/ std Ford I-block Six 223-cid 120-hp 1-bbl single-exh A-code eng
1955 Ford Customline Fordor Sedan V-8 police car
