Danbury Mint 1956 Ford

If you remember the 1956 hit "Blueberry Hill" by Fats Domino then you surely remember this automobile; both were Classics and admired by many. The Danbury replica is nicely done, especially for an old re-worked tool. I tip my hat to the designers on their choice of colors; it screams fifties, making this replica a "Must Have" for that fifties shelf.

Not only is the color combination the right choice for a fifties automobile but it is also applied flawlessly. The side trim on the Ford Fairlane runs straight and true and all shut lines are designed for tight tolerance, which just makes this model pop on the shelf. Also, included with the replica are both an up-top and a removable boot, which allows you to decide how to display your model.

When our images first appeared on JSS there were comments regarding the boot sitting too high? When these comments first surfaced I pulled out a few of my automobile references to review a few 1:1 '56 convertibles and I honestly couldn't view a good enough image of the boot — on an automobile — to agree or disagree with the comments. I will not dispute that it sits too high or not, however, I don't believe it takes anything away from the overall appearance of the image either. And that is why we include so many images, of the replica in our review, to help you to decide for yourself about a replica before committing to the purchase.

I always admired the rear of this automobile, I like fins which most automobiles sported in 1956 Ford decided not to follow the herd for a welcomed change in design. The 1956 Ford had clean lines and a sporty look. Ford planned on taking this model in a direction which appealed to a younger family, and they were happy to drop a Thunderbird engine in it to achieve its goals.

The Danbury replica sports many working features: doors, hood, trunk, steering and removable spare. The skirts are not removable; don't be fooled by the deep scribe lines. And for those of you that like to seal the scripts, you won't have to on this model; they already are.

The interior is classic fifties deco Black and White. And it really works on this replica. The seat backs are stationary the sun visors are adjustable however. Be sure to check out the gauges; they are readable and look fantastic.

Here is where the old tooling comes into play with the dog-leg styled door hinges. But honestly don't let that deter you from purchasing it because it is a moot point; this model has so many positives this is a minor negative that can be overlooked.

The Danbury Ford Fairlane Sunliner does have the Thunderbird engine in it, which lacks nothing in the way of lines and wires. I marveled at the detail and art work, for at least a half hour, before closing the hood. I was lucky; I got to experience these automobiles as a kid, they were a part of my life, and one I remember fondly. And one of the reasons I collect die cast automobiles is because they were a part of who I am. Automobiles of my youth were my iPods back then. This was our cutting edge technology which we strived to own one day. You won't go wrong adding the Danbury Mint to your stable of fifty automobiles. And I will go out on a limb and predict that it will sell out quickly and command a premium on the secondary market. JSS places "Four Stars" on this classic only because it is modeled using an old tooling.

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Our Ranking: