View source for Ford Mainline

{{Infobox automobile
| name = Ford Mainline
| image = File:1952 Ford Mainline 3.9.jpg
| caption = 1952 Ford Mainline Fordor Sedan
| manufacturer = [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| production = 1952–1956
| assembly = U.S.A.
| class = [[Full-size]]
| body_style = 
| layout = [[FR layout]]
| successor = [[Ford Custom#Custom and Custom 300 (1957-1959)|Ford Custom]]
}}
{{TOC_left}}

The '''Ford Mainline''' is an [[automobile]] which was produced by [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] in the [[United States]] in the models years 1952 to 1956.<ref>John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, pages 389-397</ref> It was introduced as the base trim level of the [[1952 Ford]] range below the [[Ford Customline|Customline]] and [[Ford Crestline|Crestline]] models.<ref name="autogenerated390">John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, page 390</ref> The Mainline retained its position in the redesigned [[1955 Ford]] range <ref>John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, page 393</ref> but was discontinued for the [[1957 Ford|1957 model year]] when the [[Ford Custom]] became the new base model.<ref>John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, page 397</ref>
{{-}}
==Mainline Styles==
The Mainline was offered in 2-door [[Sedan (car)|sedan]], 4-door sedan, 2-door [[coupe]] and 2-door [[station wagon]] body styles.<ref>John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, pages 390-395</ref> The station wagon was marketed as the Mainline Ranch Wagon <ref name="autogenerated390"/> until it lost its Mainline tag for the 1955 model year when all Ford wagons were moved to their own series.<ref>John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, page 394</ref> Mainlines were available with both [[Straight-six engine|inline six-cylinder]] and [[V8 engine|V8]] engines.<ref>John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975, Revised 4th Edition, pages 390-397</ref>

===Gallery===
<gallery widths="200px" heights="150px">
File:1952 Ford Ranch Wagon.jpg|1952 Ford Mainline Ranch Wagon
File:1953 Ford Mainline sedan (5787598751).jpg|1953 Ford Mainline Fordor Sedan
File:FordMainlineSide crop.jpg|1954 Ford Mainline Fordor Sedan
File:Ford Mainline (1955).jpg|1955 Ford Mainline Tudor Sedan (with after-market wheels)
File:Ford 1956 Esplanade Avenue New Orleans May 2019 04crop.jpg|1956 Ford Mainline Tudor Sedan
</gallery>

==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.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091016041917/http://www.shannons.com.au/auctions/lot/?id=GGCK868UO81210DW 1957 Ford Mainline Utility at shannons.com.au] As archived at www.webcitation.org on 18 February 2010</ref> The Mainline utilized an imported station wagon chassis <ref>Norm Darwin, The History of Ford in Australia, 1986, page 127</ref> with a large X-member from the [[1952 Ford|Ford Sunliner]] convertible added  for additional load carrying strength.<ref>Norm Darwin, The History of Ford in Australia, 1986, page136</ref> It sold alongside the Australian built Customline sedan, with both given yearly updates until production ceased in 1959.<ref>Norm Darwin, The History of Ford in Australia, 1986, pages126-137</ref>  The Mainline's position in Ford Australia's lineup was filled by [[Ford XK Falcon|the first Ford Falcon utility]] the following year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ford Ranger Warning Lights |url=https://warninglights.co/cars/ford/ranger/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=WarningLights.co |language=en-US}}</ref> The Mainline like the Customline was a more expensive premium product in the Australian market. The Mainline Utility was powered by an Australian produced version of the [[Ford Flathead engine|Ford side-valve V8]] engine <ref>Norm Darwin, The History of Ford in Australia, 1986, page127</ref> until the introduction of the [[Ford Y-block engine|OHV V8]] in the redesigned 1955 series.<ref>Norm Darwin, The History of Ford in Australia, 1986, page131</ref>

===Gallery===
<gallery widths="200px" heights="150px">
File:1952 Ford Mainline Coupe Utility.jpg|1952 Ford V8 Mainline Coupe Utility
File:1954 Ford V8 Mainline Coupe Utility.JPG|1954 Ford V8 Mainline Coupe Utility
File:Ford Mainline Utility.jpg|1958 Ford V8 Mainline Coupe Utility
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[GAZ-21]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://www.chinohillsford.com/ Chino Hills Ford]

{{Ford postwar template}}
{{Ford}}

[[Category:Ford vehicles|Mainline]]
[[Category:Cars of Australia]]
[[Category:Cars introduced in 1952]]
[[Category:Cars discontinued in 1956]]
[[Category:Motor vehicles manufactured in the United States]]