Finally went over and picked it up and it's a match to one I have but my needed replaying and had peeling chrome on the right corner and a dent there too. It may have been plated a while ago but weather and no sun ever touched it. It was WAY under the price of replaying one...bout half.

There's a guy in Whittier about 20 miles from me who had a perfect show chrome front and I have some peeling on mine. Looking to see what he will do in trade for a rear and front for his front. He is very proud of his work but only does show work no single plated all 3 correct nickel, copper, chrome.

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

Paul these are not splayed. they are straight out the back like normal.... The guy advertised the bumper as a station wagon because it said so on the wrapping,

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

The brackets are different as can be seen in the diagram.



~DJ~ AKA "Bleach"
1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 30K original miles

I think the main brackets are similar but there is an additional brace that goes under the exhaust out to the end of the bumper. I will say that on a car with this type of through bumper exhaust you need a good trunk seal.

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

The  Rear Bumper with Exhaust Ports was only on the Fairlane Series. Everything else had the conventional Tail Pipe Exhaust. Bumpers will interchange in the same Year Vehicles but I am pretty sure there is a difference in the Bolt Pattern of the Bumper between 55 and 56.I have a rear bumper Filler that the Rubber goes on from a 55 and could not use it on my 56 because the Bolt Pattern was different.

  

That's what I always thought too. I did see a Parklane with late model running gear at an auction and he said he added the bumper. I knew a family in the 60's that put duals on a wagon out the back and couldn't even crack the rear window. had to change the tips to aim out the side, The 56 Bird had weird tips and I'm guess as a convert there must have been a problem from the 55 but the 57 went out the back again..... thanks all.

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

If the 56 car had dual exhaust from factory it had ports in the bumper other than wagons and sedan delivery's which didn't have the ports   Carl

Drylakesracer:  There were 2 bumpers used in '56, one with the exhaust and one without. The ones without were mainly used on wagons and sedan deliveries.  My understanding is the the wagons would pull the exhaust from the outlets into the car, if the back window was open.  I have no idea about the sedan deliveries but guessing it was a cost issue.  I have seen several '56 Ford Victorias with the wagon bumper guards.  To me they look a little funny, but different people see things differently.  Larry

Use the bumper if you want to, however if I recall, all Station Wagons had splayed exhaust outlets behind the wheels for safety from fumes..


Paul

As a note I never saw a Fairlane without the bumper and I never saw a 6 cylinder one either. The only different thing I knew about the wagons were they had different bumper guards and I've seen those.

The price was very good and the chrome had no flaws I could find, the back side still had the silver paint from the plater and the welded washers to do the dipping. I went a head and bought it. I'll repaint the silver to a dark gray from Eastwood like I normally do. Thanks all who answered.

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.