Ranch wagon side trim 59B

[Mike Cypher]

In the for sale section, there is a disassembled ranch wagon for sale, that has single stripe side trim, no gold insert, and one of the members said possibly this was because it was an early car.  It was stated that early cars had different ash trays and seat trim. 

I just purchased a 59b that also has a single side stripe.  I read on the forum that some cars that were repainted had the double stripe and gold insert removed.   A quick inspection of mine (still in winter storage) does not show any filled holes for the removed stripe.

If mine originally had the stripe I would like to reinstall it,  if not I can live with it as is. 

Any comments on the early car/single stripe theory and what are early car differences in ash trays and seat trim.

[lalessi1]

i know there are two ash trays, I have one of each. I thought the difference was whether they were in a Custom dash or a Fairlane dash. I put a Fairline ash tray in my Custom, It looks and works better.

[Mike Cypher]

I think I read on the forum that early cars had left over 56 ashtrays!?  If this is true how are 56 ash trays different.

My data plate is painted Inca Goldish,  what group of numbers give production date?

The paint on my ranch wagon at first glance is Wimbleton white over Inca gold, but on closer inspection is metallic white (like a 2014 escape) and an almost butter yellow.  Hence I call it Inca goldish.

[lalessi1]

My car was built in early May '57, I doubt it had left over '56 parts and I have seen the Custom ash tray in others cars. Here is the ash tray it came with...

[lalessi1]

Here is the "Fairlane" ashtray I put in it....

[Mike Cypher]

Thanks for the pictures, I learned something.  Do they both fit in the same hole. Or did you have to modify something?

[lalessi1]

They interchanged exactly. Another difference between the Custom and the Fairlane that I noticed was the dome lights were different too...

[KULTULZ]

There were three different EXTERIOR TRIM LEVELS on the 57 RANCH WAGON -

59A - CUSTOM RANCH WAGON
59B - CUSTOM 300 RANCH WAGON
59B - CUSTOM 300 RANCH WAGON 'DEL RIO'

[RICH MUISE]

Thanks for posting those spec sheets. I know they were posted before, but I for one had forgot exactly what the explaination was. Now I'm curious about the tailfin top trim that in not shown on the middle version. My guess it is not a trim "level" piece, but a two-tone piece.

[Mike Cypher]

Thank you, that was incredibly helpful!  There seemed to be too many pictures of Ranch Wagons with the single stripe to be a result of people removing it during refinishing. 

My two tone Custom 300 Ranch Wagon has the tail fin divider piece,  do not know if it was original.

[KULTULZ]

Here You Go -

[RICH MUISE]

  thank you!