Lifeguard was the name of a 1956 safety package marketed by the Ford Motor Company.
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Ford1001.jpg/200px-Ford1001.jpg)
Spurred by Robert McNamara, the Cornell University crash research program and the first year of Ford's own crash testing in 1955, the Lifeguard package included:
- Three standard features:
- A safety "deep-center" steering wheel[1] with spokes that would flex.[2][3]
- Safety "double-grip" door latches to prevent occupant ejection in case of a crash.
- A safety rearview mirror to reduce broken glass if shattered.[4]
- Two optional features:
- Front and rear [5] lap only seat belts, first offered by Ford in 1955.[6]
- Padded dashboard and sun visors. The padding was advertised as being more absorbent than foam rubber.[7] The instruments were recessed to minimize injury potential.
According to some[who?], the buying public was unresponsive to the Lifeguard package, prompting Henry Ford II to say: McNamara is selling safety, but Chevrolet is selling cars.[citation needed] However, Ralph Nader and Joan Claybrook dispute this, claiming that the package was extremely popular.[8]
1957 update
editIn 1957, Ford updated the Lifeguard safety package with a new frame that bowed out to completely enclose the passengers,[9] rear child-proof door locks,[10] a front hinged hood to protect against the hood flying up in the wind, and recessed knobs.[11]
Notes
edit- ^ Flory, Jr., J. "Kelly" (2008). American Cars, 1946-1959 Every Model Every Year. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7864-3229-5.
- ^ "Directory Index: Ford/1956 Ford/1956_Ford_Fairlane_Brochure".
- ^ "1956 Mercury Advanced Safety-03". oldcarbrochures.org. Archived from the original on 2017-03-28.
- ^ Temple, David W. (2010). Full-size Fords. CarTech. ISBN 9781934709085.
- ^ "Ford brochure: NEW FORD SEAT BELTS an important feature of Ford Lifeguard Design". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ^ "1956 Crown Victoria - 1955-1956 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria - HowStuffWorks". HowStuffWorks. 4 September 2007.
- ^ Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines. October 1955.
- ^ YouTube.
- ^ "1957 Ford Foldout-06-07". Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2014-11-16.
- ^ "1957 Ford Fairlane-22-23". Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2014-11-16.
- ^ "1957 Ford Fairlane-16-17". Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2014-11-16.