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Styling at Ford Motor Company 1957

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Jive-Bomber, May 24, 2012.

  1. Jive-Bomber
    Joined: Aug 21, 2001
    Posts: 3,754

    Jive-Bomber
    MODERATOR

  2. Magnus
    Joined: Apr 30, 2006
    Posts: 904

    Magnus
    Member
    from Sweden

    I'd love to have the seats on page 12. To quote the Cable guy "There's no end to the possibilities"
     
  3. S.F.
    Joined: Oct 19, 2006
    Posts: 2,895

    S.F.
    Member

    I always thought the 57 Fords looked better than 57 chevys
     
  4. Bigchuck
    Joined: Oct 23, 2007
    Posts: 1,159

    Bigchuck
    Member
    from Austin, TX

    The artist's rendering of the future cars and beach house are amusing. They talk about what people will be driving in the years 2000-2050. Guess what-no flying cars. Just Kias and Prius', or is that Pria?
     

  5. Verminator
    Joined: Mar 27, 2007
    Posts: 813

    Verminator
    Member

    I love the Futura/Batmobile steering wheel speedo gauge setup
     
  6. ....I think across the model line Ford actually outsold Chevy in '57. Maybe someone can elaborate or correct me, but I had an uncle who worked on the L.A. assembly line from the 50's into the 70's and he used to like to rub that fact in. I guess because the '57 Chevy has acquired such iconic status we tend to forget just how much success Ford had in 1957.:)
     
  7. mustangsix
    Joined: Mar 7, 2005
    Posts: 1,403

    mustangsix
    Member

    Have you ever noticed how in the 50's and 60's the vision of the future was bright and optimistic. Now it's all zombies, death, and apocalyptic destruction.:eek:
     
  8. KCsledz
    Joined: Jun 19, 2003
    Posts: 2,333

    KCsledz
    Member

    Love Syd Mead futurism!
     
  9. I've seen some of those images individually elswhere but it's neat to see them all together. As said before the Fords for '57 don't get the credit they're due, the Chevy wasn't the only one out there. You could get 300+ Supercharged HP right off the show room floor.
     
  10. gyronaut
    Joined: Dec 16, 2010
    Posts: 197

    gyronaut
    Member

    Those futuristic illustrations were the work of Thunderbird designer Jim Powers. He had won the Fisher Body Craftsman's Guild and then attended Art Center with the scholorship. Jim is included as part of the Gyronaut documentary, re-telling his stories of how much trouble the Advanced Studio could cause with their antics. A short bio can be found at: http://www.powersportcars.com/designer/.

    His Craftsman's Guild model and award are perfectly preserved and hold a place of honor in his home, as that's what started off his career in styling and adverising. No doubt, you already know his non-Ford work. He designed the packaging for Revell's 1/4 scale "Visible V8" model...

    [​IMG]
     
  11. belair
    Joined: Jul 10, 2006
    Posts: 9,013

    belair
    Member

    Another quality post, J-B. Your stuff is always worth the time. Thanks. Love the futuristic stuff. The Ford designs, not so much.
     
  12. I agree with the above post, the 57 FORD has it hands down over the 57 Chevy, or anything else in 57, and Im a PONTIAC Guy!!!
     
  13. typo41
    Joined: Jul 8, 2011
    Posts: 2,571

    typo41
    Member Emeritus

    The only thing missing from the photos was the wafe of smoke from a cigerette!
     
  14. Here's a huge heads up for those of you who may have missed this movie. "Womans World" (1954) takes place in the Automobile Industry and is filmed all over and around the Ford Motor Styling Department. Ford Dream cars galore and an amazing look into the Ford Motor Company circa 1954- Check it out. You won't be disappointed....Centurion9
     
  15. 57Custom300
    Joined: Aug 21, 2009
    Posts: 1,424

    57Custom300
    Member
    from Arizona

    Growing up in the 50's I had always heard that Ford was an "Old Fogy" company. Even most of the dealerships were that way my old man said and he was an old fogy of sorts. Personally I'm very prejudice towards 57 Fords.
     
  16. S.F.
    Joined: Oct 19, 2006
    Posts: 2,895

    S.F.
    Member

    Virgil Exner and the foreward look was pretty good too. I'd have to say the 57 Plymouth has the Ford beat on styling
     
  17. that girl in the interior pic is wondering "how many more of these guys do i hafta "do'" before this pink fabric and thread will be used like they promised....."
     
  18. S.F.
    Joined: Oct 19, 2006
    Posts: 2,895

    S.F.
    Member


    yeah, they ruined that piece of art when they hacked it into that freeking bat mobile. Hate that thing.....and what it did to the average non car person when they see any 50's car "hey thats like the batmobile"......no sir its a 1958 so and so, it looks nothing like the batmobile
     
  19. gyronaut
    Joined: Dec 16, 2010
    Posts: 197

    gyronaut
    Member

    New stylists at Ford in the '50's were indoctrinated through Alex Tremulis' Advanced Styling studio. Upon "graduation", when they were assigned to various other departments, many of them received their diploma in the hopes that they would never let mediocrity stifel their creativity. Here's Bob Pitchford's diploma, c. 1957...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  20. Bigcheese327
    Joined: Sep 16, 2001
    Posts: 6,694

    Bigcheese327
    Member

    I’ve always felt post-Shoebox, pre-Mustang (‘52-‘64) Ford styling and products were way underrated. Just gorgeous stuff, right down to the little details.

    I want a ‘54 Ford or Mercury so bad...
     
  21. jimbob
    Joined: Jun 29, 2004
    Posts: 1,221

    jimbob
    Member

    The wagon in image 23 looks very Buick inspired.
     
  22. ClearSpot
    Joined: Aug 20, 2009
    Posts: 941

    ClearSpot
    Member
    from Michigan

  23. flamingokid
    Joined: Jan 5, 2005
    Posts: 2,200

    flamingokid
    Member

    I'll take the jet boat!
     
  24. Normbc9
    Joined: Apr 20, 2011
    Posts: 1,121

    Normbc9
    Member

    I was a firefighter in L.A. in 1955 and a co-workers dad was the Ford Racing guru at the Pico Rivera Special Product Division. They were serious and spent a lot of time and money on performance Y Block versions of the 272, 292, 312 and the 340. All were great competitors on the Drag Race tracks and with NASCAR. In my opinion if a good savy engine person got their hands on the Paxton Super Charged 312 they could turn it into a monster with just a few changes. Arkus Zora Duntov made the Chevy's run. A team of serious engineers and racers made the Ford engine be very competitive. I saw may a '56 and "57 Ford or Mercury bring home repeated First Place Trophies in my part of southern California. I still respect the Ford engineering. Chrysler taught everyone a lesson too in those days. Those cars when they first came out stole the show.
    Normbc9
     
  25. autobilly
    Joined: May 23, 2007
    Posts: 3,123

    autobilly
    Member

    Cool contribution 4t64rd.
     
  26. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    The future isn't what it used to be.
     
  27. Model T1
    Joined: May 11, 2012
    Posts: 3,309

    Model T1
    Member

    At least in the midwest, many people who bought new Chevys every few years and had a 57 ordered cancelled and waited till the 58's came out or bought some other brand. Many thought a 57 Chevy was ugly.
    Compared to the 55-56's they were.
    I had a few 57's and loved them later. Of course the 57 Chevy is now one of the most loved and easily recognized cars of even non-car people.
     

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