Anybody into the 57 Ford......

I just bought a Country Sedan today...wife needed a wagon. Lotsa work to do.

 

57 Fords? Them eyeball cars?
Hell ya. I love em. Love the ride, love the look, love the view out the windshield, love the interiors, love the design, love the space, love the ease of parts finding. Other than that they dont have a lot going for them.... just bought my wagon just to be sure I dont like em.

The fairlaine has a 62 t bird 390, the Ranchero a mushtang 302 and the wagon will git a 79-460. I thought " ya cant get enough of them" applied here but according to my wife, thats not the case. Something may have to give way for the Fairlane convert i just found .

 

When I was a youngster, I lusted after every '57 Ford. Now I only like the 300 Customs or wagons. My inspiration at the time was "Thunder Road".

 

I LOVE MY 57 Ford Custom 300
292 Y Block 3 on the tree


URL=http://img440.imageshack.us/i/1000729s.jpg/][/URL]

 

I would like to correct missleading info I posted... I measured across both the chopped Ranchero and the Retract cowls and the length of the opening was the same... but, compound curves and relocation of sheet metal changes the actual shape... and since I didn't have a 500 windshield laying around - I made an assumption... now my Ranchero had been hit/repaired sometime in its life and rust had settled in over the years so I decided to install the rust free Retract cowl as a replacement... to my dismay the windshied is taller (go figure)... great if I was chopping the top... but, when you cut the front of the roof off there isn't no going back... suprisingly the Retract roof section (although wider at the top) fit into the opening (with a nudge of a portapower) and the crown of the roof lined up... so the windshield will remain higher and the Retract front roof section will sit lower than it did on the Retract... not too excited about the door openings being lower than the windshied... but, I'm all out of options... key point - chopped 300 windshield had a rake ( I assume at this point it was tilted back and area ground off the lower curved section) that the 500's don't - so the angles aren't the same

 

Here's my 57 Ford Del Rio that had sat in a garage in central Washington State for over 35 years. It's alot of fun and I love it.

 

<P>I started a build thread on this Ranchero </P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=567430</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P></P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P> </P>

 

My favorite car from the '50s - my Dad has been into them since they were new and has owned a few Skyliners, Sunliners, Rancheros and 500 2dr HT. They are a great design and I believe undervalued (as compared to the chevys).

Here is one I snapped last weekend

 

Pete Marcus RIP 8 sec 57 Ford "SHOWDOWN"


PHOTO BY JERRY WOODSIDE

 

1960, Mom & Dads

 

WOW... I can't believe how bringing up the rear bumper treatment changes the look... Any front shot?

 

Nothing but 3/4. Very old pics Thom. I guess you saw my Red chopped one.

 

got a 57 black custom that raced in the 80's up and down the east coast. 312, 060 over, lunatti cam , factory 2x4 setup enhanced with a mccullough supercharger. lettered and all original. 6 time track champion, 3 years in a row bracket eliminator.loads of time slips in the 12s, old newspaper clippings and lots of photos. sitting in the garage, needs a new home.

 

i am in the process of rebuilding a 57 lincoln with a 368. Just love the engineering on those old cars. they were not afraid to try new things. tail fins and all. 57s are sweet.

 

My first car was a Fairlane (not 500) 2 dr. hard-top, only seen one other, ever.

 

I know I've posted this picture many times before....but here is my cousin, Wilbur Rakestraw in his 57' leading Glen Wood in his 57' at the last Nascar Beach Race in 1958.



-Cody

 

guess I might as well show mine. couldn't afford a SOHC motor so I built a 542 Caddy to look like a FoMoCo---It's fun... changed a bunch of stuff on the car to suit me too.

 

nice!!!

 

Yunz guyz are showing some nice five-sevens!! John

 

No pics, but a story...

My uncle, when he was 19, sold some cattle and paid CASH for new '57 500 Sunliner, Red/Red/Black top, 312 2-4s Automatic, with Smitty's. I remember, at the age of 5, drivin' in that car...KEW-ELL! He, and it, were notorious in the small W. Ontario town he lived in. He didn't give a damn for nuthin' or no one...'cept he took a shine to me. What happened to it? Lost it in a poker game, 'bout '59 (but he'll never admit that)...

Ford outsold Chev, that year...

Really like your folks' car, shoprat...NICE!

 

I remember pete marcoms 57 at ocir in the late 70s before it was tubbed and on that day it was ill handling and he (or whoever owned it at the time) put it on its top, was anyone else there on that day to see it?

 

had a failane 500 2 dr hdt in high school and have a 57 ranchero waiting to get its turn,
top loader-390 and the like

 

I've got a barn car '34 Tudor that's decent and complete that I'd trade anytime for a '57 Custom 300 or Ranchero. Hot rods are my thing but I'd love to have a '57 for a second driver. Besides, nothing sounds better than a Y-block with dual glasspacks.

 

well i dont have a 57, BUT, ive always loved the 57's, and have secretly thought about swapping a front end on mine, but i think the 58's are just unique with the quad lights and the hood and grill.. just makes me melt but this is mine.. from about 2 years ago when it last ran.

currently sits in my sisters backyard where im waiting to put a 460 c/6 in there!!

 

Hey jeff, that ole girl is gorgeous!!!keep me posted if you need any parts.

 

I've posted this elsewhere, but not on this thread. My '57, found in a barn in Indiana. Stored since '72. 43,000 miles. No motor-trans. I built it with a 406" SBC and 700R4.
Ran 12.90 at Da'Grove. 21mpg all day long.

Recent owner switched to FOMOCO power.

http://www.vanguardmotorsales.com/I...any/VANGUARDAUTOS/vin/A7UG137549/Default.aspx

 

Jeff, I gotta love your 57! It's the same car I drove in high school and in the Air Force.
Norby, That color combo really works!
And how many all black Customs are there?
Great looking cars! Keep them coming.

 

a couple of my favorites