1957 Ford

Last updated
1957 - 1959 Ford
1957 Ford Fairline 500 Skyliner.jpg
1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner
Overview
Manufacturer Ford
Production19571959
AssemblyMain plant
Dearborn, MI ()

Branch Assembly
Twin Cities, MN ()
Somerville, MA ()
Richmond, CA ()
Norfolk, VA ()
Memphis, TN ()
Louisville, KY ()
Long Beach, CA ()
Kansas City, MO ()
Mahwah, NJ ()
Dallas, TX ()
Chicago, IL ()
Chester, PA ()
Buffalo, NY ()
Atlanta, GA ()

Contents

Broadmeadows, Australia (1959 model) [1] ()
Body and chassis
Class Full-size Ford
Body style 2-door sedan (Tudor, Club Sedan)
2-door business sedan (Tudor)
4-door sedan (Fordor, Town Sedan)
2-door hardtop (Club Victoria)
4-door hardtop (Town Victoria)
2-door convertible (Sunliner)
2-door retractable hardtop (Skyliner)
2-door station wagon
4-door station wagon
2-door coupe utility (Ranchero)
2-door sedan delivery [2] (Courier)
Layout FR layout
Related Meteor (Canada)
Edsel Ranger
Edsel Pacer
Edsel Roundup
Edsel Villager
Edsel Bermuda
Powertrain
Engine 223 CID (3.7 L) OHV I6
272 CID (4.5 L) Y-block V8
292 CID (4.8 L) T-bird V8
312 CID (5.1 L) T-bird V8 (1957)
332 CID (5.4 L) FE V8 (1958-59)
352 CID (5.8 L) FE V8 (1958-59)
Transmission 3-speed manual
3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic
2-speed Ford-O-Matic automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase 116 in (2,946 mm)
118 in (2,997 mm)
Length203.5 in (5,169 mm) [3]
Chronology
Predecessor 1955 Ford
Successor 1960 Ford

The mainstream Ford line of cars grew substantially larger for 1957, a model which lasted through 1959. The Crown Victoria with its flashy chrome "basket handle" was no more, and the acrylic glass-roofed Crown Victoria Skyliner was replaced by a new model, the retracting-roof hardtop Skyliner.

The new chassis allowed the floor to be placed much lower, which in turn led to a lower and longer look overall. Wheels were now 14 inches in diameter rather the previous 15 inches, this also helped to give a lower profile. The major component of this chassis was a differential whose pinion gear was exceptionally low relative to the axleshafts, lower than in conventional hypoid differentials.

1957

The 1957 models retained a single-headlight front end like their predecessors, but were unmistakable with their long flanks and tailfins. A plethora of trim lines was introduced, starting with the base "Custom", "Custom 300", "Fairlane", and top-line "Fairlane 500". The two Custom lines used a 116 in (2946 mm) wheelbase, while the Fairlanes had 118 in (2997 mm) between the wheels. A new car/pickup truck hybrid based on the short-wheelbase chassis was also introduced, the Ranchero.

The 223 CID (3.7 L) OHV straight-six continued, now with 144 hp (107 kW). The V8 lineup included a 272 CID (4.5 L) Y-block making 190 hp (142 kW), a 292 CID (4.8 L) Thunderbird version making 212 hp (158 kW), a 312 cubic inch V8 making 245 HP and a supercharged 312 CID (5.1 L) Thunderbird Special making 300 hp (224 kW), and designated "Police Interceptor" on the glove box. Two dual 4-barrel versions of the naturally aspirated (non-supercharged) 312 cubic inch V8 rated at 270 and 285 HP were available. The 270 HP version had the same cam as all the other V-8s but had vibration dampers on the valve springs. The 285 HP engine had a racing cam and was only available to NASCAR and possibly other racers. This option was dubbed "E code" and was available in all body types. It came standard with the deep-dish steering wheel. The radio had a transistorized audio output stage for the first time. [4] There were lights for the generator and oil instead of gauges. [4] The controls became recessed for more safety (the Lifeguard safety package was still available). [5] Safety did not yet sell, however: In a survey of 1957 Ford owners in the March, 1957 issue of Popular Mechanics, only 6.2% of owners ordered seat belts. [6]

A new frame was used for the 1957 Fords. It moved to perimeter rails out, so that they would fully envelope the passengers. [7]

This model was very successful, being the best selling car in America, overtaking arch rival Chevrolet for the first time since 1935. [8]

1958

The line was freshened with a simulated hood scoop and dual-headlight front clip for 1958. [9] The rectangular grille openings gave way to circles and grille was set in the bumper. [9] A new 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic was optional along with the 2-speed Ford-O-Matic and manual transmission. Engines were also updated, with the 272 CID dropped, the 292 CID making 205 hp (153 kW), and a new-generation 332 CID (5.4 L) FE V8 rated at 240 HP in 2 barrel form and 265 HP in 4 barrel "Interceptor" form. The new 352 cubic inch V8, also dubbed "Interceptor" and rated at 300 hp (224 kW) made its debut. A full-flow oil filter became standard across the range. Galaxie production was started in Lorain, Ohio at Ford's Lorain Assembly plant for 1958 and continued through 1959 with 102,869 Galaxies produced there. Air suspension, called "Ford-Aire" became optional on all vehicles except the entry-level Custom 300 for $156 ($1,465 in 2021 dollars [10] ) but was cancelled in 1959. Vehicles equipped with the feature had a badge attached to the rear of the vehicle. [11]

The convertible version of Ford Fairlane 500, Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner (also called Skyliner Retractable Convertible), had been sold for three years - 1957, 1958, and 1959. It was the most expensive vehicle offered by Ford. The 1958 Skyliner sold for $3,163 ($29,707 in 2021 dollars [10] ) while the standard convertible sold for $2,650 ($24,889 in 2021 dollars [10] ) and the sedan went for $2,055 ($19,301 in 2021 dollars [10] ). A total of 14,713 units were produced in 1958. Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner weighed 4,609-pounds. [12]

1959

The top-line spot for 1959 was the new Galaxie , positioned above the continued Fairlane 500. The Custom line was dropped, with Custom 300 the lowest rung on the ladder, and all 1959 Fords used the long 118 in (2997 mm) wheelbase. New for safety was fully padded armrests and rear door locks that were child proof. [13] American prices ranged from the mid-1,000 to the low 3,000s. In 1958, a concept car was introduced called "la Galaxie" which incorporated the headlights into pods inline with the grille and a reduced front profile. [14]

This version was also assembled in Australia, beginning in late 1959. Local models were the luxurious Fairlane 500, the lower-priced Custom 300 (both sedans), as well as the Ranch Wagon. [15] The Australian models were powered by the 332 cu in (5.4 L) "Thunderbird" engine, producing 204 hp. [15] For 1960, the range was updated with the grille and trim from the 1959 Canadian Meteor. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edsel</span> Automobile brand of the Ford Motor Company

Edsel is a discontinued division and brand of automobiles that was marketed by the Ford Motor Company from the 1958 to the 1960 model years. Deriving its name from Edsel Ford, son of company founder Henry Ford, Edsels were developed in an effort to give Ford a fourth brand to gain additional market share from Chrysler and General Motors. Established as an expansion of the Lincoln-Mercury Division to three brands, Edsel shared a price range with Mercury; the division shared its bodies with both Mercury and Ford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Galaxie</span> American full-size car

The Ford Galaxie is a full-sized car that was built in the United States by Ford for model years 1959 through to 1974. The name was used for the top models in Ford's full-size range from 1958 until 1961, in a marketing attempt to appeal to the excitement surrounding the Space Race. In 1958, a concept car was introduced called "la Galaxie" which incorporated the headlights into pods inline with the grille and a reduced front profile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Ranchero</span> Coupe utility (motor vehicle)

The Ford Ranchero is a coupe utility that was produced by Ford between 1957 and 1979. Unlike a standard pickup truck, the Ranchero was adapted from a two-door station wagon platform that integrated the cab and cargo bed into the body. A total of 508,355 units were produced during the model's production run. Over its lifespan it was variously derived from full-sized, compact, and intermediate automobiles sold by Ford for the North American market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Country Squire</span> Motor vehicle

The Ford Country Squire is a series of full-size station wagons that were assembled by American automaker Ford. Positioned as the top-level station wagon of the Ford division, the Country Squire was distinguished by woodgrain bodyside trim. From 1950 through the 1991 model years, eight generations of the Country Squire were produced. Following the discontinuation of Edsel Bermuda, Mercury marketed the Mercury Colony Park as a divisional counterpart of the Country Squire, sharing bodywork and trim while the Mercury was not available with a six cylinder engine and was more expensive due to the optional equipment on the Ford that was standard on the Mercury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln Continental</span> American luxury car

The Lincoln Continental is a series of mid-sized and full-sized luxury cars produced by Lincoln, a division of the American automaker Ford Motor Company. The model line was introduced following the construction of a personal vehicle for Edsel Ford, who commissioned a coachbuilt 1939 Lincoln-Zephyr convertible, developed as a vacation vehicle to attract potential Lincoln buyers. In what would give the model line its name, the exterior was given European "continental" styling elements, including a rear-mounted spare tire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford LTD (Americas)</span> Model range of automobiles

The Ford LTD is a range of automobiles manufactured by Ford Motor Company for the 1965 to 1986 model years. Introduced as the highest trim level of the full-size Ford model range, then the Galaxie, the LTD offered options and features that had previously been reserved for more luxurious Lincoln and Mercury models. The largest vehicle produced by Ford in North America for most of its production, the LTD was joined by the intermediate Ford LTD II from 1977 to 1979; the LTD II served as the replacement for the Torino/Gran Torino range. At various times throughout its production, the LTD range included two- and four-door pillared and hardtop sedans, a two-door convertible, and the Country Squire five-door woodgrain station wagon.

Meteor was a marque of automobiles offered by Ford Motor Company of Canada from 1949 to 1976. The make was retired for the 1962 and 1963 model years, when the name was used for the Mercury Meteor sold in the United States. It succeeded the Mercury 114, a Canadian-market Mercury based on the Ford, the "114" name being taken from the car's wheelbase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercury Turnpike Cruiser</span> Motor vehicle

The Mercury Turnpike Cruiser is a series of automobiles that were produced by the Mercury division of Ford for the 1957 and 1958 model years. Named to commemorate the creation of the Interstate Highway System, the Turnpike Cruiser was marketed as the flagship Mercury model line, slotted above the Montclair when Mercury was positioned upmarket to luxury status when Edsel was introduced in 1958.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercury Montclair</span> Motor vehicle

The Mercury Montclair is a series of full-size sedans that were manufactured and marketed by the Mercury division of Ford. The nameplate was used by the division twice, from the 1955 to the 1960 model years and from the 1964 to the 1968 model years. While not offered as a station wagon, the Montclair was offered as two-door and four-door hardtops, four-door pillared sedan, and a two-door convertible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Custom</span>

The Ford Custom is an automobile which was produced by Ford in the United States, Canada and Australia in certain years from 1949 to 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Fairlane (Americas)</span> Motor vehicle

The Ford Fairlane is an automobile model that was sold between the 1955 and 1970 model years by Ford in North America. Taking its name from the Dearborn, Michigan estate of Henry Ford, the Fairlane nameplate was used for seven different generations of vehicles. Through its production, the model line would be marketed in a wide variety of body styles, including two-door and four-door sedans, two-door and four-door hardtops, station wagons, and both traditional and retractable-hardtop convertibles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Fairlane (Australia)</span> Motor vehicle

The Ford Fairlane and LTD are full-sized luxury vehicles produced in a series of models by Ford Australia between 1959 and 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edsel Corsair</span> Motor vehicle

The Edsel Corsair is an automobile that was produced and sold by Edsel in 1958 and 1959. For 1958, the Corsair was built on the longer, wider Edsel platform shared with Mercury. For 1959, the Corsair shared the shorter, narrower Ranger platform with Ford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edsel Ranger</span> Motor vehicle

The Edsel Ranger is an automobile that was produced and sold by the newly formed Edsel Division of Ford for the 1958–1960 model years. It was built on the shorter, narrower Edsel platform, shared with Ford and Edsel Pacer models.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Falcon (North America)</span> Motor vehicle

The Ford Falcon is a model line of cars that was produced by Ford from the 1960 to 1970 model years. The first compact car marketed by the American Big Three automobile manufacturers, the Falcon was the third car line introduced by Ford, following the full-sized Ford and the Ford Thunderbird.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner</span> Motor vehicle

The Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner is a two-door full-size retractable hardtop convertible, manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company for model years 1957–1959. For the model year 1959, the name changed to Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner shortly after production began. The retractable roof mechanism, marketed as the "Hide-Away Hardtop", was unique to Ford-branded products, and was not offered on Continental, Lincoln, Mercury, or Edsel branded vehicles. A total of 48,394 were manufactured.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1955 Ford</span> Motor vehicle

The 1955 Ford is an automobile which was produced by Ford in the United States for the 1955 model year and, in revised form, for the 1956 model year. A new design would be offered in 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1960 Ford</span> Motor vehicle

Leading into the 1950s, Ford, along with many other top of the market car manufacturers were capitalizing on the post war boom. Many new advancements in technology and products were being developed during this time that allowed for cars going into the future to have features never seen before or features that were not normal until now. The automatic window, for example, was a new feature that made Americans see their current cars as outdated and technologically behind. The 1960s were one of the best eras for the production of cars, as the war between Ford and Chevrolet heated up and produced some of the most classic and recognizable cars in America still to this day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercury Monterey</span> Motor vehicle

The Mercury Monterey is a series of full-size cars that were manufactured and marketed by the Mercury division of Ford from 1952 to 1974. Deriving its name from Monterey Bay, the Mercury Monterey served as the upscale version of the Mercury Custom which replaced the Mercury Eight, the debut model line of the Mercury division. During its production, the Monterey would be offered in multiple body styles, ranging from coupes, convertibles, sedans, hardtops, and station wagons.

Full-size Ford is a term adopted for a long-running line of Ford vehicles with a shared model lineage in North America. Originating in 1908 with the Ford Model T, the line ended in 2019 with the Ford Taurus, as Ford withdrew from the full-sized sedan segment in North America. Across 111 years, 15 generations, and over 60 million examples of the model line were produced across over 50 model nameplates. By contrast, the longest-running single nameplate worldwide is the Chevrolet Suburban, in use since the 1935 model year.

References

  1. Darwin, Norm (1986). The History of Ford in Australia. Newstead: Eddie Ford Publications. pp. 136–139. ISBN   978-0959228724.
  2. 1957 Ford Courier Sedan Delivery sales brochure cover Retrieved on 31 December 2009
  3. "Directory Index: Ford_Ranchero/1957_Ford_Ranchero_Foldout". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  4. 1 2 "A New Kind of Ford for '57". Ford Motor Company. 1956. p. 7. Retrieved 2020-09-20 via Oldcarbrochures.com.
  5. "1957 Ford Fairlane" (brochure). Ford Motor Company. 1956. pp. 16–17. Retrieved 2011-11-20 via Oldcarbrochures.com.
  6. Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines. March 1957.
  7. "1957 Ford Fairlane" (brochure). Ford Motor Company. 1956. pp. 18–19. Retrieved 2011-11-20 via Oldcarbrochures.com.
  8. Markus, Frank. "Six Decades of Best Selling Cars". Motor Trend. Motor Trend. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  9. 1 2 Flory, Jr., J. "Kelly" (2008). American Cars, 1946-1959 Every Model Every Year. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 893. ISBN   978-0-7864-3229-5.
  10. 1 2 3 4 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–" . Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  11. "Directory Index: Ford/1958_Ford/1958 Ford Fairlane Brochure". Ford Motor Company. 1957. Retrieved 2011-11-20 via Oldcarbrochures.com.
  12. 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner
  13. "Directory Index: Ford/1959_Ford/1959_Ford_Brochure_1". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  14. "Ford La Galaxie Concept Car (1958)". Old Concept Cars. Theme by Mauer Themes. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  15. 1 2 "Sedan, Ranch Wagon". The Cumberland Argus . Parramatta, NSW. 30 September 1959. p. 6. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  16. Darwin, p. 136

Further reading