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In this Discussion
- HudMotCarCo February 2011
- Lee ODell February 2011
- Oldcar_Mechanic February 2011
57 Fairlane Popularity?
-
My favorite car was a new 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 that my family had when I was in high school. As I recall, that year Fords outsold Chevy's by a significant margin. Yet it seems that car collectors favor the 57 Chevy over the 57 Ford since I seldom see the latter mentioned anywhere. :unsure: Just how popular are the 57 Fairlane's?
BillBill -
57 Fords did outsell Chevy that year and it was the last time thye di I believe.
I've always loved the 57 Ford. I had a good friend back in High School that had a 57 retractable. I always wanted one.
There are a lot more Chvies running around for that year today then the Fords. There are also clubs that cater to the 57, 58 and 59.
Ron -
The 57 Fords are one of my favorites. I also had a friend with a retractable roof Ford in high school. His father gave it to him before he could get a drivers license, so his dad let me drive it when Dean and I double dated. It was a brand new 1959 Red and White Ford. Awwww the memories.
Lee O'Dell -
Sorry that I posted same subject twice :blush: Marconi's comments regarding the rust prone bodies certainly resonates with my experience. It appears that this is another example where good looking is not associated with quality. Despite that I am likely to retain a plutonic relationship with the 57 Fords while ignoring their limitations.:whistle:
BillBill -
Oh Yeah Lee, the memories.
I knew a guy that had a black with the red, white and black interior.
I had the chance many years ago to get a 59 for about $2,000.00 Of course it needed to be totally done and it really was not all that bad. The thing is could I spend less then $30,000.00 seeing that is what they are worth still today?
As to the point of the engines in the 57's, well, I have had many friends that had the 312 and 292 engines and never had a complaint about them. The rust issue? Well, anyone that lived in the rust belt states can tell you that there was not very many of any Marque that survived the rath of the snow and salt roads when driven daily.
Ron -
Our 57 had a 312 engine and was snappy. The valve covers never did seat sufficiently to keep oil from seeping out which was annoying. :angry: Living in western Colorado we didn't have a problem with rust because the annual rainfall was under 7 inches. When I took to car to Chicago to attend graduate school rust began to emerge everywhere. :ohmy: People there were amazed at the pristine appearance of the 57 when we arrived since very few ten year old cars were still in operation in that area .... and the ones that were looked awful.:sick:
A 90 year old friend who operated an auto body shop for 60 years said that the 57 Chevy was as rust prone as the 57 Ford, a limitation that was probably shared by most cars of that era.
I probably won't ever own another 57 Ford, but my recollection of the fun we had with our Fairlane 500 will remain.
BillBill
