If you didn't get a chance to see the "57" museum in Branson Mo., you really missed something special. They had every make and model for the year 1957 beautifully restored on display. It was all auctioned off a year or two ago.
I love them all but like the 57 Ford 300 Custom the best. Back in the 70s I talked to an aging HP officer and asked him his favorite car. He had driven the 440 mopars, 427 Fords and 427 Chevys but his all time fav was a 57 Ford Custom with 2 fours and overdrive. He also said the 427 Chevy was the worst.
Also wish I still had my black with red interior 57 olds 88 2 door post with J2 and stickshift. But that was almost another lifetime.
almost hate to admit it but ive owned more 57s then any other year. chevy ford stude plymouth and buick. liked all of them.
All of 'em are great cars, but Chryslers are in a cl*** by themselves.Ok, I'm a MoPar guy from a MoPar family, but you must admit that the 330C, hemi powered, big as a bus is stunning! Power, grace and different styling.
I had a 57 2 dr. post Plymouth I bought from a friend for $50.00 back in 1970, it was his high school driver, and he was tired of it. My wife wanted a 2nd car for her to drive our daughter around, and shopping. We had a nice 57 Chevy at the time, and she wanted it, so I took the Plymouth. It served me well for 3 years, then I traded it in on a new car. Got $150.00 in trade in on a new 73 Plymouth Duster. I've owned a 57 Ford, Chevy, Plymouth, and got my *** beat by a 57 Pontiac in a drag race with my 57 Chevy. All very nice cars.
Enjoy it I did, Two Chops! I looked at the Buick's album on your profile page. I can throw a lot of accolades your way, but it is best to say you didn't leave much room for improvement. The build would be subtle for 57, and is cl***ic today.
300C absolutely, that was my first thought, that would be my first choice 392 push ****on torqueflite power steering like ****er.... yeah man another good looking car is the Olds 4 door hard top station wagon, with a J2 under the hood of course
That thing is beautimus! I agree, the 57 2D HT is the best of the lot, IMO. I had an opportunity to buy one, sans motor, for $2500 about 5 years ago but couldn't get the funds....SO slapping myself now. I'd like to add the following to the mix....the 1957 Buick Caballero.....has all the visual lines of the 2D HT, but that extra space for the kiddos and still looks like a 2D for the most part!
4D to 2D Plymouth but with a DeSoto roof line would look GD Cl***y!! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Tucked away in my shed I Have full optioned 57 Biarritz. silver with red interior, black top. air cond and dual quads. Needs a full resto but rust free and all there. The most Motorama style Caddy of all. Note to self. . ."work on 57."
I agree that 57 was definitely a good year and I think the Chevy might be my least favorite of them all. And, the Olds is probably my favorite. I had a chance to buy a 57 Olds 2-door hardtop about 5 years ago and probably should of. I love that rear window on it and the Buick! I actually don't think I have ever owned a 57 anything, but have had multiple years on both sides for several years...
We can't forget this one kids, a genuine 7/8 scale factory custom. If you ever have the chance to see one in person and take in all the details you gotta go for it. A vanity set with perfume, mirror and compact, a pen and pad set for taking notes, full 4 corner air ride, memory seats, and set of tumblers for your favorite beverages. At a bit over $13K in 57, probably the most expensive car built. And they claim to have lost money on every one! I had the pleasure to spend over a month with a 57 (continued for 58 with tri-power vs dual quads). The car was very fast for a 57 land yacht, and in fact very fast period. Too kool... And straight out of fantasy land disguised as a 57 Mercury, the Turnpike Cruiser. Roof antenae, breezway rear window, and again, as already mentioned in other replies, quad headlamps before their time by a year. While I know less of these than the Cadillacs as posted above, they sure were a bit "space ship" compared to the regular offerings. Just kool in my book. Another great 57 happened. Harley intorduced their iconic Sportster. While the performance didn't measure up in the 1st offering, by mid year they figured it out. Still with us today, can it be one of the longest running model of motorcycle?
Of everything posted, I'd probably go for the 57 T-bird, with the bells and whistles under the hood, or a 57 Desoto Firesweep- combining the best of the Dodge lancer and the DeSoto of the year. Also, the original article by Jive-bomber had one element that I can't agree with. If someone asks me what my car is, I tell them. Even if they don't have much of a vehicular vocabulary beyond the 57 Chevy, it seems important to give the person a bit of an education. By saying it's a Studebaker, a DeSoto, or even a wild custom; you may give a person something to think about which hadn't previously entered their mind. At this point, the old car hobby needs as much good attention as it can get, we need to grow our fan base. Through informing uneducated newbies, we have a chance that a few of them may google the car you told them about and get ****ed into our hobby. Ours is a world that gets smaller and more exclusive every day, we should all make positive efforts to reverse that trend, even if it takes a few moments out of our day.
I agree that in 57 the car companies got it right. Sooo many iconic models that year. As a kid I hated the Mopar cars, thought they were ugly. I have since seen the error of my ways. Not too many better looking 57's than the Fury & Desoto. I don't think there's a 57 car of any make I wouldn't mind having. I think that people are getting a little tired of looking at all the 57 Chevys. Every show has a bunch of nice 57 Chevys but other than the color choice they all seem to look alike. I do appreciate a well restored or survivor one.
DODGE 035 by FANTM58 posted May 11, 2009 at 11:20 AM DODGE 049 by FANTM58 posted May 11, 2009 at 11:20 AM corn5 by FANTM58 posted Apr 15, 2013 at 1:31 PM My 58 Coronet by FANTM58 posted Jan 15, 2011 at 6:49 PM DODGE 035 by FANTM58 posted May 11, 2009 at 11:20 AM 13 by FANTM58 posted Apr 15, 2013 at 1:29 PM
I've heard and read that for years, Ford out sold Chevy. I've also heard that the Fords were very prone to rust out problems, more so than the Chevies. Always heard that was the reason the Chevies outnumber the Fords of that era now. I've always liked the GM cars from 57. All had smooth, flowing lines, and didn't look bug eyed like the Fords did. The Mopars really don't do anything for me, even though I do enjoy seeing them since so few are left now, again probably due to rust issues. 57 is pretty much the last year of good looking cars until about 61 IMHO. The quad lights, tail fins, and huge bumpers pretty much kill most of them for me, although the 58 Chevy Impala still pulls it off well, as does the Corvette. The Fords got boxy, and the Mopars just got freaky looking.
As time p***es, most of the public seems absolutely clueless. I have a 57 chevy, 99 % of people have no idea what it is.
Here is a pic of our olds fiesta I picked up about 6 months ago. It's a 20 footer , but good driver .
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