57 Ford (To Buy...or Not to Buy)

The guy wants $1,500 for it. It is a 57' Custom I beleive. No motor or ******, the only rust he knows of is the floors. Looks like there is no other rust, he is the second owner and it has been kept inside mostly until recently.

 

...better grab that one fast, that's a deal. Those are my favorite 57 Fords.

 

It looks pretty straight and complete - I like '57 Fords

 

jump on it fast! HRP

 

them are *****in'-get it!

 

Looks pretty solid. I'd say $1,500 isn't bad, especially if it comes with the parts that have been removed - bumpers? Front seat, etc? Does it come with a ***le?

By the looks of that door jamb, it's been repainted a few times. Is there any questionable body work or other rust hidden under all that old paint?
Just a few things to consider when looking at a project car...

'57 Customs are damn cool cars!

Let us know if you end up buying it - good luck....

Malcolm

 

There's 2 things I would check. Find out if the guy has the bumpers and stuff that's missing off of the car in the pictures.

Second, make sure the hood isn't bent. Those hood hinges like to spring up and bend the hood, especially if the hood is rusty. Makes me wonder why the hood is unbolted. If the hood is straight and the bumpers are included I'd say that's a good deal.

Having a ***le would also be a bonus.

 

Get all over it now! Rags

 

Yes, that is the 300 Model. The cheap one that all the racers and moonshiners wanted. It has different fins and body work than the other 57 Fords.

It is my absolute favorite 57 Ford body style.



I would LOVE to own one just like this one ... but BLACK

 

I bought my '58 Custom for $3,000. It needs rockers, everything else was fine. I had to do the rear brakes. So I would offer him $800 and go from there.

This is what it looked like when I bought it.

 

shades of thunder road !!!! get it !!!

 

Need I say more?

 

looks solid grab it !

 

One of my favorites also. Sleeper material at it's best.

 

The lowest priced model in '57 was the Custom, which is the vehicle in question. It had side trim on the rear quarter only (back doors and rear quarters on the 4 dr models, one of which I used to own). The next step up was the Custom 300, which had side trim that went the length of the vehicle. And then above that were the Fairlane followed by the Fairlane 500.

 

My book shows they made 160560 of that model- Custom 300 - 2 dr. Weight is 3224 lbs. Price $2105. 116 " wheelbase. Neat "sleep" car. Grab it.

 

Those cars definitely look sinister in black. A 427 sideoiler backed up by a 4 speed would scare many a man......

 

The blue one I posted has a 427 SOHC in it

 

NO!!!! That is NOT a 300. That is a Custom. The Custom 300 had different side trim. The fins are the same as the regular 57 ford, The Custom was a bit shorter wheelbase and had different trim but the same car.

I also agree with Squablow, the hoods are expensive and notorious for rotting out and bending. The front seat will also be tough to find. They are almost as expensive as 57 chebby seats. I have been offered a couple hundred bux each for the seats I have, and from cheap *** guys, so I know they are worth something. I have the identical car and a friend of mine is building one as well not to mention we know another guy here who has one he just finished, they are awesome cars.

 

There is also a Fairlane 300 which has the same length deck as any fairlane(opposed to the shorter Custom) but retains the custom side trim.

 

Yep, it is a Custom, not a Custom 300. That is a good looking body, check for rust in the rockers, rear pan, below trunk lid, lower rear quarters, and even in the cowl tank. Those are typical trouble spots for the `57s in all lines. Seats are not as expensive as you think, as some people swap them for `63-64 Galaxie buckets and consoles, as well as the goldchainers putting late model cushy stuff in them. Mine? Its getting A100 style buckets and being put back in the condition it raced iun the late 60's...So far it has a 302 Ford and 5 speed, since that is what I had together, but will be replaced with the correct `63 390 and 4 speed....

 

Well in that case Henry made 116963 Custom 2 door sedans, model 70A. Price was
$1991, weight 3211 pds. Also made 6888 Custom business sedans, model 70D, weight 3202 pds, price $1879.

 

They do that because they don't want to spend the time or the money getting a correct seat.

Guys ugly up '57 Chevys with late model garbage and ugly racing seats and those seat frames trade in the $800 range.

I don't think the Ford seat would be that hard to find, if '59 is the same I know where one probably is. But still, it would be nice to have with the car.

Sometimes people don't think about it when they're buying a car, but a seat, a couple of bumpers and a ***le could run as much as $1000 by the time you find them to complete the car. Not saying the car isn't worth it if those pieces are missing, but it sure would be nice to have them.

 

Here's a couple pics of Custom 300s, so you can see the 300 trim

 

I used to walk home from school past a Ford dealer and ooggle at all the cars. When I was 15 I told my Dad about a 57 that was beautiful. He bought it. It had that type of trim but was a hardtop with a 312 and FX ******. Was ordered by their mechanic and kept up and also flew.
I know cause when I was 16 I used to embarr*** some chebby 409 drivers. .Oh I did not win but was out in front off the line a lot.
Buy it and have a blast!

 

Don't worry about the stock seats , put 64 chevy's in my 57.
TwoChops

 

That only matters if you want to restore it, or just keep a bench. My last `57 went 11's and had a stock seat in it. I think a lot of people want the stock seat because they dont think anything else looks good in it, Wrong. The Galaxie seats look great, like they came in it, especially if the console is used too. For my own tastes though, its just something to sit on really. I have a set of late model buckets, leather, but I hate them, so they will likely go to the s**** pile. I also have a set of black `68 Mustang seats, but I dont like them either. The ones I want, unless I find a set of `63 or 64 Galaxie buckets, are the early Bostrum seats made for Dodge A100 vans, some Ford Econolines, and most of the factory S/S cars like the Thunderbolt Fairlanes, SS Dodge and Plymouth cars and so forth. I agree it is nice to get these items, and if mine had come with a bench in OK shape, I would probably use it again. Since it didnt, Im not wasting my time looking for one.
Ugly is all in the mind of the beholder...some of us dont particularly care for "old man" bench seats, and the older generation doesn't like those "damn hot rod" bucket seats....It's relative, really. Do what you like. Let the restorers fight over those $800 seat frames, screw that. I'll do like that last guy and bolt in a set of Impala buckets in a Tri-Five Chev if I ever get one.

 

Ouch! Say no more!

 

x2

needs bumpers, taillights, hood, seats, trim?, ***le?



Seems like a lot of money for a car that's been partially stripped

I'd like it a lot better for $500

But I don't live in your area, maybe its worth it since there's little rust, but you're gonna need to throw in at *least* another grand at it just to get it complete, before you replace all the mechanical/elec/plumbing etc etc

Most importantly is the time it'll take to round up all this stuff, as well as the h***le and driving etc.

Can you get a similar complete car for $2500?

 

Ditto ...Those 57 fords are one slick looking car!!