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

I think $1,500 is a little steep. I havn't had the chance to see if he has the parts or the ***le. I will talk to him this week to see what the deal is. I am thinking of starting around $900. We'll see if he takes it.

 

I'm a dyed in the wool Chevy man but I'd sure like to have one of those '57 Fords. When I lived in Nebraska in 1957 the Nebraska Highway Patrol cars were '57 fords like the one that Tommy posted. They had the biggest V8 offered and a 3spd overdrive trans. My best friend's father was a Captain with the patrol,in charge of the eastern half of the state. He used to give us rides in the patrol cars from time to time. When the '57 came out they flat *** flew when you got them out of second gear overdrive and shifted into 3rd. They have always been one of my favorite Fords. I'd put a 390 or 427 and a 4speed in one and put a big smile on my face.

Frank

 

I'd buy it cause I like them. If you like it and can afford it buy it. Mine ran 11's
with the 427 top oiler and 12's with a 390 30 yrs ago!

 

I wouldn't want to disagree with the experts, but I think it's a little spendy for North Dakota. Mike.

 

i,m mostly a chevy guy but i love my 58 ford fairlane300 the best car i,ve ever had go for it

 

Gentlemen,

Here is a complete breakdown of 57 FORD Body Styles.

http://www.1957ford.com/asp/modellist.aspx?catmstrid=1

There were two models, the FAIRLANE and the CUSTOM with numerous exterior trim levels. The CUSTOM had a shorter WB and windshields would not interchange from one to another.

Enjoy.

 

Originally Posted by Speedmaven

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.

IMO, the best thing one can do to a 57 is to put the front buckets and console form a 64 XL into it. It is just plain *****in'...

(63 XL Interior Shown)

 

1500 for a "rust free" body too much? Since I don't own a body shop, a true rust free body is worth an extra 1500-2000 to me over a similarly equipped builder with rust. The floors I can handle but when you get into inner rockers, outer rockers, 1/4 patch panels, trunk pans and body mounts etc. etc....$$$$$ Just add up the price of the patch panels without adding any labor costs and I believe if it is almost rust free, it is a deal. You guys that think that the price is too much, must have some real nice pieces to choose from. Even a rusty 4dr parts car would bring more than 500 around here.

 

I agree!

 

Jump on that one quick before it's gone!

 

I had a '57 Custom 300 back in 62-64. Was an awesome ride. 312 Thunderbird Special w/T-85 OD. Runnin' SOB. There was a black one just like the one posted here 'cept it was a business coupe with no back seat, 6 cyl, at Turkey Rod Run and he wanted $7,900 for it. It was ready to go though. Also for a long time there was a red Pro Street one on Ebay that had a SOHC motor in it. It was EXPENSIVE!! REAL EXPENSIVE!! But it was gorgeous! I'd say grab it.

 

Buy it! I'm into the '57 "short-bodies",Custom (yours),Custom 300s' and one that is really rare...the Custom 150, which had a one piece long side trim (usually cop cars).I have had 20 of these models in the past 5 years and have sold some to New Zeland, Australia and England. If you go to the Moonshine Festival in GA., you see about 15-20 every year and most have 427s in them. We put a SOHC in an all original one 2 years ago. I have a rare Business Coupe (no back seat) for sale on CarsOnLine now and plan to put on The H.A.M.B. soon. They are 6-3/8" shorter than a Fairlane and 1" taller(?), so gl*** does not exchange. I also built one as "Fireball" Roberts Paxton Supercharged replica. You can Google it and click the Circle Track Magazine article Nov. '07. Now building a fuel-injected ( Hilborn made 141/have one) '57 T-Bird Battlebird (Google). Tom

 

Hey, that's my old car! Not really; mine had a gl*** nose with the thunderbolt hood scoop. 390 & 4 speed. That photo sure brings back the memories...

Buy it, it's the best looking version of a great car!

 

Where did you find fibergl*** fenders? Was the quality good?

LOOKING FOR 58 HOOD AROUND WDC-BAL METRO

 

my buddy's 57

with the "Right Engine" (used the picture Malcolm posted when he saw it in Omaha on the Power Tour)

 

I always wondered how the Impala seats would look in a 57..........nice.

 

When it comes to 50s cars I'm a Chevy man. But I admit that is a good looking start to a project. I saw a 57 Ford 2 dr (post or hardtop, can't rember) and the guy was asking $2500 OBO. It looked complete but pretty rusty. But I can't imagine he came down much less than what your guy is asking. I'd buy the thing.

 

Not bad for rust free body. Find me a 2 door HT or convertible in that shape!

 

They don't need a lot to be a great looking car but tend to look a lot better sporting a bit of a race car flavored look rather than a lead sled look.

A friend of mine did a Fairlane 300 up in 1966 that was lime fire green, had a 352 dropped in with a 4 speed behind it. A great looking car that beat a lot of the local new at the time super cars at their own game.
If you are looking to go the custom lead sled look I'd suggest going with a Fairlaine 500 as the longer length looks better as a custom.

 

Did he have it in Lincoln for Americruise in 2001? If so, I talked to him briefly about 57's. It's a nice one!

 

The gl*** fenders and hood came off of a 57 Ranchero that a co-worker owned. He wanted the steel front end as his was a daily driver and I wanted the gl*** parts as mine was a bracket racer. Both cars were black, so a trade was made.

The parts were good quality and as they had already been fit to a body, they bolted right on. As they were second hand, I can't tell you who made them, though I seem to recall that Ai made them back then.

And that was about 37 years ago...

 

Check out one of the patch panel suppliers like EMS and see what they offer, take that list with you as it will tell you where 57s rot out. Then after you do your look over go back and add up cost of patches. I searched for quite awhile till I found one right here on the HAMB. 57 parts are really not that ridiculously priced. Ford outsold Chevy that year so there are still plenty of parts cars available.

As far as the front seat, mine will be replaced by 63 bird buckets and console.

 

Appreciate the information. I can equate with thirty-seven years ago...

 

i too am a chevy man , but i'd take the '57 ford over the belly ****on '57 chev anyday!
yeh- start your bidding low and see how he reacts--you can always go up, but damn hard to go down after you make a higher offer-- if you know he indulges you might take along a case of his beer or bottle of booze, to close the deal with something "mama" doesn't need to know about!

 

Yes.
I remember talking to him, also! Pat is his name, I believe... from Texas?

I had this one at Americruise that year

 

Yep Nick, that's him, Pat Fleischman. I told him about that car several yrs ago, he bought it for $1500 with 351 and automatic then put a 312 with 2-4's and T-5 ******. It held up pretty well until he put the Paxton on it, then after about 3 T-5's he swapped in a Tremec 3550.
Pat plays hard, play hard and learn expensive lessons

but has run in the 12's and it's a daily driver street car with full interior and running AC also.

 

Man those 57s are really looking nice!

 

WOW

 

Well I finally struck a deal with the guy today! He has got a clear ***le, the back seat only and both bumpers. I looked around the car, even felt the bottom sides of the floor pans...no rust what so ever! I'm sure there has to be some somewhere but we'll see. I am posting this pic because this is the direction I would like to go...wondering if anyone knows who's it is or if there are any other pics of it. I found it on the web. Oh, I got it for $1,200.

 

Would it be a crime against the HAMB Gods to build this thing G***er Style and put the 241 Dodge Hemi I have in my garage in it? Be nice....if you can.