Pegleg: Was this called a Custom or a Mainline like the 56 and earlier ones? I recall this was the base level car and faced off against the Chev 150 series.
In the event PegLeg is busy, I'll answer these as a "Fords of the 50s" fan [in addition to all Studebakers:TU: ]: The white car on the trailer is a 1957 Ford Custom 2-door. It replaced the 1956 Mainline series, which was not offered [Mainline] after 1956. If the car on the trailer had the long, swooping side spear like PegLeg's red and black '57, it would be a Custom 300, whether or not two-toned...or, in Ford parlance, tu-toned, as in Tudor. The black(?) convertible pictured is a 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 Convertible, also known as a Sunliner because it has a soft, "regular" convertible top. If it had the folding steel roof, it would be a 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner. Here's a good trivia question that will usually win you a beer or two from guys who claim to be experts on cars of the 50s and 60s: What was the last model year in which the Ford Division of Ford Motor Company identified their conventional, folding-cloth-top convertibles as Sunliners, both with chrome script on the car, and in factory literature? Answer: 1962. In 1963, the cars were simply called "convertibles," like everybody else. Bob Palma of team Studebaker...and closet admirer of 1955-1958 Fords.
Hey Dave, I noticed that those photos were dated 1959. Isn't that the same year you graduated from college??? :bla: :bla:
Thanks, Bob. That had me stumped on the Sunliner part. I recall also a Skyliner(I think ?) that had the glass top that came out in 1954 and was available on the Crown Victoria Fords in 1955 and 1956. When the 57 flip top Skyliners first came out, they had nightmarish problems with the control systems and saw many at the dealership in Paducah that came in with the rear deck cover stuck in the up position. Think Mercury called their version a Sun Valley and had them in 54 and 55 also, but don't recall on the 56. Have a friend that retired as a Ford Exec that started buying up 57 Skyliners way before anyone else did and had 75 of them at peak stored in garages all over Detroit. He retired and moved to Phoenix area and moved all of them out there. His name was Howard Voigt and one of the last really good guys that made it to the top of Ford. I had a 56 Mainline (in 1964) that was an ex Kentucky State pursuit car with a 312 and a 3 speed (can't remember if it was an overdrive). That car would only go about 75 or 80 but got there VERY quick. You could smoke the tires from a dead stop in second gear or any time you wanted in 1st gear. Loved that car. Here's one that you will get that few others would. What was the first Ford Crestliner and what was it? (Mercury had their version, but I can't recall the name). My 1952 Mainline from college days started as a six, then a series of junkyard flatheads, then a Chev 283, then back to a good Merc flathead.
:TU: Dave: Right-O on the early Skyliners being plexiglas-topped 1954-1956 models, with 1955 and 1956s being a premium version of the attractive Crown Victoria. Yep, the Mercury version was the Sun Valley, but I don't think it made it into the 1956 model year; 1954 and 1955 only for the Mercury glass-top version. The first Crestliner? It was Ford's 1950 mid-year desperation attempt to market something, anything, against the genuine 2-door hardtop available from Chevrolet, the new Bel Air. Ford had been caught with their pants down. Few people were fooled by the fancy Crestliner: It still had a B-pillar post. Ford dealers had to do as best they could until the genuine Ford 2-door hardtop, called the Victoria, arrived for the 1951 model year. Mercury's version of the Crestliner was the Monterey. It had the same gussied-up appearance as the Crestliner, but was still a coupe, not a 2-door hardtop. Ironically, because the 1951 Mercurys were still built on the Lincoln body, they didn't have a true 2-door hardtop available in 1951, even though the cheaper Ford did! It wouldn't be until 1952 that Mercurys were again built on the Ford body and Mercury would have a true 2-door hardtop. By that time, the Monterey name had been expanded to include a 4-door sedan and the convertible, as well as the true 2-door hardtop. So, curiously, the Monterey name never stood alone as a premium 2-door hardtop during all those model changes, unlike Buick's 1949 Riviera, Pontiac's 1950 Catalina and Chevrolet's 1950 Bel Air (and others), fancy names reserved (at least for the introductory year) for use on 2-door hardtops. OK, now I have to get back to Studebakers before I am carted off by the South Bend mafia...:blast: BP
Bob, /Dave WOW I'm impressed! Bob has this down pat! I have no where near the knowledge of Studebakers he has about ancient Fords. Dave I did not know the answer to the convertible/Sunliner question either. I actually never owned a Y Block until this one! It's John Feistritzer's fault. I did have a '40 convert back in high school, A 70 Torino and a '64 &67 Mustang. Mostly ran Pontiacs and raised kids! I saw an F code Skyliner in a Ford Showroom during my Freshman Year in High school, impressive! I got a ride in a buddies Dad's Chrysler 300 "C" Ragtop (the real one) that year. Understand, I love my Ford, spent 5 years building it, But I'd trade for an equally nice '57 300 Convert in a heartbeat. I'd build another F code to race though. I could live with a '64 Galaxie convertable 427 4 gear car also. The Ford version of Brian's merc.
I had a string of fat fender Fords all through high school. Starting with a 41 Merc coupe, then a 41 Ford conv, then a 40 Ford sedan and a real nice 47 Ford coupe. Actually I had 3 of them at the same time and used to enjoy switching engines back and forth between the 40 and the 41. The pic here is not of my actual 40, but another that was identical right down to the rust. The convertible had many engines from flatheads to small block chevies and finally a 324 Olds. It was a 50's custom, hated to let it go.
:TU: Thanks for the compliment, Frank. Actually, I spent a lot of time studying Fords of the fifties; I do like them. ' Spent a lot of time running around Paris IL in high school (1961-1962) in a buddy's 1957 Custom 300 Tudor in two-tone blue. 'Just a 272/Fordomatic car; it didn't have the energy of yours, Frank! I've always been amazed at the cult status of 1957 Chevys considering they are downright ugly (IMHO, of course) compared to 1957 Fords. Well, the proof of the pudding was in the eating, and the pudding in 1957 was selling cars. If I'm not mistaken, the good-looking 1957 Ford line outsold the warmed-over, gee-gawed 1955 Chevrolet marketed as a 1957 model year Chevrolet, much to The General's embarrassment. That said, Frank, I assume you mean you wouldn't mind having a 1957 "500" convertible? If you do locate a 1957 300 convertible, on that shorter wheelbase for the Custom and Custom 300 models, I'd want to be the first to see it!! :kodak: I know what you mean about John Feistritzer. :3gears: John's knowledge and enthusiasm for these cars is addictive...the Ted Harbit of The Ford Family of Fine Cars! Cheers. :TU: BP
Bob, I think Frank may have meant a Chrysler 300C convertible. You really do know those early Fords. I recall those 1950 Ford Crestliners and Mercury Montereys had a rubber covered top. I only remember the Fords were chartreuse and black and the Mercs were burgundy/Maroon and black. Not sure if that was the only combination available, just all I remember seeing.
:gp: Good point on the Chrysler "300," Dave; I missed that connection! That's what I get for always associating PegLeg with 1957 Fords! :laugh: BP
Here's my vote..... When it comes to a vote for 57 Chevy against 57 Ford, I vote 57 FORD and I've owned a lot of 57 Chevys. The 57 Ford 300's just look better. :TU:
Bet you'd never guess that this is a 57 Olds.......This one appears to be a 3 speed with push button drive, dual cutouts and some nice curves. Now THAT has to be the ultimate Olds Highjack. !!!
This would be an appropriate time (...well, yesterday actually...) to mention that the first car my dad raced was a '60 Ford convertible with a Paxton blower on it. This is also the car that got him introduced to the boys at Royal and started the long and glorious relationship with Pontiacs. I'll post some pics when I find some (I know mom still has them). K
ou: Whoa! 'Had me fooled, that's for sure. But with the three "ports," it must be a 1957 J-2 option, right? :TU:
Keith, THAT would be a very neat car. Did they actually put them on 1960's? I think like 1957, the 1960 Fords were much better looking than the 60 Chevs. After that, though, I loved the Pontiacs and Chevs. Here's a real 57 Olds. These things were gorgeous, fast, and highly collectible today. (very big $$$)This one is probably a J2 (3- 2 bbls). Olds had tripowers in 1957 and 1958, but late in the 1958 model year they started using up all the excess inventory of intakes on any 2 barrel car with 2 blockoff plates. They didn't sell many 58 Olds cars (or did anyone else in 1958), and in 59 they didn't offer the option. We used to find a lot of 58's in junk yards built that way. These intakes are easy to find, hence the rarity of a non J2 57 Olds today. I couldn't scrape together $500 in 1965 to buy a black Super 88 just like this one with a factory stick. Couldn't sleep for 2 days wanting that car. Some you never forget. Would be a fun car for the big car drags at Pure Stock.
Update, update......... Look at what's showing in the background in front of that Olds. :eek2: Pegleg's probably sporting wood right now!!!!!! :bla: Down boy! Down boy! Whoa, big fella!!!!:bla:
Nope, no factory-superchaged Fords after 1957. They had the new FE-series engines to move them along; 332 and 352 to begin with in 1958. Finally up to 352/360HP with solid lifters for the hi-po 1960 engine, but no supercharger. 'Not to say someone didn't put one on a 1960 Ford, of course it could be done. McCullogh/Paxton made kits to install their superchargers on just about anything! A 1958 Ford advertisement is amusing. Faced with the newness and romance of Chevrolet's Fuel Injection, I have a Ford ad touting their newly-designed intake manifold for the FE engine as providing "Precision Fuel Induction." ou: What a hoot, eh? 'Gotta love the ad writers.
That is good. Fuel Induction. Hahaha. Sounds like the perfect thing for Stefina's big Merc. The "Forward look" that Mopar introduced and marketted scared GM and Ford into changing their entire styling plans as soon as they could. We always wondered why the 58 Chevs were a one year only car. Rumor has it, they pulled ahead the 1960 model to 1959 because of that. That would fit more with their product cycle changes back then. Keith: If you ever get religion and join us in racing Pure Stock, think we're going to have tech really look over your car. :laugh: Especially if it was one of your Dad's old ones or his fingerprints are on it. Probably good that your NSCA Chevy is too new for us. :bglasses: How about that, Donny. You do get around. She is (or should I say "they are") going to be at York and the Nostalgia drags in 2 weeks. Along with Jungle Pam.....wouldn't that be a great wet T shirt contest? Probably make the Guinness Book of records and thoroughly piss off Rosie O'Donnell.
