57 Chevys
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,746
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From: Tampa Bay, FL USA
I never understood why so many people went so CRAZY for the '57 Chevy. The '57 Ford was slightly better looking, but for my money it was the Plymouth for '57 that was the best-looking of the "Low-Price Three." The entire Mopar "Forward Look" of that year really set Detroit on its ear. Some of the details were questionable (never did understand the "slots" in the lower front bumper...), but the overall was so much sleeker than anything else on the road. Like the Plymouth ads in the fall of 1956 shouted, "Suddenly, it's 1960!"
Unfortunately, it didn't last long. Just four short years later, when they brought out the 1961 Plymouth, "Uncle Tom" McCahill took one look at it and proclaimed, "Suddenly, it's 1957..."
Unfortunately, it didn't last long. Just four short years later, when they brought out the 1961 Plymouth, "Uncle Tom" McCahill took one look at it and proclaimed, "Suddenly, it's 1957..."
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,511
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From: Marion, VA
Originally Posted by 1956MarkII
I never understood why so many people went so CRAZY for the '57 Chevy. The '57 Ford was slightly better looking, but for my money it was the Plymouth for '57 that was the best-looking of the "Low-Price Three." The entire Mopar "Forward Look" of that year really set Detroit on its ear. Some of the details were questionable (never did understand the "slots" in the lower front bumper...), but the overall was so much sleeker than anything else on the road. Like the Plymouth ads in the fall of 1956 shouted, "Suddenly, it's 1960!"
Unfortunately, it didn't last long. Just four short years later, when they brought out the 1961 Plymouth, "Uncle Tom" McCahill took one look at it and proclaimed, "Suddenly, it's 1957..."
Unfortunately, it didn't last long. Just four short years later, when they brought out the 1961 Plymouth, "Uncle Tom" McCahill took one look at it and proclaimed, "Suddenly, it's 1957..."
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Ford outsold Chevy in 1957 (& 1959), the first time that had happened since 1930.
1957 Fords weren't fast?
In 1957 Ford offered as an option on Customs, Fairlanes and T-Birds, two hot 312 engines.
The E version had dual quads, the F version was blown via a McCollough Supercharger.
The NASCAR version of the E engine put out 340 HP.
E & F = the VIN's engine codes.
A 1957 F-Bird will bring 6 figures today.
1957 Fords weren't fast? In 1957 Ford offered as an option on Customs, Fairlanes and T-Birds, two hot 312 engines.
The E version had dual quads, the F version was blown via a McCollough Supercharger.
The NASCAR version of the E engine put out 340 HP.
E & F = the VIN's engine codes.
A 1957 F-Bird will bring 6 figures today.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,511
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From: Marion, VA
Originally Posted by ken's 80
I think the '59 Chevy has the '57 beat.
This one is mine.
235 ci six all original w/ 68,000 miles on the clock.
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,475
Likes: 2,800
The Chev coil spring was smooth. "Jet Smooth Ride" was the ad line. Rode in a couple, nice ride...
Ford went to coils in '65.
Leaf springs in a passenger car...cheap yes, smooth? emmm, wind up real good, yes, any more likely to be a arsedragger, uhmmmlookata'64galaxie....
Ford went to coils in '65.
Leaf springs in a passenger car...cheap yes, smooth? emmm, wind up real good, yes, any more likely to be a arsedragger, uhmmmlookata'64galaxie....
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FTE Legend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 53,932
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From: NY and VA
Hey Bill, I beat a 57 Ford (312 supercharged) with my 55 Chev 6. This was at Fulton, NY 1/8 mile strip for class finals. That Ford was running real well until our race when something went wrong with the supercharger (so I was told by the owner) Still have that nice little trophy.
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,475
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One of the fellers at our high school discovered that a jacked up hot rod (his was a 55 or 56) with a straight axle makes it easy for someone to steal the transmission. He got lucky though as the theif had poor timing. He was just about loose when the football game ended and the football team with the owner come running down the hill towards the gym through the parking lot. The culprit dropped everything and ran. And thus, Mr. Jacked up Chev got a few tools out of the deal which allowed him to tighten the box back up and motor on down the highway....
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
The time: New car introduction September 1958.
The Chevy stylists looked at the Ford and said..."Boy, did we goof!"
The Ford stylists looked at the Chevy and said..."Boy, did we goof!"
1960: Look at the two cars.
The Chevy's tailfins are reduced, the car is more in line with the 1959 Ford's squarish design.
The Ford sprouts tailfins ala 1959 Chevy, but not quite as wild. The overall design of the 1960 Ford looks more like a 1959 Chevy than is does like a 1959 Ford, which it doesn't resemble at all.
1959: Ford outsells Chevrolet.
1960: Chevrolet outsells Ford.
The Chevy stylists looked at the Ford and said..."Boy, did we goof!"
The Ford stylists looked at the Chevy and said..."Boy, did we goof!"
1960: Look at the two cars.
The Chevy's tailfins are reduced, the car is more in line with the 1959 Ford's squarish design.
The Ford sprouts tailfins ala 1959 Chevy, but not quite as wild. The overall design of the 1960 Ford looks more like a 1959 Chevy than is does like a 1959 Ford, which it doesn't resemble at all.
1959: Ford outsells Chevrolet.
1960: Chevrolet outsells Ford.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,562
Likes: 2
From: Southern MD
Originally Posted by ford2go
Just curious to see if I'm the only person who thinks that 57 Chevys are basically ugly cars. Especially in Pastel Pink , which seemed to be the dominant color.
ford2go
ford2go
I've always loved the look of the '55, '56 and '57 Chevys and the '56 and '57 Fords. For Ford, especially the T-Birds.
I was more fond of the '57 Chevy than the other two in the series, but, as I get older, I find that the '56 actually had cleaner lines. More subtle. Classy.
As for the pink. . . .
When I lived in Kingsport, TN, as a kid in the early '60s, the guy that lived behind us bought his new bride (she was 18 or 19, he was mid 30s!) a '56 T-Bird and it was "Pepto Bismol Pink" with a white interior.
Talk about sick looking!!?!?!? I cringed everytime I saw that car coming down the road.
I was just a kid, but, that was blasphemy! I wanted to smack that guy.
The guy that lived next door to us had a '61 Galaxie. He traded it for a '63 Galaxie 500 XL.
What a beautiful car!!!!!!!!!!!! I still believe that is the best looking Ford ever built! I love 'em!
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Marion, VA
Originally Posted by NumberDummy
The time: New car introduction September 1958.
The Chevy stylists looked at the Ford and said..."Boy, did we goof!"
The Ford stylists looked at the Chevy and said..."Boy, did we goof!"
1960: Look at the two cars.
The Chevy's tailfins are reduced, the car is more in line with the 1959 Ford's squarish design.
The Ford sprouts tailfins ala 1959 Chevy, but not quite as wild. The overall design of the 1960 Ford looks more like a 1959 Chevy than is does like a 1959 Ford, which it doesn't resemble at all.
1959: Ford outsells Chevrolet.
1960: Chevrolet outsells Ford.
The Chevy stylists looked at the Ford and said..."Boy, did we goof!"
The Ford stylists looked at the Chevy and said..."Boy, did we goof!"
1960: Look at the two cars.
The Chevy's tailfins are reduced, the car is more in line with the 1959 Ford's squarish design.
The Ford sprouts tailfins ala 1959 Chevy, but not quite as wild. The overall design of the 1960 Ford looks more like a 1959 Chevy than is does like a 1959 Ford, which it doesn't resemble at all.
1959: Ford outsells Chevrolet.
1960: Chevrolet outsells Ford.
Both Ford and Chevrolet seemed to have a thing about pink in the middle 50s. The 55 BelAir had a pink front and rear gray combination and the pink and black Fords were also unusual. Pink in the 50s was like the purples of the 80s.