Well, you can’t miss this one coming. This 1957 Ford Custom 300 is wearing one bright shade of yellow! Generally, yellow is not my thing but in this case, it works, and works well. This two-door sedan possesses a neat ’50s/early ’60s hot rod vibe, but it has undergone some modernization, so let’s check it out. Mitchell G. discovered the listing for this Industry, Pennsylvania-domiciled Ford, and it’s available here on craigslist for $9,000.
Ford had a bang-up year in ’57, knocking out about 1.7M copies. Full-size Fords came in four flavors, with the Fairlane 500 in the catbird seat and then trending downwards with the Fairlane, Custom 300, and finally the Custom bringing up the markers. Our subject car, known officially as a “Custom 300 Tudor Sedan” (there was a Custom 300 “Fordor Sedan” also), was a popular body style and trim level, with 160K reaching the market. The listing detail is light, but the visuals are obvious; besides the screaming yellow finish, the front bumper has been replaced with what looks like either a tow bar or a cop-style rammer, the grille and rear bumper are finished in flat black, and doggie bowl upcaps complete the look. All-in-all, the body appears to be solid and free of corrosion or notable mishaps.
Forget about a Y-Block under this Custom 300’s hood, as this Ford is sporting a 351 CI V8 of unknown provenance. Surprisingly, it’s connected to a three-speed manual gearbox – another retro characteristic. The engine is wearing an aluminum intake manifold that appears to be topped by an Edelbrock carburetor and maybe an MSD ignition system, but there’s no detail regarding mods or running/driving characteristics – just a suggestion of “call for details.”
There’s only one included image of the interior, and it’s not very revealing. More so, I’m always cautious when I see a blanket covering the bottom rest of the front bench seat. Is there anything wrong with the black vinyl upholstery? Don’t know but it’s reasonable to assume so. Beyond that, it’s a mostly stock environment. There is a column-mounted tachometer in place, a trio of engine gauges mounted below the dash, and a Hurst three-speed floor shifter in place to stir the gears. I’m not sure what’s stuck to the dash; it looks like a bevy of refrigerator magnets or decals.
I’d label this Ford a “throwback,” and a well-done one at that. Admittedly, the exterior hue might seem more appropriate on an NYC taxi, but that’s part of the hotrod allure – be noticed. OK, let’s talk price; what’s your thought? At $9,000, priced right or not quite?
The only Ford car other than my ’32 was one of these with the 6 cylinder engine. Drove it all over the country for a couple years and wound up with a new MG Midget. Did every thing I asked it to do along with great gas mileage but probably a bit slower than this guy.
I like this car it reminds me of the kind of cars we used to put together back in the early 70’s.
And by today’s standards $9;000 sounds reasonable.
I agree Jim, nice cool car. I love it.
Brings back memories. My dad bought a custom 300 2 door in 58 and drove it regularly until 1973. When I was in junior high (71) i took it upon myself to fix it up. he never washed and had no heat and the interior was thrashed. I cleaned and waxed it and got the heater working. He was using deicer in the car on 32 degree nights to see. In 1980 I did some work for his cars, and he offered me the car because he was going to have a wrecking yard haul it off. I took it parked it outside until 1986. I brought the car home put in my shop, and it is still there and waiting for me. During raising a family no money. Today I am retired diesel mechanic and hope to take it on. I remember back in the 70’s that was the thing to do to the chevies was to remove the front bumper and the panel above it to decrease weight and use a pipe between the front frame ends
My favorite non-Oldsmobile! This is the car that turned me into a car nut! My dad had a 57 Custom 300 2dr Willow Green/Colonial White 272/AT … I have a 57 Custom 300 2dr Starmist Blue/Colonial 312 2×4/ 3sp.. I like this one just as it is- maybe lose the yellow… like Jim said- in today’s world- $9000 for this car seems reasonable- imagine what the ask price price on a tri-5 Chevy in this condition would be.
I own two 57 Fairlane cars;a Custom 300 4 door, and a 500 2 door. Both have auto tranny’s and the 272 V8. This Custom 300 2 door would fit right in my collection! But living in Alaska makes it hard to get to Pa to check out this screaming yellow zonker of a Ford.
1st car was a 57 Custom with a 223 6 and 3 spd. Was my dad’s aunts car. Paid 50 bucks for it in ’69. Sold it in ’71 for $150 to buy my 65 Comet Cyclone which I still have. Glad I have that but wish that I could have hung onto the 57. The Custom was the bottom of the rung model. One sunvisor, one arm rest, no heater nor radio, 6 cylinder, 3 on the tree, very little chrome trim. At that time my 16 year old brain hated the car because it was so plain. Ironically the plainess of the car is why I wish that I still had it. The one that got away.
9k is a good number for this car.
To me those refrigerator magnets look like dash plaques from various rod runs.
Well, it’s interesting, to say the least. I may be a little bit animal crackers, but I don’t think that the price is all that unreasonable.
Black painted bumpers make my stomach turn…
Not a Cleveland. Nice car
I hope there is a front bumper to make it legal and instal before it can be driven on the road. Otherwise nice car.
The 57 Customs wheelbase at 116″ was 2″ shorter than the Fairlanes wheelbase at 118″. The rear deck area was shortened on the Customs, making the overall length shorter.
Reminds me of the old moonshine runners except for the bright color.
Be a nice Ford to drive about.
57 Fords always looked like they were suffering from some sort of thyroid problem with those headlights. Otherwise great looking car.
Definitely a Windsor 8 under the hood. Great Ford, except for the yellow. I’d swap my 93 f150 pickup for it in a heart beat. Std cab, short bed, no body rust in all the usual places. Not perfect but a solid runner/work horse.
Love that it has the Windsor in it with a stick for the tranny. Interesting note & a plus that it’s shorter than a Fairlane.
Close enough for a look as well if I can find the time.
gm guy but id love this .definately ” a head turner “
The small town I grew up in, the local barber had one of these, only his has some verifiable history with it. His was two-tone, red and white with a 312 4 bbl along with a 3 speed with O/D. His was originally equipped with a factory supercharger, McCullough I think it was and had been run at several NASCAR races until the supercharger was outlawed. He sold it to a guy from a neighboring community and he totaled it.
In 1968 I had just turned 16, while riding with my brother in his 1950 Studebaker Commander, I saw this same car. 57 Ford 2 door 300. $65 big ones. That next she was mine. That’s when I found out the cost of owning a used car can be. This ole girl used more oil than gas. But lucky for me, you could buy used oil at some Gas stations. Fun times