The 1957 model year was one of the few times that Ford would sell more cars than Chevrolet (this is back when only one body size was available). The ’57 Fords were new while the ’57 Chevies were a modest restyle of the ’56s but with tailfins added. A middle-of-the-road offering in terms of trim in ’57 was the Custom 300, like this sweet-looking 4-door sedan. While it looks to have been restored, we’re told it’s “Mostly original minus minor updates”. Located in Polk City, Florida, this Ford is available here on Barn Finds Classifieds or here on eBay for $14,500.
While it’s true that Ford sold more cars than Chevy in 1957, it wasn’t by a landslide. This difference was just over 7,000 cars or half of one percent. The tides were turned again in 1958 when the Chevrolets were completely new, and the Fords only got a minor makeover and the sales gap grew to 24%. Four groups of Fords were sold in ’57: Custom, Custom 300, Fairlane, and Fairlane 500. If you were interested in both frills and the budget, the Custom 300 could be a nice compromise. Ford built 160,000 2-sedans and 195,000 4-door sedans like this one.
The VIN on the seller’s car indicates it was built in Norfolk, Virginia, and came with a 272 cubic inch V8 that produced 190 hp with a 2-barrel carburetor. We’re told it’s the original engine with a 3-speed manual transmission and the seller says it shifts fine with no leaks. Both the seller and the long-term previous owner kept this car indoors, which has no doubt helped it stay as nice as it is. But if it is truly original, it would be hard for a 66-year-old car to look this nice without some help.
Check out the trunk – it’s clean enough to eat off of. But the blue paint looks recently applied, We’re told that the Ford’s exhaust is new, and the machine performs as it should with good brakes. Should the 300 need any parts, there are some spares in a box and the seller is sending the car along to its next home with a set of historical documents. You see a lot of ’57 Chevies at car shows, but not so many Fords!
I owned a ’57 Custom 300 4-door like this one with the 272 V8, but the valve cover decals made no mention of Interceptor. They said Ford V8 and showed the Y-block symbol. And, maybe the original fuel/vacuum booster pump for this car is now made of unobtanium, ’cause the wiper motor vacuum line would ordinarily be routed to the booster on the upper side of the pump, then from there to the vacuum port on the intake manifold. Otherwise this car looks pretty darned original.
It’s a pretty car. I notice that the trim on the front drivers door doesn’t line up like it does on the passenger side. The bumpers look like they are not chrome but rather painted argent. Just sayin’.
And technically Rick, Ford didn’t have an “Interceptor” engine in `57–that designation was saved for `58 when Ford added the 352 V8–a bored-out 312. When I saw that sticker, I wondered if the car got a 352 transplant or something.
Actually, the 352 was one of 2 completely new-design Engines Ford released in 1958, and entirely different than the Y-block 272-292-312 design.
(New for 58 were the FE 352 ‘Interceptor’ series, and the MEL 383-410-430, both with FRONT-mounted Distributor).
The 352 was a completely different engine from the 272-292-312 Y-block
The 312 was a “Y-Block”, whereas the 352 was a new design FE (Ford, Edsel) engine. 352 interceptor was a 300 hp FE.
Kind of looks like the Ford Janet Leigh drove in Halloween H20. A tip of the hat to Psycho, with the same plate number.
In Psycho, she ditched the black `56 Mainline sedan for the pea green `57 Custom 300 sedan–the same one she went into the swamp in.
The reason you don’t see too many ’57 Fords at car shows was their
proclivity to rust out within 5 years or
so. Huge holes would open up in the
floors and the headlights would fall right out of their buckets– and that was with under coating! How do I
know? I grew up in the Midwest and
saw it all. Sad thing was that the rust
pattern was carried over to the ’58s as well. My grandpa had a ’58 Country Sedan he bought new. Within
6 months to a year, it required major
body repairs before he could trade it
in on a ’60 Chevy wagon. The ’58 was
the second non-Hudson car he bought after Hudson closed its doors
in ’57. That Ford soured him on that
brand and he would buy nothing but
Chevys or Buicks. He drove an ice
blue ’65(?) Wildcat til he passed in
1973. This car reminds me of something Ward Cleaver drove in
Leave It To Beaver that first season.
I think Jim Anderson drove one in
Father Knows Best too. Used to live
not that far from where this car is
being sold. Pretty nice for a ’57 Ford.
Wouldn’t kick it off my parking spot
that’s for sure!
I believe Broderick Crawford drove a black ’57 Ford in “Highway Patrol”
I thought he always drove a Buick?
Broderick Crawford drove several different makes during the show’s lifespan, and much of it was on back roads due to his busts for DUI.
I don’t recall Broderick driving any Ford cruisers, but he did drive Mercurys from that era.
Lee Marvin had one in M Squad
In the mid 70’s or so a neighbor had one of these, she would always be blowing bubbles while driving down the road. Thanks for the memories
I just ran into Bubbles recently, He’s still smiling.
From the front doors forward, it looks exactly like a ’57 Ranchero I bought for $600 in 1994, same day as OJ’s freeway Bronco chase. Took over 4 hours to get a tow truck for a 4 mile tow. 302 and a 4 speed from a Mustang.Traded it for a ’69 Nova a year later.
Perry Mason, your car awaits you.
IN Perry Mason’s `57 season, he was driving a new Cadillac at least in a few scenes. You could always tell the year of his show production by the cars he & his sidekick drove.
Just out of college I traded my ’53 Olds/Studebaker for a friend’s ’57 two door sedan with a six and three on the tree. Good looking, solid as a rock, and comfortable on a cross country and back trip. Good looking 4 door here.
How could this Ford sell better than 1957 Plymouths?
You forget how Chrysler’s `57 models were rushed to market, and had horrible quality control issues. `57 Plymouths started to rust on the showfloor!
Maybe ’cause the Ford wasn’t as radically styled as the Plymouth?
I loved the 55-56 Fords, but for some reason, this 57 looks incredibly dorky to me. Maybe it’s the stance, or the small tires; however it is a nice example of the model. GLWTA!! :-)
my dad had one of these back in the 50s. He was sheriff in a county down in Mississippi. I thought it had a 292 cubic
motor.
I’d did have a three speed with overdrive, which was a pull lever above your right leg.
The car would fly. If you notice on the speedometer, it had a top speed of 120. However, if you counted the number of marks on the speedometer, which was indicating each 10 mph, it had an extra mark which indicated 130. It would do every bit of it.
In 1957 I was stationed in Little Creek, at the UDT base, near Norfolk not a great navy town, wish this sweetie had an auto tranny.
Always liked the 57 Fords and would love to have a convertible. Yellow over Black please.
“Interceptor” name was first used on Ford engines in 1951. (Rompin’, Stompin’ 110hp Flatty)
‘57 Fords were available with 223/6, or 272, 292, or 312 V8s. 332, and 352 FE engines came out in ‘58. Whole different breed of cat than a Y Block (239, 272, 292, 312- plus Mercury variants)
Broderick Crawford drove a ‘55 Buick Century.
Perry Mason wouldn’t have been caught dead in a Custom 300 4 door sedan.
(Paul Drake would have seen to it.) Perry did drive a ‘57 Ford Fairlane 500 retractable hardtop in the ‘57 season.
I feel better now. 😅
I believe that Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver had one. That Wally and Beaver broke the passenger window on it!! Man those kids were rebels back in them days!
Hey, Eddie H. made them do it.
Hello Mr. Cleaver. Hello Mrs. Cleaver. Wallace and Theodore and I were conducting a test as to the durability of modern automotive glass.
The valve cover decals are wishful thinking as the only “Interceptor” motor in ’57 would have been the Police Interceptor variant, which would have been a 312, not a 272. Not counting the police versions, Ford used the Interceptor branding for its new-for-’58 FE engines, but only for that year. The Police Interceptor motors weren’t promoted by Ford and maybe weren’t even available to the public.
Going by the sales brochure, you could get either a 272 or a 312 in the Custom series but had to move up to a Fairlane/Fairlane 500 to get a 292.
This car was built on the shorter, 116 inch wheelbase, which arguably gives it a “dorky” or at least a more conservative look compared to the Fairlanes on the 118 inch WB. Ford ditched the shorter wheelbase after ’58.
I remember seeing a ’57 Ford sales brochure that touted “any engine with any transmission in any car,” other than the Thunderbird which came standard with the 292 V8. Whether or not that was the reality on the assembly line, well I don’t know.
In the early ’60’s my Dad had a brown and yellow Fairlane 500 with the 2sp auto, a 4 dr hardtop (no pillar). It had a 312, 4 barrel, and factory dual exhaust. The valve covers said “Thunderbird Special”. I had recently got my driver’s and let me tell you, that Ford was fast. Butt ugly color but I loved that car. We lived in Northwest Ohio and yep, EVERY car rusted. We had another 57 Fairlane, 2 dr, 292, 3speed. Nice pretty two tone gray. Headlights completed rotted out of the fenders. We rebuilt the headlight mounts with bondo, got an Earl Shieb paint job, black, and the Ford looked like a bugged eyed creature but we drove it for years. Those early Ford V8’s had a serious problem getting oil to the rocker arm and JC Whittney sold a kit that was basically a copper line attached to the block somewhere and then stuck into the valve covers. A number of people ran kerosene through the engines to clean the oil passages. I remember pulling the valve covers and the amount of sludge around the rocker arms was amazing. I would still take a 312 ’57 Ford hardtop any day to a 283 ’57 Chevy. Just my opinion!!