Two of the three U.S. automobile giants went for the “low and long” look in 1957. Products from both Ford and Chrysler were suddenly different and dramatic in appearance from the warmed-over models from General Motors. This enabled Ford to outsell Chevrolet for the first time in 22 years. This ’57 Fairlane 500 convertible is a sweet-looking barn find, having been revived after a long slumber. Located in Norwood, Pennsylvania, this great open-air ride is available here on craigslist for $22,500. Another great tip brought to us via Mitchell G.!
Along with the sleeker look of the 1957 Ford, it added two new models: the Ranchero (a wagon-based pickup) and the Skyliner (a retractable hardtop). While the latter would find more than 20,000 buyers, most consumers still preferred a “regular” convertible. Upwards of 78,000 “Sunliner” drop-tops found new homes in 1957 as bigger was becoming the norm of the day. This generation of the Fairlane would run through 1959 when the Galaxie came along to supersede it, though the Fairlane would continue as the mid-tier Ford product.
We’re told this Fairlane had a long-term owner who kept it in a barn (or some other hiding place). It has a 312 cubic inch V8 which would have been rated at a healthy 245 horses. We assume that the motor is paired with an automatic transmission because it has a lot of other mechanical options, including power steering and brakes. To get the car going again, some refreshing was needed to the gas tank, fuel pump, and carburetor.
The two-tone paint was redone a few years ago and still looks good, though the photos show a few chips. The black convertible tops look quite nice as do the materials in the interior. This great running classic may have less than 50,000 miles, suggesting a lot of life is left in the old gal. Even though the Tri-Five Chevies are still in demand, the Fairlanes haven’t fared as well over time,
Great looking Sunliner! I think it is the perfect color combination for this car, and as far as a drop-top 57 Ford goes, certainly better looking than the retractables…their “roof-up” profile always look awkward to me- and really bad with the continental kit. I’m good with a Y-block, the only thing I would do would be find a Custom 300 back bumper to replace the double-decker Fairlane unit.
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I may be a weirdo, but I like this as much or more than a Chevy of the same year. They are both great looking cars but you don’t see as many of the Fords. Full disclosure: I am a weirdo, but that’s only according to my family, friends and coworkers.
Meh normalcy is overrated anyways
Yep. I don’t want to be accused of being normal. Have you looked around at what goes for “normal”?
The offerings from Ford and Chevy for ‘57 were both beautiful. It’s disappointing to me that the Ford attracts very little attention.
This convertible is a striking example.
Meh normalcy is overrated anyways
The ad says the car has a 312, but a 312 had factory dual exhausts and this car only has one tailpipe — correct for a 292. Also the Holley “teapot” carb was not used on single-carb ’57 312s. It was used on the ’56 312. I’m wondering if it’s a 292 with a carb/intake swap from a ’56.
Agreed. One of the many FoMoCo / Autolite 4bbls (4100 series?) I’ve seen thru the past 40 years was an “EDC…”-marked one. Remember it having quite-small venturi diameters, like 1.04 or something tiny like that. So I always thought 1957s with 4bbl were the first year of the Ford-built 4bbl, Holley 4000 ‘teapot’ therefore NOT being correct for this 57 Sunliner…
I had a red over black ’57 hardtop. Over the last 60+ years I’ve begun to wish I had it back. Good riding car, handled well, the 292 would do 110 mph with no problems, ahhhh, the foolish things we do when we’re 18….
Don’t see many ’57 Ford Fairlane 500’s in Barn Finds, though
One of my all-time favorites – forget the ’57 Chevy … dream car is the Skyliner with the E or F-Code 312 manual … had a couple ’55 models, one black and one silver, with the 292 three-speed manual and loved driving them along Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive … now have an ’04 350Z convertible but one of these days hope for a ’57 TBird or Skyliner :)
The 1957 Ford motor company products and Chrysler corporation. Products step boldly into the future. General Motors, on the other hand, looked dated. Why anyone would think a 57 Chevrolet is better looking than a 1957 Ford or Plymouth amazes me. The Ford and Plymouth or space-age and that’s with the public wanted. General Motors would be out of step until 1959 when they finally introduced their longer lower and wider models. I think that their 1958 products were extremely overstyled. The 1957 Ford Fairlane shown here looks fantastic!
Check it out, In the Stephen King movie ( Hulu), 11/22/63 they used a Fairlane 500 sun liner for part of the lead role’s car.
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_887962-Ford-Fairlane-500-Sunliner-76B-1958.html
Great movie and cast.
My favorite Ford offering was this 57 Sunliner model (the GT40 doesn’t count). It’s even better with the top down. Not a fan of black convertibles…not logical for a sun lover’s car in my mind. Such a pretty car. We had a 57 4 door sedan with a 3 speed and the 260 V8. Even such a mundane version was a nice-looking car. I believe that this was the only year Ford outsold Chevy. They ruined the look with the 58s. Couldn’t leave well enough alone…darn designers (like a new manager has to reorganize whether needed or not). One thing, the eyebrow on this car was a rust trap of which to be wary.
Someone had to have swapped in the 260 engine ’cause it wasn’t offered until 1962. The three V8s offered in ’57 Fords were the 272, the 292 and the 312.
Okay (our 62 and 64 Fairlanes had the 260), it must have been the 272.
My apartment owner also owned a Ford dealership in Denver, when ever I was home from UDT duty I would drive one o these great drop tops, Very nice car and WELL priced.
Hey I’m not picky. I’d gladly take a 1957 Ford, Chevy or Plymouth. To me they are some of the best designs of the fifties. It’s been my observation over the years that car nuts are almost always a little bit weird, myself included. Probably from inhaling too many unleaded gasoline fumes.
I absolutely LOVED the 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 when it came out — particularly in hardtop form. After dealing with a 1951 Packard Mayfair 250 convertible, from 1951 until 1958; as far as I am concerned, you can KEEP every drop-top ever made! That Packard was a great car — a junior model as sumptuously trimmed as the senior Patrician — but I hated that “convertible” part! You can KEEP all of that pushing it down tightly, and snapping the boot on! — then, having to fuss like mad over putting it back up when rain is suddenly about to break-open! NO, thanks! The 1957 “Suddenly, it’s 1960!” Plymouth was the real start of UGLY from Chrysler, even as 1959 was when G.M. went hideous. Happily, G.M quickly returned to sanity, and 1962 was a lovely year for most makes. The 1957 Chevrolet was a pretty car, even if it was a warmed-over ’55-’56 in form. Ford turned-forth a beauty for 1957, then ruined it entirely for 1958! But then, 1959 brought another beautiful Ford!
This 57 Ford is a SCORE at that price. Not even so much a Ford guy but WOW! Love this car at that reasonable price. Not too far from Long Island but man I can only do one at a time. No such thing as 3 or 4 car garages in these parts.
If it was all white, it would be like my first car
I still think about that car. If I had garage space, I would consider this car.
Agreed. One of the many FoMoCo / Autolite 4bbls (4100 series?) I’ve seen thru the past 40 years was an “EDC…”-marked one. Remember it having quite-small venturi diameters, like 1.04 or something tiny like that. So I always thought 1957s with 4bbl were the first year of the Ford-built 4bbl, Holley 4000 ‘teapot’ therefore NOT being correct for this 57 Sunliner…