Last week I covered this 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 and opined how I thought this model year didn’t get the coverage it deserves. So, with that thought, today, I’m going to back it up a year and cover a beautiful 1957 Custom 300 Tudor Sedan. This fantastic Ford is located in Sherman, Texas and is available, here on craigslist for $39,500.
Ford’s lineup for ’57 placed the Fairlane 500 on top, the Custom 300 in the middle, and the Custom tagging along behind for those budget-conscious buyers. Custom 300 body styles included two and four-door sedans and six or nine-passenger, four-door station wagons known as Country Sedan. The Custom 300 Tudor Sedan put up a healthy volume with about 160K units in Ford’s big number-one production year of 1957.
The Custom 300 presents an attractive visual. It features stylish side trim that is typical for the era but hardly overwrought. And of course, it has a role in establishing dividing lines for the apropos two-tone ’50s paint job. Is it original? Don’t know, it’s not said but it looks great – as does that side trim, the grille, bumpers, and glass. Rust or corrosion? Fuggetaboutit! Completing the perfect ’57 look are the red-painted steelies and the stock doggie bowl hubcaps. Want to see more? Here you go.
The seller states that the engine is a 312 CI “E-code” CI V8 but my research indicates that a 1957 E-code powerplant should be topped with twin four-barrel carburetors. If that’s not correct, let me know. The seller admits that it’s not the original powerplant (the VIN claims a 272 CI “B-code” V8 was placed between the frame rails at the Long Beach assembly) so its provenance is unknown. A Fordomatic automatic transmission makes the rear wheel connection and the seller claims, “Great running and driving car“. One welcome addition is the conversion of the front drum brakes to power discs.
The gray vinyl and cloth upholstery is spectacular – I imagine it’s a redo but there are no details on that front. Other interior features include Old Air Products A/C and a radio block-off plate. The entire environment, i.e. the door panels, headliner, dash, and instrument panel are about as perfect as possible – nothing is needed here.
The seller mentions that the mileage reads 24K miles but doesn’t claim it as authentic. And it doesn’t matter, this Ford has seen a lot of improvement and all of it has been excellently executed. So, considering last week’s ’58 Fairlane 500 (considerably less expensive), what’s your preference, ’58 or ’57?
My second Ford was a step down from this car with a 6 cylinder engine and no side trim. Was a good ride when I really needed one. This is one beautiful car here.
I am such a sucker for cars like this, I would buy it in a New York minute if I could? All I have to do is sell the last one I bought like this one.
It’s nice and looks “factory fresh”. I’m not sure of its asking price though, since it is a mid level model and its numbers aren’t matching..
Agreed. Another factor is that the guys who liked these cars are really getting up there in years or are no longer with us. Cars from the Fifties aren’t bringing the money they used to because their fans are thinning out and the big money cars are the ’60s muscle cars and even those guys are getting long in the tooth. This ’57 Ford is a beautiful car so maybe it will bring the money but maybe not.
True, the “E” Code was the 2-4barrel version, while the “F” Code was supercharged, this would be the base 312, single 4barrel, rated at 245hp from the factory, this one sounds like they probably “spiked” its energy drink just a bit. Personally, I favor the 57 over the 58, as did the buying public in 57, although 58 was a recession year, so who knows how it might have gone had things been normal. As far as the price, 57 Chevrolets bring this kind of money, or more, no good reason why a better looking Ford shouldn’t, right Chevy guys? C’mon, roll up your sleeves, let’s go, it’s debate time lol
Apparently some movie producers agree with you, yblocker-the first 007 chase scene (“Dr.No”) had Bond in the backseat of a ‘57 BelAire as I recall but later they opted for ‘57 Fords (“Thunderball” and “Die Another Day”)…
Trivia – when you watch Dr. No again , look at the shot of the speedo as the Bel Air is speeding down the road. its a shot of a 57 Fords speedometer and not a 57 Chevy , so there is kind of a 57 Ford in the movie !
Just because the 2-4 intake is gone doesn’t mean the block isn’t a E.
Well, that could be true but the dual quads are what makes the engine a true E-code. Without that setup it’s just another “yousetabee”.
JO
My first car, teal and white 292, 3spd.
When I was in HS my dad had a junky 57 two door ranch wagon with a 292 & 3 speed od. It was what I learned to drive on and wrecked it. Between a fogged windscreen ( Heater never worked) steering with a foot of play it was invadable I would wreck it.
My first was an all-white 4dr with a 292 2brrl auto. I was 13 and bought it with paper route money, paid a whole $100. bucks for it. Pulled the top end off, hand lapped the valves reassembled it, then my mother used it for 2yrs to get to work. Parents used it as a trade in, I was never pay or even thanked for it. But I guess it was good to help the family, and it was a different time, but a little acknowledgement would have been nice.
BF quote: “Custom 300 body styles included two and four-door sedans and six or nine-passenger, four-door station wagons known as Country Sedan. ”
Nope. Ford wagons were their own separate series in ’57 though they were all built on the same “budget” 116″ wheelbase as the Customs/Custom 300s, including the pricey Country Squire. Fairlanes/Fairlane 500s used the 118″ wheelbase, but still didn’t have wagons as part of the series.
It’s still just a middle trim level, separate series or not.
JO
I’ve always loved the ’57 Fords, but this Custom 300 stands out. Unlike the more common Fairlane 500, it has minimal chrome, which accentuates its great looks.
This one is in nice condition, and with the 312 it would go, too. The disc brake conversion would greatly help its drive ability. The color scheme is pretty, too.
It’s a winner, all around!
( quietly mumbling, get past the price, get past the price), okay then, when I saw the post, and with the recent ’58, I had a feeling it would be Jim. ’57 or ’58? It’s like having 2 kids, you love them both the same. I can say without reservation, I built more ’57 Ford models than any other. The AMT the 3 in 1 kit, custom, stylized or stock cost, $1.99, oh, and $.99 cents for a spray bomb and what were the little bottles, a quarter?. Anyway, the change from ’56 to ’57 was so radical, unlike Chevy, it just wreaked of the future.
This is just an outstanding example of a car that was rarely equipped like this. The Custom 300, I read, was THE most popular ’57 Ford. While the 2 door, as mentioned sold 160K cars, it was the 4 door that sold almost 200K cars, and while I can’t find a breakdown on engines, you can bet your sweet bippy, all those 4 doors probably had the 6. The ’58 was just a continuation of a great car, but the ’57 Ford really turned the tide. At $2105, another $50 bucks for the 4 door, the V8 was another $100, it was by far, the most popular US car. Something as well preserved as this, when compared to other antiques, probably should go for 5 figures. Apparently, it’s how people judge things today, how much money they can bring, and not for what a great car it is.
I am a Pontiac guy but really like this car. Thank for the Rowan and Martin Laugh Inn “Bet your sweet Bippy” quote!
Right with you HoA…though on my bucket list is a ’57 Ranchero
Here in Wisconsin the ‘57 and ‘58 Fords were totally biodegradable. I remember several people who owned ‘57’s in the small town where we lived. By ‘60 the holes were already apparent. The best story that I remember was that of a neighbor who got into an argument with his wife and left their house in a huff. He backed their ‘57 Ford out into the street, put it in low, popped the clutch and floored it and the front seat ripped out of the floor and the man was looking at the ceiling. At the time the car was about 5 years old. Another neighbor’s Country Squire had the headlights fall out, hanging by the wiring. By 1967 Ford’s from ‘57 & ‘58 were a rarity. GM and Chrysler were no better.
Great story!, My memory of the trusty, rusty, 50’s Fords in Wis. was a friend who had a 1959 in about 1965 . One day he got a rear flat tire and when he jacked it up with the bumber jack the body of the car came up but the frame and wheels remained on the ground as the body had rusted away from the mounts! Great memories!
Pretty funny. Also Pretty impossible, given the fact the bumper is bolted to the frame
Very true our family had a 58 country sedan. It was garaged in a decent climate it didn’t take many years for it to start rusting away. My dad even had a Ford dealer replace lots of things when the care wasn’t that old, and it still rusted away by time we put it out back of our service station to cut up.
My paternal grandfather owned a ’57 Country Sedan from new to 1980. Despite working for the Illinois Central railroad, he drove to Chicago at least once for the annual stockholders meeting. He didn’t wash the road salt properly when he returned home to Mississippi. Consequently, the wagon had rust in places other ’57 Fords didn’t rust. The car left the factory with the Thunderbird 312 (chrome valve covers) V8. There was some talk back in 80 about giving the car to me,but Mom thought the car was TOO rusty.Somewhere in my stuff is the car’s original ‘Town and Country’ radio.
Where in Wisconsin, my home for 62 years. To be clear, ALL cars rusted severely. Saw many Plymouths with headlights gone too. I’ve told this story before, my late 2nd cousin had a ’57 retractable when I was a kid. I don’t remember much except the top operation. Many years passed, on a visit, I asked him about the Ford, amazingly he still had it in the garage. When we went to look at it, I was horrified at what I saw. Headlights gone, doors sagging, not a rust free panel, oh, maybe the top. He said it still ran, but ended up junking the car, what was left.
A quick look at the data plate wiii tell which engine…57 Ford Engine codes… A=223. B=272. C= 292. D= 312 E= 312 8V. F= 312 supercharged…ALSO need to check the data plate on this one to determine if it is a Custom 300 or a Custom… It’s wearing Custom 300 exterior trim, but has baseline Custom interior fabric and door cards. Still a super nice car but either way the restorer got one of the two physical details wrong.
oops….I hit send too quick -I see in the dealers info it is a B code 272 originally so maybe has an E code in it – but missing the two 4V Holley teapots…. E codes also have mechanical valves vs hydraulic
All “Y” blocks of the Ford version have solid lifters.
Thank you Oldsman
You can play Robert Mitchum in Thunder Road in this one, though he drove a 2 door 57′ Fairlaine 500 –
…Oh let me tell a story. I can tell it all.
About the mountain boy who ran illegal alcohol. Daddy made the whiskey. Son he drove the load. And
when his engine roared they called the highway Thunder Road.
Sorry folks just couldn’t resist!
Almost forgot, Robert Mitchum sang
the 45 version of the theme song himself. Wasn’t a bad singer either.
Great movie, now a cult classic. Saw it many times as a kid growing up in the 1960s.
The ’57 Fords outsold the ’57 chevy’s for good reason. They were a better looking car, lower, sleeker, and those 2 tone paint jobs were great.
I have two 1957 Fords; a Custom 300 4 door and a Fairlane 500 2 door. They both have different trim. By the way, your copy calls this a 58! Both of my cars have the B code 272 V8 engines and an automatic tranny. They both have rust issues, especially the 500 around the headlights. Chrome is also an issue with it peeling off the bumpers.
There used to be a saying back then that on a quite night you can hear the Fords rusting
Used to be the same saying about chiverlets
My grandfather had a blue and white Custom 300 he bought new. The interior was much nicer than the one shown with this car. If my memory is correct, the interior shown here is what would have been standard in the 1957 Custom. My uncle bought a new Custom at the same time as well my dad’s company. Both cars had the same color interior as this one
This one looks just like the one my friend had in high school. It was a good solid car and ran like a scalded dog. He got caught racing it one night right after blowing up the engine. Worst blown engine I ever saw. His dad took it away from him, and sent it to the crusher as punishment. Made him watch it being crushed.
When I see what nice examples of 50s, 60s & in some cases 70s cars are going for, I wish that I still had a couple of them. FE motors dropped right in those 57-58-59 Fords and made for some very nice sleepers. There were a few running around town back in the day but word soon got out not to pick on them unless you wanted your doors blown off. 😉
My dad had a 57 Fairlane 500 convertible Michigan that he bought when it was a year old. About a year after he bought it he went through it to include some rust repair, repainted it an replaced the top.
Those repairs allowed the car to last until late 62 to when my grandmother stepped through the floorboard in the back seat.
After that it was sold on the cheap to a friend and replaced with a new 62 Thunderbird that is still in the family.
The 57 met with the junk man in late 63.
Wow, all these rust comments really make me feel spoiled being born and raised in the Southwest.
Yeah, and all these rust comments are a bit of an exaggeration