I like detailing my vintage cars with their respective factory decals/ water slides but I find existing location info and accuracy of decals unsatisfying.
My question is about this jack stowage decal, that is sold by Macs ( maybe others too). it does not have the solid Ford design to it. the tire looks like drawn by a child and is out of perspective. What's with the phoney holes in the wheel when we all know they didn't look like a Corvette Ralley wheel ??? Is it just me or does anybody else think this is not the original decal by Ford ? None of my 3 wagons had a decal under the spare wheel compartment cover, and watching dozens of wagons on the market the only pic of such a decal I came across looks equally funny, showing something like a 1954 Country Squire for jack instructions. I doubt that Ford would not make a decent and appropriate decal for their well designed 1957 model, and especially the top selling ( ten thousands of) wagons.
Can anybody put some light on this. Anybody remembers what was or wasn't there when these wagons were new in 57 ?
next question goes out about the 'lifeguard' reflecting sticker that goes on the drivers door just below the latch. I have seen hundreds of 57 having this sticker, and love its looks. I have a repro but upon closer inspection on my 100% original paint CS door, there seem to be no remains, traces or scratches of removal at all.
is it possible they did not use decals in different factories, or just if they were out of stock at time of production ? what does everybody think about the use of these ?
I have an answer though for people looking for the right location of the 'Use Genuine Ford parts' air cleaner decal. it is said to have been exactly opposite the air cleaner snout and this pic from a widely untouched low miler survivor CS shows it exactly that way.
I am sorry if this topic is boring for the Hot Rodders and Kustomizers and I am not doing this for show points reason either. I am just totally dedicated to know about those small details and what they looked when cars were new. I wasn't there.
I have no answers to your questions but I'd just like to let you know you're not alone in wanting to know about details like this! Several years ago when I was restoring a Triumph Stag I was told by an ex-Triumph employee that some of these stickers ended up in a variety of locations depending on who applied them.
that sounds reasonable enough ! I bet same goes for the inspection stamps on 57 Fords.
my wagon has the spare tire sticker.will try to scan it for you.my wagon did not have the door sicker
would be great to see that decal and also its location. and whether your car is US or Canadian built and restored or still og.
We had a Fairlane bought new...no "Life Guard" sticker.
"Life Guard" Sticker is only on car that came with Padded Dash and Padded Sun Visors.
If you don't have a padded dash don't put tone on your car.
If someone has an original jack usage sticker it could be remade by a sign shop that does vinyl graphics.
here is a picture of my jack decal.my wagon is canadian built about jan 1957.i have been told that they changed the jack hold down[A] mid year and went to a spring.will need to look where it is put but i think it is about the same place as your picture
Wow, that's interesting ! It seems to be the identical decal as seen in the spare wheel compartment that I posted above ( not mine, pic from a car that is now in Germany). Is your car original or has it been restored before ?
Thank you for making the scan!
I have searched all over the underside of my lid and there isn't a single trace of a sticker or old glue residue anywhere. it is 100% og paint inside.
@suede57: That's a reasonable answer as well. the lifeguard sticker would be part of the 'safety package'.
it's astounding though that my car had a padded dash (had been removed since because cracked). it still has all the padded dash chrome trim and the raised speaker grille. also has padded sun visors. maybe these had been replaced before?
If a 57 came with padded dash, would the windshield garnish moldings have the rubber strip along the dash ?
It seems the more answers I get, the more questions I have.... :002:
the inside of the wagon is original.i took the decal off about 2 years ago[was ready to fall off]if you look, the decal says printed in usa
The dash would still use the rubber strips on the front dash moldings with or with out the padded dash.