At our Friday night car cruise we usually don't see many 57 Fords. This week a nice one appeared. It was a white and green Fairlane with a continental kit. I never got a chance to talk to the owner and didn't have my camera. A friend took these pictures. Joe's r/w custom and my white custom were there also. Maybe Joe got to talk to the owner. Very happy to see more 57 Fords's coming out.
Nice looking car, even though I really, really hate continental kits. Great color combo too!
Really nice looking car........except I have to agree with Marc on the Connie kit. Unfortunately, I think that's one area GM outdid Ford in design. Ford's are just too massive. Back 4 or so years ago, I talked about a guy I met in Taos with a retractable. He had an aftermarket kit that was so much better than Ford's. Had the basic same design but tucked in quite a bit and was proportionatly much better. Just my 2cents.
loving the Cumberland /Colonial combo ! Cumberland Green is so good. One of these days I might want to have one.
I'm with you guys, definitely a beautiful car, but have never been a fan of the Continental kit on any car, especially the T-birds. As stated, just too big IMHO. I posted some pics of it up on the Old Ford Pics thread before I saw this one, but this is probably a better place to put the Cruise pics., thanks Jay! :006:
(//)That is one nice looking 57 Hardtop with the green & white combination, but I have to also agree on the Continental Kit. I purchased a 57 Skyliner this spring that came with the Continental Kit that is somewhat shorter than the one on the green/white car, but I still didn't like it. It also came with fender skirts which I also don't care for, especially on the 57 Ford which I think has a very nice looking rear wheel housing. The Skyliner has kind of a "big butt" anyway and the Continental Kit seemed (in my opinion) to make it look even longer. Of course, getting the spare tire out of the Skyliner is quite a task and the Kit would probably be a good idea for that purpose.
I have attached a before and after pic with and without the Continental Kit & skirts. Those parts are now taking up space in my storage shed.
Dave
Your Retract looks great. I really like them the way Ford intended them to be, and I too feel the '57 Ford rear wheel opening is a work of art.
Never much of a fan of the continental kits or skirts either, your car looks very nice!
Good looking Skyliner Dave, and it looks so much better without the skirts and connie kit.
X 3, great looking ride (and my skirts are on a shelf in the garage too)
One more vote that the car looks nicer without the continental kit and fender skirts. Not sure what it is about the Skyliners that tends to make owners feel the need to add every option, do-dad and geegaw to thier cars. I think the 50s Fords look great the way Ford built them, and to me, piling on the accessories overloads the car. In my mind, continental kits, fender skirts, especially "Cruiser"skirts, spot lights,grill gaurds, accessory bumper bars, etc tend to take away from the awesome styling job that Ford gifted these cars with. I know some owners like the "dressup" stuff, which is fine, Personally I like the "less is more" look, which may be why I really prefer the "Cheapo" Custom models. But to each his own. Great looking Skyliner by the way! Again, just my opinion, but one of the things I always loved about the 50s cars was the 2 tone paint schemes, these cars just look best in a 2 tone.
Quote from: 59meteor on 2018-07-20 18:09
One more vote that the car looks nicer without the continental kit and fender skirts. Not sure what it is about the Skyliners that tends to make owners feel the need to add every option, do-dad and geegaw to thier cars. I think the 50s Fords look great the way Ford built them, and to me, piling on the accessories overloads the car. In my mind, continental kits, fender skirts, especially "Cruiser"skirts, spot lights,grill gaurds, accessory bumper bars, etc tend to take away from the awesome styling job that Ford gifted these cars with. I know some owners like the "dressup" stuff, which is fine, Personally I like the "less is more" look, which may be why I really prefer the "Cheapo" Custom models. But to each his own. Great looking Skyliner by the way! Again, just my opinion, but one of the things I always loved about the 50s cars was the 2 tone paint schemes, these cars just look best in a 2 tone.
I second that Rory
John :canada:
Old Dave
I like your 57 retractable without the continental and the skirts. Jay
The Ford Retractable Club held their Annual Convention this week in Lexington Ky., and I drove over to get some photos and information regarding all the holes in the firewall and what goes through them , or what they are for,and what holes can be welded up on my Ranchero.
There were the fully optioned versions and what I'll call the plain versions. The plain versions , to me look best.......no continental kit, no skirts. Your car looks great without them.
There was a Red and White '57, like yours, that I saw in Charlotte at the Spring Auto Fest. An E Code car with factory air but no skits or continental kit.............it's for sale as it was in Charlotte. Asking price was $230,000, as I recall. Hope he gets it, as "A rising tide ,lifts all boats"
John
These are pictures that some friends of mine took of a 57 Meteor convertible at a car show somewhere in Canada this past weekend.
The blue Canadian Rideau is a nice and rare 50s Cruiser, but Dave's unaccessorized Skyliner looks way better. 57 bodylines are just plain beautiful.
Update on the green and white 57 Fairlane. It was at the cruise last night and I was pleasantly surprised to see that the owner and his wife are old friends of mine.
That is a very cool situation to run into a new car with old friends as the owners. I've often thought that one of the best parts of owning and driving these old cars is that you run into new and old acquaintances at various events (cruises and shows) and have the opportunity to share stories of the history of your cars with people with similar interests.
Keep on Cruisin'
Dave
Dave
All of that is correct especially the similar interest part, especially when it comes to 57 Fords. It seems like there are very few 57 Fords out and on the road in this neck or the woods. Whenever possible I give 57 Ford people information on this site and tell them how great it is. Jay
Hopefully the weather is good this coming Friday as I would like to head over, heck, I might even bring my "other" Ford. :burnout:
I'll be heading over tomorrow afternoon; hopefully leaving here by 4:00 if you are going Jay.
It's been raining alot here too. We did get our downtown Amarillo cruise in last Saturday. Lot of fun and tons of onlookers besides the hunderds of cars in the cruise and parked on the side.
I was heading south a few hundred miles to Vernon for a 2 day cruise/show weekend, but 50% chance of rain, so not sure if I'm going.........probably will anyway as not too much else going on for 2 or 3 weeks after this one in the N Texas area.
Rich, almost the opposite here, really no rain to speak of except in some isolated areas, and I'm hoping we aren't one of them. It seems like it only hits the occasional Cruise night, lol. Today, an hour north of us in Orleans, got 4.55 inches of rain in an hours time; we didn't get as much as a drop. They still have no power, flooded streets, and houses struck by lightning. Currently, my lawn looks like it should be in a Shredded Wheat commercial, and I live on the water. bawl
Joe
We had some killer rain this morning, but it did clear up.
Yes ,I do plan on going to the cruise tomorrow and hope to be leaving as soon as I can between 3 and 4 PM.
Looking forward to hooking up with you.
Jay
Last night....
(https://i.imgur.com/AmBk6WM.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/GGuE1Lv.jpg)
IDK about you guys, but these Chevy guys just flat-out give me the creeps... :deadhorse:
(https://i.imgur.com/wWCnd4p.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/XSJyhOF.jpg)
I would avoid that guy and look at that hat :003: :003: :003:
I hope that Jeff Norwell does not see that picture of me wearing his hat and looking at a 57 Chevy. It will give him a heart attack.
"Jay Arrow..Please come to the Principals Office..."
ha ha ha
WHAT ? ? ? ???
There must habe been some serious threatening before that, possibly a lost bet or such..., or cash involved ? :002:
or maybe there was a 406 FBB in that tin can...hmmm....you'd better not let this go into your files, Jay...it could be used against you anytime....hahaha.... :003:
That 55 Merc is seriously nice...wow ! loving it.
Jay.....The Norwell Equipped Corporation has demanded the return of it's Merchandise......It seems you have broken Cardinal Rule #2.......
"Under no circumstances shall any Clothing,Merchandise or Propaganda of the NE Corporation be within 25 yards of any Brand X vehicle"
Jay,I am working hard to clear this misunderstanding for you.
Jeff
Jeff, I am more than happy to step up to the plate and remove said hat from Jay, much like in the TV series Branded, a depiction of Chuck Connors 's public degradation and drumming out of the military: his hat is pulled off, his epaulets are torn from his uniform, his buttons are pulled off, and his saber is broken, while a drum plays over the theme song: and place it on my head and continue to carry the torch. It has been said, that it is truly, Ford blue that runs in my veins.
(https://i.imgur.com/R1lKAnX.png?1)
Jeff
It seems like I have broken every rule in the book. I'm in deep doggie stuff now. You have to realize that
in my day when we went there we got the rattan. People probably don't even know what that was. Would it be OK if I just apologize to keep far away from those off shore things in the future?
How about if we just pin that infraction on Joe? After all he's the one that twisted my arm to go over and look at that horrible thing. It's a wonder that his camera is still working.
FWIW there were only two 57 Fords at the cruise last night, mine and Joe's. My Ipad is not allowing me to post pictures today.
I got a chance to take Joe's 57 Fairlane for a nice drive yesterday and am happy to report that he has one sweet driving car. It drives and steers like new and has lots of power. My 57 does not drive anywhere as nice as Joe's.
Jay.I am pleased that the NE Corporation has put you on 3 month probation.........
Please do not make another mistake like that again.. I have seen the Company Rattan...... It's gotta snap to it!
Cobra Joe..your being watched.
Quote from: Jeff Norwell on 2018-08-12 18:00
Cobra Joe..your being watched.
WATCHED???? How the hell...? bawl bawl bawl
Anyways...I let the Chevy Communist drive my car and he drove it to "the first divided highway in the US" where we took a couple of pics:
(https://i.imgur.com/M7REMI6.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/zE0wZjV.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/6NOQZyP.jpg)
Some more info if you're interested:
"Savery Avenue is in rural Carver, MA and is the first divided highway in the country. It was a public works project during the Civil War made possible by the generosity of William Savery who was a local landowner, along with several of his friends, and donated to the Town of Carver in 1861. Mr. Savery and his friends used to hold buggy races on The Avenue on warm summer days.
At the north end of the divided highway is the "Bump House", currently (May 2010) for sale, where Laura Bump Hudson lived all of her life. The Avenue was laid out with a passage heading north and one heading south. The trees between the roads and on the outside of the roads were "to be left for shade and ornamentation for man and beast". They were macadamized in 1906. Savery Avenue was a part of the Main Street (Route 58) in Carver, and 100 years after it was donated by Mr. Savery, was re-routed by the Plymouth County Commissioners. Savery Avenue remained intact without the strain of heavy daily traffic.
In 1996 the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior, approved the request of the Carver Historic District Commission and Carver Conservation Commission naming Savery Avenue the Laura Hudson Park, "A Cooperative Project for Outdoor Recreation".
In 2007 the Carver Historic District Commission applied to the Massachusetts Historical Society to have Savery Avenue named a Place of Historic Significance. Due to budget constraints, the application is still pending as of May 2010. "
Hey - my possibly new old fenders have been to Savory Av. ! That's not good. it will only increase the price... :003:
sure is a beautiful place !
Quote from: djfordmanjack on 2018-08-13 05:58
Hey - my possibly new old fenders have been to Savory Av. ! That's not good. it will only increase the price... :003:
sure is a beautiful place !
Yes it is and if you want to pay more.....that's fine with me. I'm thinking you're going to need a tube grill and some fender mirrors for it too. :003:
I regard Savery's Ave to be my private test track and have been using it for many years to test cars that I have built.. It's close to home and I can stop in the middle of the road and get out and tinker and make adjustments. There is almost never any traffic on it. I can also drive as slow as I want to without blocking traffic.
So I got out of work early today, because my wife had taken the night off from work to go to the local cruise night (Mattapoisett) with me, as she had never been before. She had asked about the Halifax cruise compared to the local cruise, so I said hey, let's do both! I blasted to Halifax, (about a 40 minute ride from home, compared to Mattapoisett; a 5 minute ride) all the way there telling her the local cruises can't compare, there are usually at least 400 cars at Halifax and sometimes over 600 and that Mattapoisett will be lucky to have 40.
Before I left, I called Jay, but he said he wasn't going, something about a Chevy thing and probation???... and I told him I was heading his way anyway. So we pulled in to Halifax around quarter of 4 and got a great spot right near the entrance. I told her we were early and really lucky to get a awesome spot right along the burger/dog stand, wait...where's the hot dog stand??? There were maybe 50 cars there and I attributed it to being close to an hour early. A few more cars showed up over the next 30-40 minutes and the burger/dog stand came in and started to set up and I noticed a few of the regulars heading out; saying that it was way too hot and a lot of people didn't show up because the forecast called for rain, wtf? her first trip and 80% of the crowd was a no show!
Okay, off to Mattapoisett it is, we flew back and got there just before 6 and there were some nice cars, a decent turnout and some much cooler temperatures on the harbor compared to inland. Long story short, she really enjoyed herself and said she would like to take another Friday night off and do it again. :003: ( that's her blonde hair in the first pic of the Merc, lol)
To me, the highlight of the night was this beautiful '53 Mercury Monterey Kustom. The guy was from Rhode island and the custom work was absolutely phenomenal.
(https://i.imgur.com/qhjvb3X.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3Soh6QE.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Un9Bmut.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3tTgGRv.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/oRsuItb.jpg)
Wow, gorgeous car. I love the Sun Valleys, or most mercs from that era actually. I can easily see why you were drawn to it. Beautiful scenery, BTW. Sometimes I actually get to missing New England.
4 or 5 years ago I finally talked my wife into going to a car show. This was when I was just a spectator, and one show I liked was Taos Autumn Run. # days before the show, I double checked the website, still good, so we spurged for the occation and made reservations at one of better Taos hotels. We get there the night before and I commented that there usually was a handful of cars cruising the night before, but didn't see any. Next morning we go to the park where it was always held and there was nobody there!. WTH? Drove down to the visitors center to see if they had moved it, and the lady told us the show was cancelled just 2 days before! She said she was glad I wasn't there 20 minutes earlier when some guy from Oklahoma had just found out about the cancellation, and he had driven 2 show cars there. Oh well, Taos is always a good place to visit.
She hasn't been to one since, even the local shows.
Damn Rich, that had to really piss a lot of people off, your self included. I probably would have gone off on somebody, lol.
I hear ya' about new England, I don't think we could ever move away from the Ocean, it's in our blood and miss it anytime we go away from it for too long.
That Merc was a beautiful car, the attention to detail was amazing, from the '55 Ford Custom mouldings to the lighted third brake light in the Contintental kit and the rear bumper work.
Joe and Rich
I know the guy that built that car. With the RI plates, he either moved there or he sold it. I haven't seen it around for a while. It is a real neat car with all Ford/Merc pieces. Did you guys realize that they never made a 1953 Mercury with the plastic roof insert? He told me that he installed that piece and used all original parts from donor cars.
It has to be a bummer when you take make reservations and the wife to a cruise, and find out that it has been cancelled. Jay
wow, that's a terriffic Merc Kustom! everything on it is really gorgeous !
That's interesting about it not being a factory option in 53. Any body know what years they made the factory Sun Valleys? A friend in Colorado has several of them in his Mercury collection, maybe 54-56??, but none as gorgeous as the one above.
From what I remember, the glass tops were the same in both Ford and Mercury '54''56. I would bet that with most descriptions there could be an exception, ie prototypes never meant to be released.
As a child I remember my dad had a 54 4 dr wagon with the glass roof, V-8, manual transmission.. I was too young to figure if it was custom or original. He loved it because there was less to wax. I remember he said it was a car from AZ because the paint was so washed out and it had no rust. Totally unheard of for a car in WI to have no rust! That would have been in 58 or 59 because I was not driving at that time. No idea what happened to the car.
FBB
The fact that it was a wagon with the roof insert means that had to be one rare car. Standard shift was a plus also. In those days whenever I bought one of those Fords, if it was not a standard shift, I promptly got rid of the automatic and converted it to standard. If it had power steering, that got canned also.
AZ still does have some nice old rust free cars as long as it is not an import from a state that salts the roads for snow.
Jay
There were 3 57 Fords at the Friday night car cruise. After next Friday it will be all over until next spring.
John V's fresh red model 70D
Cobra Joe's red + white Fairlane
My white custom
I think these 57 Fords are getting boring, now that they show up by the dozen.... :002: :003:
Quote from: djfordmanjack on 2018-09-24 10:00
I think these 57 Fords are getting boring, now that they show up by the dozen.... :002: :003:
It's about time for 57 Fords to start showing up here in Mass. For the past few years we never got to see one anywhere. It was like they vanished from this state. Hopefully we will see more and more of them.