-project code name- Amarillo Rich brought up a point on another site. He was surprised that Ford didn't build a Fairlane based station wagon. We can come up with many reasons such as Chevrolet losing upwards of $1000- on every Nomad and that would have been the market.
But really as far as wagons go it would have been gorgeous. Imagine it being built as a 2 door hardtop (pillarless) wagon. Believe Buick did that in '58. The Ford styling of 57 a much simpler and elegant look would have been stunning. Ford would have had to overcome the same problem GM had selling a high dollar wagon with limited rear seating access to their wagon market audience. Which was moms with lots of kids yesterdays ''soccer moms''.
Hopefully, someone here will photoshop one, keeping the Fairlane pillars as is.
Zap- :unitedstates:
Oh, can you see it with fake wood paneling like the Country Squire ? Gets my blood pressure going.
Zap- :unitedstates:
I'm not listening Zap until you mention the straight axle. HRD
HRD, am starting to think the high altitude is depriving you of oxygen and clouding your thinking, really it calls for about a 3 inch channeling.
zap- :unitedstates:
We had a 1957 Buick Caberello (sp?) Estate Wagon when I was a kid. It was a four door hard top "very deluxe" wagon. It had all the bells and whistles of the day. It was Buick's answer to the deluxe Nomad wagon.
The thing that I still remember to this day, was it had the starter solenoid switch mounted on the Rochester four barrel carb, and it commonly failed. To start the car, you turned on the ignition, then floored the gas pedal, and when it started you let up on the gas pedal. Seems like a "kinda crazy" way to start a car today, in light of the Toyota run away throttles.
Ford kinda did it with the Mercury hardtop wagons, in both 4 door and the extremely rare 2 door.
Quote from: Zapato on 2014-07-23 22:27
HRD, am starting to think the high altitude is depriving you of oxygen and clouding your thinking, really it calls for about a 3 inch channeling.
zap- :unitedstates:
LOL!
Those Mercury wagons are killer! Been thinking almost constantly on this since yesterday and have named this phantom idea the Amarillo and should be only available in Southwest color schemes. Staying with a 50s splash, seats should have a Navaho blanket theme.
Yes, I know you're all thinking sure am glad Zap wasn't working in Detroit in 57. But I can see it. Need to get my pencils out and start on the top secret ''Amarillo Project :us-texas: ''.
Zap- :unitedstates:
Thanks for posting those pics, Junior. I had no idea Mercury made a "hardtop" wagon....very cool!
Zap..."Amarillo"?...southwest color scheme? Thanks, but I was thinking high gloss black, all over, with a red or tan interior...LOL...I'm to old for a project like that, but the figuring-it-out would be fun.
It would be awesome to find a "too-far-gone-to-restore" 2 dr. Mercury wagon and use the components to build a Ford Fairlane based wagon. I wonder what wheelbase those Mercury wagons were. Hmmm...Al's friend, Marty, in Colorado is big time into Merc's...wonder what he knows.
I have always pictured my wagon with a '57 Buick Caballero roof/pillar-less hardtop (love that line from the front to the rear of the passenger window)...and I hate to say it here...but a '59/60 Chevy dash (love that dash gauge cluster).
That would be quite a project.
I'm not a fan of the 57 Fairlane rear quarters...that fin line is too much. The Custom/Ranchero/Wagon line is perfect.
Quick Google search for Mercury wagon specs 122'' wheelbase and 368 Lincoln engine little over 12mpg
Zap- :unitedstates:
Quote from: Zapato on 2014-07-24 09:15
Quick Google search for Mercury wagon specs 122'' wheelbase and 368 Lincoln engine little over 12mpg
Zap- :unitedstates:
Count me in as also pleasantly surprised seeing these Mercury wagons. Who knew?
Royce Brechler recently bought a 57 Merc 2dr Ht wgn w/a 460 based 545 that runs 11.flats @123mph.
Another cool Merc for his stable.
Ron.
as my gran daughter would say SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!
Zap- :unitedstates:
any pictures to share?
I have an original Ford Dealers comparison chart between the Ford and Chevy line. They say exactly that, there is little to no demand on a 2dr ht sports wagon, when the need for a luxury 9psgr is much bigger. so they put the country squire ABOVE the Nomad. they compare the Delrio to the 2dr post Chevy wagon, but I think, speaking from styling, the Rio is way above the Chevwagon and should be compred to the Nomad. Now I have dear friends with long time Nomad ownership, but I think they stink, when compared to the 300trim of a Del Rio. Maybe I am just a bit biased ;-)
And here's the 4 door version
those are killer! wow
Imagine changing the front panels and making a phantom 57 Fairlane 2 door hardtop wagon, or going to the next extreme and grafting on rear quarters.
You'd have to graft on the rear quarters or it would like a bastard stepchild. Wonder if the door skins are same? And of course you'd need to find that wagon to start with. Seems it would be easier to start with a Fairlane and graft on wagon roof and rear hatch. Rear side glass would be spendy.
Well project Amarillo is out there waiting to take on the challenge.
I do know where there is a back half of a wagon to be had cheap, but its not a build I'd attempt.
Zap- :unitedstates:
There was a photo of a fairlane ranchero awhile back, wasn't Bill thinking of doing that?
Quote from: Frankenstein57 on 2014-07-27 09:39
There was a photo of a fairlane ranchero awhile back, wasn't Bill thinking of doing that?
Would love to see those pictures. Anyone know where they are ?
Zap- :unitedstates:
Quote from: Frankenstein57 on 2014-07-27 09:39
There was a photo of a fairlane ranchero awhile back, wasn't Bill thinking of doing that?
I was/am, doors are an issue, the jamb area at the latch is completely different, the 500 doors fit perfect except that little tid bit. There is plenty of room in the vent/front track to adjust for the small difference in roof width and the flipper will make up the height difference. The fin top will work out very nice. I have collected the 500 side trim (the checks for a Retractable as well), just need the top of fin parts and to live long enough to finish......
The fin moldings are available from Burtons.
Goodluck,
Ron.
I thought he meant he needed the actual fin...or full top of rear fender..since he was making a Fairlane based Ranchero.
Have the 500 fins. The tail light housing is already bolted up to the current Ranchero quarter. Of the four bolts that hold the bezel to the body the three bottom (two sides and very bottom) line up perfectly. Plan to use it to start the "correct lines" to the door. Plan on staying with the Ranchero doors right now, they are the exact same length as the 500 doors and the 500 trim will fit perfect. Going to loose the locks and handles. This project is a couple days down the road yet. Might just go back 100% stock except the drive train.......just flip flopping on this.....see how life goes.