The line was freshened with a simulated hood scoop and dual-headlight front clip for 1958. This model was very successful, being the best selling car in America, overtaking arch rival Chevrolet for the first time since 1935. It moved to perimeter rails out, so that they would fully envelope the passengers. Safety did not yet sell, however: In a survey of 1957 Ford owners in the March, 1957 issue of Popular Mechanics, only 6.2% of owners ordered seat belts. The controls became recessed for more safety (the Lifeguard safety package was still available).
1957 FORD CONV GENERATOR
There were lights for the generator and oil instead of gauges. The radio had a transistorized audio output stage for the first time. It came standard with the deep-dish steering wheel.
This option was dubbed "E code" and was available in all body types. The 285 HP engine had a racing cam and was only available to NASCAR and possibly other racers. The 270 HP version had the same cam as all the other V-8s but had vibration dampers on the valve springs. Two dual 4-barrel versions of the naturally aspirated (non-supercharged) 312 cubic inch V8 rated at 270 and 285 HP were available. The V8 lineup included a 272 CID (4.5 L) Y-block making 190 hp (142 kW), a 292 CID (4.8 L) Thunderbird version making 212 hp (158 kW), a 312 cubic inch V8 making 245 HP and a supercharged 312 CID (5.1 L) Thunderbird Special making 300 hp (224 kW), and designated "Police Interceptor" on the glove box. A new car/ pickup truck hybrid based on the short-wheelbase chassis was also introduced, the Ranchero. The two Custom lines used a 116 in (2946 mm) wheelbase, while the Fairlanes had 118 in (2997 mm) between the wheels. A plethora of trim lines was introduced, starting with the base "Custom", "Custom 300", "Fairlane", and top-line "Fairlane 500". The 1957 models retained a single-headlight front end like their predecessors, but were unmistakable with their long flanks and tailfins. The major component of this chassis was a differential whose pinion gear was exceptionally low relative to the axleshafts, lower than in conventional hypoid differentials. Wheels were now 14 inches in diameter rather the previous 15 inches, this also helped to giveĪ lower profile. The new chassis allowed the floor to be placed much lower, which in turn led to a lower and longer look overall. The Crown Victoria with its flashy chrome "basket handle" was no more, and the acrylic glass-roofed Crown Victoria Skyliner was replaced by a new model, the retracting-roof hardtop Skyliner. The mainstream Ford line of cars grew substantially larger for 1957, a model which lasted through 1959.
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