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Old Ford truck fans (sort of related)

J

JDEM

Well-known Member
This 1957 Ford two-door ranch-wagon just popped up for sale near me in northern Michigan. I had no idea Ford ever made a two-door wagon in 1957. I admit I used to be a Chevy-only fan 50 years ago so did not pay much attention to Fords back then. I remember the 57 Chevy 2-door wagon was a big deal and brought high dollars from collectors. I never came across a 2-door from Ford before. This one looks like it is in pretty good original condition. Makes me think it did not come from Michigan. I am a "born-again" Ford fan now. I used to hate them and now I love them. I wish it was priced at $350 instead of $3500 and I'd have it home by now.

I found it n my old Ford catalog for 1957. List price from Ford was $2,301. Weight shown as 3398 lbs. 223 cubic inch straight-six.
a250409.jpg

a250410.jpg

a250411.jpg

a250412.jpg
 
also available in 8 cylinder models

1957 Ford Del Rio Ranch Wagon Info
Body Styles
2dr Station Wagon

Engine Types
6-cyl. 223cid/144hp 1bbl
8-cyl. 292cid/206hp 2bbl
8-cyl. 292cid/212hp 2bbl
8-cyl. 312cid/245hp 4bbl
8-cyl. 312cid/270hp 2x4bbl
8-cyl. 312cid/285hp 2x4bbl
8-cyl. 312cid/300hp SC
 
Maybe more of a "all your winters forever project." Still - rust is the killer of projects for me and this Ford does not look all that bad. Like I said - make it $350 and I'd have it. $3500? No thanks. I have been working for 5 years on a 1978 Toyota dually truck project. All I need to waste time on.
 

I've not seen very many '57 Ford 2 door wagons, but there had to be something as the basis for the Ranchero, which was introduced in 1957.
 
As the old saying goes, "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride." Just about any model with any appeal at all seems to start at about 2 grand these days, and goes up from there. And at $3,500, something reasonably rust-free is a much better buy than a rust bucket at $350.

If its any consolation, a family friend had a '56 2 door Ranch Wagon back in the mid-60's- real nice condition, and he would have sold it to you for $350 in a heartbeat.
 
Older wagons seem to be an interesting trend these days in the collector car market .... this one would certainly suit the description of a project for sure. I'd be surprised if he was able to move it, not at that price for sure or even at $2500.
 
I had a 1956 two-door car with a 272 engine as I recall. Not a wagon. Ran perfect (for a Ford that is), no rust, and paid $50 for it. That was in 1964. It seemed like an "old car" at the time. But in retrospect - it was only 8 years old. Not much of a resale value. Right now I am driving a 1994 F250, a 1998 Dodge van, and a 2001 Chevy Tracker. So I guess compared to that 56 Ford, I am now driving antiques?

I do kind of wonder now why cars were so cheap back then. I bought a 1960 Chevy in 1969 for $150 and it had 60K miles on it, and I thought the price was high. Not long after I bought a 49 Pontiac with a straight 8 and paid $25 for it. Perfect condition and I ruined it pretty quick.
 

It's all relative. Gas used to be 20 cents a gallon also.

Plus, cars today have every option and power accessory on them that you can imagine. Back in the day, your '49 Pontiac was lucky if it had a radio in it, let alone all the other stuff we take for granted today.
 
I have a 53 Ford 1 ton (27,000 actual miles)setting in building that I need to restore again if I have enough time left to do it.
a250414.jpg
 
57 was a good year for Chevy and Ford body style.If you know where I can buy a 10 year later 67 Ranchero with that little rust for $3500 I'll take it and not complain. Origional cost is nothing compared to cost of restoration so if one think's $3500 is a stretch they'll never spend what it require's to fix it up.
 
(quoted from post at 08:02:25 12/15/17)
It's all relative. Gas used to be 20 cents a gallon also.

Plus, cars today have every option and power accessory on them that you can imagine. Back in the day, your '49 Pontiac was lucky if it had a radio in it, let alone all the other stuff we take for granted today.
Click to expand...

I would be happy if I could buy a brand new truck today equipped with only a radio, heater, A.C., and cruise control. Don't need, or want all that other electronic wizardry.
 
That because the window sticker on a NEW 1964 Chevy II was something like $ 2,500 ! My Aunt had one and it had the window sticker left in it about as long as I can remember.
Now a small car is like $ 20,000
 
Today a vehicle that cost $25,000 new and is 10 years old with 180K miles sells for maybe $5000. So 1/5 of new cost. My 1956
Ford cost $50 when it was 8 years old. 1/44 of the new price. Something has certainly changed with the disparity between new
and used besides 25 cents per gallon gasoline (cheapest I ever saw it where I grew up).

Looking at it another way. Late 60s there were plenty of good running cars around for $50. What is bottom dollar today for
used car that does not need lots of work? Likely $1000 if lucky and usually higher? That is well over 100,000 miles on it. So
maybe 20 times higher? Back to the price-of-gas analogy, that would make regular gas today priced at $5 a gallon, and a cheap
new car priced at $44,000.
 
(quoted from post at 08:46:24 12/15/17) That because the window sticker on a NEW 1964 Chevy II was something like $ 2,500 ! My Aunt had one and it had the window sticker left in it about as long as I can remember.
Now a small car is like $ 20,000
Click to expand...

I would rather have the 1964 Chevy II.
 
If you ever find a place where we can buy a truck like that let us know. I would like to have one like that. I remember back when you could order a truck like
that.
 
Every time I see one of those I think of the movie Goldfinger and how they dropped a whole crushed Lincoln Continental into the back and the springs hardly sagged out.
 
Nice car. I had a 63 Falcon Sprint with four on the floor and a 260 V8. I'd love to have another one.
 
If I Remember correctly,in your younger days you liked Chevys?,,didnt you have a Chevelle years ago?Ive been on this site a pretty long time and still have a good memory,,,lol
 
I still would like to have it. See it still sitting in the same place, as it was in the last pic I seen. LOL
 
Why on third 300 six? I have a 1993 with the 300 and right now it has 315,000 on the original and it starts and runs great yet but rust has eaten away much of the rest of the truck. Tom
 
The start of the line

http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/manufacturing/last-ever-ford-falcon-ute-rolls-off-the-broadmeadows-production-line-55-years-after-the-original/news-story/1c95f54e5bae2d05cf2a54f49e4bc758

It took till about the XP model to get them toughened up for Australia.

And if you wanted some heat along the way

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Falcon_GT

The end of the line

https://www.ford.com.au/about-ford/History/falcon-ute/

They'd stretched the 250 cid 6 a fair way by then - double variable timed overhead cams, injection, turbo option. With a fair bit left - there was a photo on Red Power recently of one at around 1100 hp

The Falcon line has been shut down
 
DaBees. Google drivin dreams, it's a classic car dealer in Missouri. He has a 67 ranchero that's right up your alley. It's listed under project cars. Check it out!
 
IIRC, the 1957 Ford car outsold the 1957 Chevy car, thanks to the Chevy small block that had teething problems.
 
I'm on it like a chicken on a worm to check it out. I've got a 427 side oiler ready to drop in and have some fun. I appreciate the heads up old weldor.
 
I forgot about Rancheros, I was checking one over for the test lane, stepped on the parking brake and my foot went through the floor.
 
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