1957 Ford Station Wagon

The 1957 Ford Station Wagon was available with either six- or eight-cylinder engines and came in several body configurations including 2- and 4-door versions with seating ranging from six to eight passengers. Models were named the Ranch wagon, Del Rio, Country Sedan, and Country Squire. The base trim level was the 2-door Ranch Wagon which sold for $2,300. The top trim levels were the Country Squires, also with four-door styling.

The six-cylinder engine had overhead valves, a cast iron block, four main bearings, a Holley one-barrel carburetor, a 223 cubic-inch displacement, and generated 144 horsepower at 4,200 RPM. The standard eight-cylinder engine had overhead valves, a cast iron block, a 272 cubic-inch displacement, a Holley two-barrel carburetor, five main bearings, and delivered 190 horsepower at 4,500 RPM. The 'Thunderbird V8' with a 292 cubic-inch displacement offered 245 horsepower at 4,500 RPM and the 312 cubic-inch version had 270 horsepower.

Ford station wagons in 1957 rested on a 116-inch wheelbase platform shared with the Custom and Custom 300. The Fairlane and Fairlane 500 had a 118-inch platform, and the Thunderbird had a short 102-inch wheelbase.

The most popular 1957 Ford station wagon was the four-door Country Sedan priced at $2,550 with 135,251 units built. The two-door Ranch Wagon was priced at $2,400 and 60,486 units were built. The nine-passenger Country Sedan (four-door) was $100 higher than the six-passenger version and 49,638 units were built. 27,690 of the Country Squire were built at a base price of $2,785. The two-door Del Rio was priced at $2,500 and 46,105 units were built.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2013