| Ford's
supercharger program was a stopgap measure to counteract Chevrolet's
sophisticated small block V8 on the nations racetracks, which in 1957
had grown to 283 cubes and 283 horsepower with fuel injection.
Ford had owned the V8 market since 1932, so when Chevrolet started
to win races in 1955 and 1956 with their new V8, initially a 265,
Ford instituted a game plan to regain superiority. The blown
312 Ford 2-door sedans topped Chevrolet 27 wins to 19 in NASACORT
in 1957. In USAC, it was all FoMoCo, with 12 wins for Ford and
four firsts for Mercury. A minimum number of units had to be
built for the street for the Supercharger to be considered stock and
eligible for NASCAR. Well known are the F-model Thunderbirds
with blown 312s. Exactly 211 were built. More obscure
are the supercharger-equipped passenger car. The formula in
1957 was to take the lightest, least optioned, cheapie 2-door sedan
and fit it with the most powerful engine you had, in Ford's case the
supercharged Y-block 312 V8 rated at 300 horsepower but was really
producing 325 horsepower. To drive these cars, Ford assembled
what is arguably the greatest collection of stock car racing talent
ever on one team. Fireball Roberts, Curtis Turner, Joe Weatherly,
Marvin Panch, Paul Goldsmith, Parnelli Jones, Eddie Pagan, and Ralph
Moody (later, of Holman-Moody). Ford's blown Y-block V8 under
the hood created the quintessential street NASCAR Stocker. |
|
YES---Ford
for '57! It's low, wide, handsome, and a completely new car from
the ground up---and in this case not very far up! Fairlanes
and Customs are both less than 57 inches high, or just about eye
level for a tiny five-foot girl! The three basic models---Fairlane,
Custom, and Station Wagons---are long, too---up to nine inches longer
than the '56 Ford.
One
of the newest features of the '57 Ford is the fact that for the
first time in its 53-year history, the Ford Motor Company will be
producing 20 models (21 with the Ranchero later) in three different
basic sizes, each with its own body and chassis. The largest,
the Fairlane and Fairlane "500" (luxury job), are built
on a 118-inch wheelbase, are nine inches longer and four inches
lower than last year's models. Station Wagons are built on
116-inch wheelbase, are 3.5 inches lower, and almost six inches
longer. Customs and Custom "300s" have a 116-inch
wheelbase, are over three inches longer and nearly 3.5 inches lower
than the '56s.
Low
overall height, along with proper road clearance and satisfactory
interior proportions, is hard to accomplish. Ford surmounted
this problem by redesigning the frame to accommodate the passenger
section within the side rails. In effect, the rails become
side bumpers that protect the passengers. Heavier stock here,
along with tubular crossmembers, makes the new frame 27 per cent
more rigid and saves two inches in height.
A tapered
driveshaft and redesigned hypoid rear axle and 14-inch wheels (15
inches in '56) reduce the height another two inches for a total
of four inches from ground to top. All of this lowering is
without any sacrifice to the interior proportions.
Other
new features that become apparent are the deep-dish safety wheel
(standard equipment) that is smaller and considerably lower; a repositioned
front seat to take advantage of the new angle: and, a new panel
with instruments that are easily read, even in bright sunlight.
We are especially pleased with the excellent upholstering detail
and hope this is carried out in their production models.
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