The year 1957 was arguably the most crucial for Ford in the 1950s, marking the debut of a completely new, longer, lower, and wider full-size line. While the glamorous Skyliner retractable hardtop often steals the spotlight, the high-volume car that drove Ford to its remarkable sales victory over Chevrolet that year was a dependable, stylish four-door: the 1957 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan. This model was an American dream realized on four wheels, offering fine-car looks and V8 performance at a popular price.
The Foundation of a Sales Champion
The 1957 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan was the standard four-door sedan within the mid-range Fairlane series. It was built upon Ford’s revolutionary new chassis, featuring a “Full-Cradle” perimeter frame. This design allowed the passenger compartment to sit lower within the frame rails, dramatically lowering the car’s silhouette by four inches compared to the previous year. This engineering provided a lower center of gravity, which, combined with the new 14-inch wheels and outboard rear leaf springs, resulted in a smoother, more road-hugging ride that Ford heavily promoted.
Sculpted Style with Sedan Practicality
The Town Sedan proudly wore the Fairlane’s iconic new look, instantly recognizable by its long 118-inch wheelbase and graceful body lines. It featured the distinctive side trim that began near the headlight, swept back horizontally, and then kicked up dramatically toward the tailfin. This styling element was crucial for emphasizing the car’s new length and low stance.
Crucially, the 1957 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan was a traditional pillared sedan, meaning it had a visible “B-pillar” between the front and rear doors to provide structural rigidity. This distinguished it from the more expensive “Town Victoria” which was the four-door hardtop model with its pillarless design. For the average American family, the Town Sedan’s conventional construction offered a reassuring sense of solidity, a quieter cabin thanks to twenty “Silent-Grip” body mounts, and a lower sticker price, all while maintaining the spectacular new Ford styling.
A Welcoming, Comfortable Interior
Designed with the family in mind, the interior of the 1957 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan offered spacious accommodations for up to six passengers. The cabin felt roomy and airy, largely thanks to the new “Full-Vision” wraparound windshield that provided a panoramic view. The two-tone interiors were color-coordinated with the exterior paint, which often featured vibrant, lively hues of the period.
The cockpit was an exercise in functional style, featuring a deep-dish steering wheel for safety and a sleek new instrument panel. Ford’s dedication to passenger convenience was evident in details like the “Automatic Doorman” hinges on the rear doors, which gave a gentle assist for easier entry and exit, making it a truly family-friendly vehicle.
Power Choices for the Modern Driver
Under the long, low hood, the Town Sedan offered a variety of dependable powerplants. The standard engine was the 223 cubic-inch “Mileage Maker” inline six-cylinder, but most buyers opted for the increased power of a Thunderbird V8. This included the 292-cubic-inch V8 and the potent 312-cubic-inch Thunderbird Special V8. When equipped with the larger V8, the 1957 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan was capable of exhilarating performance for its class, often paired with the optional Ford-O-Matic or new Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission. The available power confirmed that a practical family car could also be exciting to drive.
The combination of aspirational style, proven engineering, and four-door practicality made the 1957 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan a massive success, earning its title as Ford’s best-selling sedan that pivotal year.
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Source: Ford Heritage Vault