1957 was a peak Baby Boomer year, so there was no shortage of kids.
The time was right for cars that could haul multiples of unbridled dirt urchins who had no balance between right and wrong.
It was a world class kiddie explosion, so that meant Dad had to drive what was practical—here are five examples.
If Dad was a Ford guy back in ’57, he probably wanted to drive a ’57 Fairlane two-door hardtop with a 312 cubic inch ‘Thunderbird Special’, Paxton-McCulloch supercharged (F-Code) option that pumped out 300 horsepower.
That was his dream car, but in the real world, Dad probably drove a Ford Custom four-door sedan with a 223 cubic inch ‘Mileage Maker’ inline six that maxed out at 140 horses.
That’s how Dad really rolled almost 70 years ago.
If Dad was a Plymouth guy back in 1957, he probably wanted the Fury with the V-800, 318 cubic inch engine that pumped out an amazing 290 horsepower.
That was Dad’s dream car because the sporty Fury two-door hardtop was a Forward Look icon in 1957.
Dad’s reality was far different because his real chariot was a 1957 Plymouth Savoy four-door sedan. It would have likely been a two-door sedan because they were cheaper– except the family needed the extra doors.
His car would have the trusty Power Flow 230 cubic inch flathead six with a staggering 132 horses at his disposal. The Fury was as attainable as a date with Marilyn Monroe in his world because dads lived in a restrained world back in ’57—not a Hollywood world.
If Dad was a guy with Chevrolet leanings in 1957, he would love to have piloted a Bel Air two-door hardtop or convertible with the fuel-injection 283 V-8 option.
This little beast pumped out an amazing 283 horsepower with the high-compression, solid lifter, Rochester Ramjet mechanical fuel-injected option.
Instead, Dad would have bought a humble 150 four-door sedan with the legendary 235 cubic inch ‘Blue Flame’ inline six.
This engine dated back to the Great Depression, but it did have a few refinements—none of which made it cooler than a fuelie 283 Chevy small block. That was Dad’s lot in life back in 1957.
If Dad was a Rambler guy, he would have coveted the 1957 Rambler Rebel. This was a true 50s muscle car, because it had the Nash Ambassador 327 cubic inch V-8 with a Carter four-barrel and solid lifters rated at 255 horsepower.
The Rebel option would have put Dad behind the wheel of one of the fastest cars in 1957 because the power-to-weight ratio was off the charts.
Instead, he would have bought the humble Deluxe four-door sedan with the inline flathead six-cylinder. This 195 cubic inch monster cranked out an astonishing 120 horsepower–1957 Dad lived in a relentlessly practical world.
If Dad was a Studebaker guy, he would have loved the 1957 Golden Hawk. This car was as cool as its name in 1957 because its 289 V-8 had a McCulloch supercharger to amp up its game.
They called it the Sweepstakes option because this car pumped out an amazing 275 horsepower. The Golden Hawk even had a unique hood bubble to accommodate the supercharger—that was 50s muscle in full display.
Dad lived within rigid rules back in ’57 because he was stuck with a barebones Scotsman four-door sedan as a daily driver. This was the cheapest car you could buy in 1957.
His Studebaker Scotsman came with a 185 cubic inch inline six rated at a measly 101 horsepower—the ultimate slap in the face for a guy who dreamed about Golden Hawks.
1957 was a transformative year for cars, but Dad still carried the load for the family, so his car wasn’t flashy—it was just functional.
Happy Father’s Day Weekend.
Jerry Sutherland
By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
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