1957 Ford Fairlane 500 2 Door Hard Top Barn Find Southern Car No Reserve on 2040-cars

This car was bought down south and brought to Michigan in the 1970s (has a Florida inspection sticker from 1974 in the front window).  The previous owner brought the car up to restore.  He started doing some body work on it, bought some new parts for it, had the seats recovered, but then unfortunately died in an accident.  The car sat in his shop for close to 30 years until I bought it last year from the family.  I stumbled across the car while looking for parts for my Galaxie.  When I bought the car it had a 63 427 and c6 in it.  the 63 427 is no longer in the car and is not included in this auction.  The c6, however will be sold with the car.  The transmission is hooked to a driveshaft which is also in the car.  Ill be honest, the car looks sort of bad in the pics due to the previous owner starting to do body work, but Ill take you through this panel by panel.

Floors/trunk:  I put the car up on a hoist and can only find one spot-about 4x4" in the drivers side rear floor plan that has been repaired.  The rest of the floor pans, from what I can tell, are original to the car. The trunk floor is about 85% solid.  there are some rust perfs around the seams of the trunk and in the spare tire carrier.  You could still carry your groceries home in the trunk, but they may get a little wet if you drove through a puddle.  What I mean is the trunk floor is still solid but there are a few small holes that needed tending to.

Frame: The frame is solid front to back.  Car has the original 9 inch in it along with drum brakes all around.

Doors: The doors appear to have been replaced which is why they are white.  I have found no evidence of patching on them. The seams are nice and tight as well. 

Hood: The hood appears to have been replaced and is solid with no signs of repair or lip/seam rust

Roof: The roof is solid with no signs of repair.

Trunk lid: The trunk lid appears to have been replaced and is solid around the seams and on the outside.  There are a few small holes along the area that meets the trunk seal.  Definately could be repaird and reused. 

Fenders: The fenders were repainted and it looks like there was some body work on the lower portion of the drivers side.  I scraped the paint off and it may have been leaded.  The eyebrows are solid and unpatched as fas as I can tell. I have a another front clip that goes with the car.  The fenders of the extra front clip have a lot of usable parts on them.

Rear quarters/rockers: As can be seen in the pictures the rear quarters have had some work done to them on both sides. One side had a new patch welded in and then some fiberglass type material put over it (black material).  The other side appears to have been sand blasted but never repaired.  The red paint on the rear quarters is original.  The car was originally red and white.  The rockers are mostly solid with some repair being one (black material). I have replacement rocker panels and repair panels for the quarters.  I would redo all the previously done body work.

Radiator support/inner fenders: solid with no noticable signs of repair. The extra front clip has solid inner fenders but the radiator support has rust along the buttom

Splash apron: solid with original silver paint still

Glass: All of the glass is in good useable shape with no noticeable chips or cracks.  The door glass is brand new still in PPG boxes.

Trim/chrome; I have laid out all bits of trim and I have everything except for one piece for the rear pillar-at this time I cannot remember what side is what for.  It may be there, as there are a lot of loose parts, but I wanted to mention this.  All the trim is in good restorable shape.  I have duplicats of a lot of pieces.  I have 2 complete grills-the brown one on the car is straight but needs rechromed.  I have  a second one on another front clip that is also straight and shines a lot better.  I have several front and rear bumper cores that are solid and straight but need rechromed.  I have several emblems as well.

Interior: The seats were redone in white vinyl with a red insert.  Not sure what the red insert material is-almost feels like a plastic weeve.  The seats were recoverd 30 years ago and never used.  They would clean up real nice and have no tears or rips, but there are nicks along the piping from storage. The dash is complete and still in the car-including the original radio.  I have a town and country radio that goes with the car (used for a core).  I do not have the original door panels or rear interior panels.  I do have some interior panels from other fairlanes though.  I have all the door handles (inner and outer). I also have new carpet in a box (dont know how old it is).

I have several tail light buckets, hubcaps, headlight buckets, NOS shocks, NOS brake pads, and a set of fender skirts that go with the car. 

When I bought the car the engine was in it and hooked up.  The car will have a c6 transmission, a driveshaft, a radiator, and power steering pump still.  Again, no engine is included in this sale.

 The car is being sold on a bill of sale and with no reserve.  Ive debated about selling this car, had an opportunity to sell it, decided not to sell it, but now its time to let it go.  I have too many horses in the stable and just dont feel like feeding them all anymore.  I would recommend anyone interested in the car to review it in person.  Overall it is a solid and straight car.  If I didnt have so many other projects I would definately keep it.