Take a moment to reflect where the market was for our friends at Ford in 1958. Starting with the autumn 1957 release of the Edsel, the blue oval was sorting out a lot of…issues. Like the worrying lack of enthusiasm for a new marque that had promised power, styling and a newfound social status for its owners and failed so spectacularly. Mercury was losing ground against the mid priced offerings from GM, and Lincoln had taken on the challenge of building the biggest unit body cars ever conceived for the 1958 Continental and Premiere to replace the elegant and well received 1956-57 lines. 1958 also saw the arrival of the all new 4 seat Thunderbird after the three year run of the classic Little Birds. The all new Falcon was in advanced development for its release in late ’59. There was more on Ford’s plate than it could say grace over.
While there was a lot of activity on the periphery, the meal ticket was still the bread and butter Ford. The price leader Custom/ Custom 300 series got buyers in the door. But the metal that the sales staff really wanted to move was the fancier Fairlane/Fairlane 500. It may not sound like much today, but the $300-400 tariff for the Fairlane series was a deal maker/breaker in those days. For the extra skins, you got two more inches of wheelbase, standard features like two (!) sunvisors, real wheel covers, a horn and other assorted bangles that made the car look like a (highly) mobile jukebox, especially in Bangkok (!?).
Longer, lower, wider was the coin of the realm in those days, and the Fairlane 500 had that in spades (although this ad takes that a bit too far). The basic body shell was really a carryover from the very successful 1957 models. But under the hood, the ’58s packed the brand new FE engines, for a price, of course. They came in 332 cube (240/265 hp) and the more familiar 352 cube (300 hp). 1958 was the year all three of the low-price big boys would finally break the 300 hp barrier. The horsepower war was trying to outshout the cold war. Guess it worked.
Ford was trying to get away from the image as a low-buck, low suds everyman’s car and carve out a more profitable niche upmarket before the wave of compacts and imports could make profit margins non existent. With the Fairlane/500 series, that migration began in earnest. It would reach its ultimate expression just a few years later with the LTD/7 Litre cars in 1965-1966.
The most obvious change in the ’58 was the move to quad headlamps and a stamped-mesh full width grille that sorta kinda reminded you of the T-Bird sitting in the other end of the showroom. Other than a new face and a squared-off butt, the car was basically unchanged in most respects from the very well received ’57, which (depending on who’s counting) outsold the iconic ’57 Chevy.
Well, one thing did change, and not for the better. Lee Iacocca called the ’58 the worst Ford ever screwed together, with multiple quality problems that made ex-Ford owners out of a lot of buyers. Poor rustproofing and “dynamic obsolescence” took care of the rest, so finding a ’58 in good condition is not that common today.
We spotted this gussied up ’58 in repose just outside Dayton, Tennessee on a warm summer’s evening. It wears cheesy aftermarket wheel covers and has the odd patch of rust here and there. It is for sale, but the owner wasn’t around to provide any details. But like a colorful parrot with big tail feathers, it squawks its story pretty clearly.
The 57 Ford was a beautiful car. The trim was pretty simple on some versions. The 58 is just ugly from all directions. The front end was over done. The 57 tail lights. were perfect and the 58 tail lights just don’t fit the shape of the car. And all the trim was over done. It’s just ugly. The 59 was boxier and a bit overdone, but it was better. But ultimately the 57 is the best looking of the 3 years.
Exactly what I was about to post. Saved me all that typing!
Agree with you entirely and felt that way about the ’58 all through the years. The ’57 was so much better.
Yup. All of Ford’s divisions had it right in ’57. Most impressive and distinctive Lincoln in a long time, two sizes of Ford that could have been separated as brands, nice-looking Mercury, beautiful T-Bird, Ranchero, true wide-bed pickups. They spoiled all of it in ’58, for no discernible reason.
Those wheel covers “got to go”! Eek! No fan of those continental spare’s either.
Like the car’s looks though.
I too prefer the ’57 Fords but the few ’58 survivors seem to do well in So. Cal. .
-Nate
I try to find something good on every car, so it pains me to find very little to say regarding the 1958 Ford products. Thunderbird’s popularity cut into this year’s Fairlane numbers. In my opinion the new TBird was a better choice for families of four or fewer. More exciting, more progressive, more luxurious outsold the full-sized line.
I think the Mercurys were the best. I especially like the 1958 Marauders, toned down from the uglier, but more popular, 1957s.
This sad sedan is cursed with ridiculous after market garbage that wrecks this car’s appearance. I imagine these things make the owner’s happy, but it’s hideous, disingenuous, and cliche to anyone who respects the history.
Hey, quit hating on the ’58!!!!
I’m English. My first car was a 1958 4 door from South Africa, from their Port Elizabeth factory.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THAT CAR. I’m SO SAD that I got married to my beautiful wife, & had absolutely no choice but to sell it at a 50% loss just to get it done in time for my wedding& moving house.
I got vandalised, broken into, then in the end, jerks forced me into that painful decision.
’58’s ARE NOT CRAP. Leave it out guys!!
One day, I’ll have another classic American car. The timing was just wrong for me.
IMHO I like the ’58 better than the ’57(even though the ’57 is a nice looking car). I would take a ’58 Skyliner over a ’58 Impala any day but I would take a ’58 Plymouth Fury over any of them. Regardless how you feel we probably won’t see cars design like the 1950s or 60’s ever again
The T-bar in the grille was made to take out easily because “customizing” was popular.
This is not a new idea, nor my idea. BUT
what if Ford had left the 57 T-Bird alone, at least until the early 60’s. Then put the Edsel details, front and back, on the unibody 4 place T-Bird
body shell?
I think it would have hit a home run!!!!
IMO the front end of the ’58 Ford is a clear improvement over the bug-eyed ’57. The ’58 has a relaxed, satisfied feel compared to the ’57’s rather suspicious glare. I also find the full length side spear on the ’58 Fairlane 500s to be an attractive, modern take of Ford’s signature side spears over the mid to late 50’s.
Beyond that, I’m with those who prefer the ’57. The ’58’s taillights are difficult to warm up to, looking a bit pretentious. Being not round, they are a departure from the round taillights Fords had since the early 50’s which in 1958 seemed to be a century ago in styling terms.
Things got back on track with the ’59’s which looked more Fordlike regardless of their substantial design changes.
The 58 Ford was my first car while in college. White with red interior and of course a soft top. Best car to take to the jersey Shore and wish I still had it. I was too young to ever call it ugly because it never attracted ugly girls. Good memory!
Don’t forget 1960, when Ford made another brief departure from the traditional big round taillights, which was a good move for that year, no way the rear of a 60 could accommodate big round taillights
Don’t forget 1960, when Ford made another brief departure from the traditional big round taillights, which was a good move for that year, no way the rear of a 60 could accommodate big round taillights