Elite Dealer

1957 Ford Fairlane 500

Weaverville, California

$27,995

Vehicle Details

Make

Ford

Model

Fairlane 500

Year

1957

Mileage

79,453 miles

Body Type

Coupe

Transmission

Automatic

Engine

312 Thunderbird

Description

1957 Ford Fairlane Club Victoria 2-Door Hardtop finished in classic Colonial White and bright red. This is a beautifully restored, highly detailed example of one of Ford's most iconic 1950s body styles, showing the unmistakable jet-age styling that made the '57 Fairlane a standout of the era. According to documentation from the owner, the car underwent a complete frame-on restoration in 2003 and has reportedly been garage-kept and carefully maintained since completion. The restoration still presents extremely well today with excellent overall fit, finish, chrome, stainless, and interior presentation.

Power comes from a rebuilt 312 cubic-inch Thunderbird V8 paired to a rebuilt automatic transmission. The engine bay presents cleanly and the car has been upgraded with several tasteful drivability improvements including electronic ignition, electric fuel pump, Summit Racing carburetor, 60 lb. oil pump, front disc brakes, and a hot rod brake booster. The seller states the car has been driven less than 500 miles per year since restoration and serviced annually. A new battery was installed in April of 2026.

The exterior is exceptionally eye-catching with its dramatic two-tone paint scheme, sweeping side trim, chrome bumpers, and iconic tailfins. The polished stainless trim and gold anodized side accents show beautifully and complement the period-correct styling perfectly. The body appears straight with excellent overall curb appeal and the car sits properly on 15-inch chrome wheels wrapped in raised white letter radial tires for a subtle hot rod look without taking away from the classic character of the car.

Inside, the red and white interior is one of the highlights of the vehicle. The upholstery, door panels, carpeting, dash, and trim all present very nicely and capture the bold styling that defined late-1950s American automobiles. The spacious cabin is clean, comfortable, and highly detailed throughout. Additional features include a retro-style radio/CD changer setup for improved cruising enjoyment while maintaining a largely stock appearance.

The seller's restoration summary includes:

Complete frame-on restoration completed in 2003

New paint

New suspension bushings

New brakes, hoses, and wheel cylinders

Rebuilt 312 Thunderbird engine

Rebuilt automatic transmission

New upholstery

New gold side trim and polished stainless steel

Front disc brake conversion

Electronic ignition

Electric fuel pump

Summit Racing carburetor

Garage-kept since restoration

This Fairlane Club Victoria starts easily, runs strong, and delivers the kind of nostalgic driving experience that only a 1950s American hardtop can offer. Whether you're looking for a local show car, weekend cruiser, or a standout addition to a classic Ford collection, this '57 checks all the boxes with its timeless styling, tasteful upgrades, and quality restoration.

Clean California title. Additional photos and video available upon request. Worldwide shipping assistance available.

Ford Fairlane 500 Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Mike Sullivan

Muscle Cars

1957–1970

~3 min read

Updated Apr 2026

The Ford Fairlane 500 started as a full-size cruiser and evolved into a genuine muscle car contender, giving buyers a unique mid-size platform that could be built for style, comfort, or straight-line speed depending on the year and options chosen.

This guide covers

✓ 9-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 5 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Fairlane 500 Buyer's Guide

Ford Fairlane 500 Market Overview

Based on 24 Ford Fairlane 500 listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$53,017

Avg. Asking Price

1957–1968

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site - Average Range

This car: $27,995

Low: $9,795 High: $550,000

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 75% ◄

Manual 4%

Condition Distribution

Excellent 8%

Good 21%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 24 listings →

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Ford Fairlane 500 Buyer's Guide

The Fairlane 500 is one of the most underrated nameplates in American automotive history. It started life in 1957 as the top trim of Ford's full-size lineup, evolved into a mid-size platform in 1962, and by the mid-1960s was available with big-block power that made it a genuine muscle car, all before the GTO made mid-size performance fashionable.

I'm Mike Sullivan, and the Fairlane 500 has always been on my radar as a value play in the classic car market. These cars have the bones, the power options, and the styling to compete with anything from the muscle car era, but they haven't historically commanded the premiums of a Chevelle or a Buick GS. That's been changing, and buyers who got in early have done well.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Door Tag / Build Sheet , Decode the door tag to verify original engine, transmission, and color codes before paying big-block prices.

✓

Engine Stamp , Check the engine stamp code, verifiable against factory records to confirm original or replacement engine.

✓

Lower Quarter Rust , Inspect lower rear quarters and trunk pan, probe with a pick, not just visual examination.

✓

Floor Pan Integrity , Check floors from underneath for rust perforation, particularly at the rocker panel welds.

✓

Fastback Sail Panel , On fastback models, check where the roofline meets the sail panel, water collects here and causes hidden rust.

✓

FE Engine Condition , Check for cracked exhaust manifolds, oil leaks at the rear main seal, and smooth idle without misfiring.

✓

Transmission Performance , Test the automatic or 4-speed manual for smooth shifts and no slipping: C6 rebuilds run $1,500–$2,500.

✓

Brake System , Verify dual-circuit master cylinder on 1967+ cars, single-circuit pre-1967 cars should ideally be upgraded.

✓

Hood Alignment , Check hood and front fender alignment, uneven gaps indicate previous front collision work.

Common Issues

Lower rear quarter rust on unibody structure, expensive to repair correctly. Floor pan perforation, especially in the footwells. Trunk floor rust around the spare tire well. Incorrect drivetrain swaps (misrepresented as big-block cars). Cracked exhaust manifolds on 390/428 FE engines from heat cycling. Worn out C4 or C6 automatic transmission, common on cars with performance-driving history. Brake master cylinder deterioration on pre-1966 single-circuit systems.

What to Look For

Verify drivetrain authenticity via the door tag and engine stamp codes before committing to a big-block premium. Inspect the lower rear quarter panels and trunk floor for rust, these are structural on the unibody. Check the floor pans from underneath and probe the rocker panels. On fastback body styles, inspect the sail panel area where the roofline meets the quarter panel, water collects here. Verify the 1968–1969 models don't have replaced hood or front sheet metal from poor collision repairs. Check the VIN and title for potential title washing.

Price Guide

1957–1961 full-size Fairlane 500 in driver condition: $12,000–$22,000. 1962–1965 mid-size: $8,000–$16,000. 1966–1969 standard small-block drivers: $12,000–$20,000. 1966–1969 documented 390ci big-block cars: $20,000–$35,000. 1968–1969 documented 428 Cobra Jet cars: $35,000–$60,000. Fastback body styles command 15–25% premium over hardtops. GT models add significant premium.

Did You Know?

The 1966 Fairlane was actually available with a 427ci race engine through select Ford dealers, making it one of the fastest street cars sold in America that year, years before most people associated "muscle car" with mid-size platforms. The Fairlane name derived from Fair Lane, the name of Henry Ford's personal estate in Dearborn, Michigan, now a National Historic Landmark. The 1969 Fairlane Cobra with a 428 Cobra Jet ran the quarter mile in the low 14-second range, quicker than many dedicated sports cars of the period.

Elite Dealer

$27,995