Fabulous Fairlane 500: 1958 Ford Club Sedan
You know, I think the 1958 Ford gets short shrift. The ’58 Chevrolet has a devoted following today, but it didn’t for years as it was considered overwrought and too often compared to its predecessor, the ’57. And, well you know how all things ’57 Chevy goes. Even the ’57 Ford managed to get a punch or two in as it outsold the Chevy but you’d never know it by the adulation laid on the BelAir and the scarcity, and value, of Ford’s ’57 offering. But the ’58 Ford? Not much is said about it unless it’s a Skyliner retractable top model. Well, today I’m going to throw some love on a ’58 Fairlane 500 that’s in spectacular condition. It’s located in Los Angeles, California and is available, here on craigslist for $21,999.
Back to that number thing, the roles reversed in ’58 with Chevrolet earning top honors. Most concerning was Ford’s 41% drop in total production vs ’57. Both marques were adversely affected by the ’58 recession, but Ford’s 41%, or a decrease of 689K units is alarming. Ford’s ’58 lineup consisted of the Fairlane 500 on top, the Fairlane in the middle, and the Custom 300 bringing up the rear. Body styles consisted of two and four-door hardtops and sedans, a convertible, and two and four-door station wagons. Our subject car was referred to as a Club Sedan, which is a two-door post body style and one of 94K to roll off of Ford assembly lines that year.
Let’s start under the reverse opening hood, I’m not certain what we’re looking at as the seller gives us no description but my guess is that it’s a 265 gross HP, 332 CI V8. It looks like an FE series motor, not a Y-Block, so it’s either a 332 or a more powerful 352. A Fordomatic automatic transmission makes the rear wheel connection. The seller doesn’t detail driving or running characteristics but adds, “New – Edelbrock 1460 carb, Petronix distributor, gas tank, fuel lines & sending unit, copper brass HE core radiator…manifold & valves machined with new head gasket, condenser, springs, plugs & points“. I’m not sure that I can square a Petronix distributor with mention of a condenser and points.
Generally, I think yellow and white works with a fried egg, but a car finish? Well, I have to admit, in this case, it comes together exceedingly well. The seller mentions that this Fairlane used to be green but the refinishing appears to have been excellently executed. The seller assesses the exterior by stating, “Body is straight but there are a few scratches, dings, and little rust bubbles here & there“. I’m not a fan of the wide whites circumscribing the chrome steelies/baby moon combo, it is certainly a period-correct look.
The interior is not well-photographed but what can be seen shows beautifully. The upholstery is a gray tweed fabric arrangement with matching door panels. The instrument panel is just so fifties and Ford all the way though the exposed gear selector shaft is a bit bush league for 1958. Seatbelts have fortunately been added and the radio has Bluetooth connectivity – a nice feature.
There you have it, three cheers for the seemingly overlooked 1958 Ford Fairlane 500! Let’s talk price, at $21,999 would you say, priced right or not quite?
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Comments
Lots of parts pictures. Would be nice to have a couple of side shots.
Beautiful Sunny Side up paint job and one fine Ford. I think it’s priced well,but the market does seem volatile right now. I’m holding out for a convertible but otherwise this checks a lot of boxes for a drivable classic..
It’s a beauty. The brief but deep 1957-’58 recession eviscerated the car market for a time. 1958 Buick sales were a third of their 1955 level, for instance. It’s no wonder that Ford sales dropped as much as they did.
This car is in stunning condition, and is a desirable body style, and is well optioned.
The seller’s asking price seems reasonable.
Ford did manage to put out one of the better looking cars for ’58 along with Chevy’s Impala. All the car makers seemed to have gotten together then and agreed to make some outlandish and ugly cars. Ford did keep going with some good looking cars into the ’60s.
I’ve been into classics all my 80 years of life. Your Ford is Beautiful. Good luck of getting your price.
57 and 58 Fords had a definite similarity to same year Thunderbirds, giving buyers who wanted the Thunderbird look with more space and comfort. Chevrolet for 57 was in the last incarnation from 55. Never understood the popularity of those Chevys. But loved 58 Bel Air and later Impala. OTT excessive chromed luxury. This 58 seems to be in the FAIR LANE as far as price!
I always thought the 58 Fords were better looking than their GM counterparts, and this car confirms it
IMHO the 58 ford had the best looking front end of any car model in the 50’s.
Yes. But we are apparently in the minority with that opinion.
Beautiful car, low price compared to Chevys, and not seen as much, really I would say that’s pretty cheap for all that you get unless I am missing something.
That blue tooth radio is trick. I was wondering how do you connect BT through an AM radio and voila, an aftermarket unit that has a vintage look down to the paddle buttons. I’m not sure the upholstery is factory spec but it looks great. Price is fair.ff
I agree it’s refreshing to see one that isn’t a Skyliner. Thank you! And score another point or two for the lack of a spotlight, fuzzy dice and most especially a continental kit. My Dad’s first car was a ‘57 Fairlane 500 two door post, and he considered it the apex of car design. It was a beautiful car in solid black, and he always reminded me that Ford outsold Chevy that year. But count me as someone who prefers the graceful lines of the ‘58, especially compared with the hideous ‘59. And so rarely seen … I can’t remember one being highlighted here. Wish there were more pics. The only improvement I’d make is to ditch the wide whitewalls and add some T-bird wheel covers all around (a common, light customization back then).
Well, it’s clear we all have different taste in cars, actually in everything. It took most of my life to Findley appreciate the 58 Fords. I love the 57s, and here’s where we differ. I have always loved the 59 Ford model year, and I still do today. I think the face of the 59s are beautiful, they look friendly and sofistcated, the lines on the front fenders follow the the bumper, grill and headlights, with their slight little hoods. The tops of the front fenders had those small chrome ornaments with the little brass balls in them. Ford carried that look over into the early 60s, another little Ford signature. The side panels were fairly straight, with their brass colored spear that started in front and followed to the rear quarters, which had the beginning of the rounded Blairs that housed the little round backup lights that were slightly offset to the outside of the big, round, recessed taillights that sat just above half round cutouts in the bumper. A great looking taillight that was supposed to look like the glowing afterburner of jet engines. The 59 Fords look great in all the body options including the station wagons The 58 featured in this post is well done, but I have this thing about altering the original factory look. That includes colors, wheels and covers, along with interior fabrics and trim. Like I said earlier, everyone is entitled to their opinions, but you my friend are the only person Who has ever disliked the 59 Fords. They even won an award from a US architectural firm for its beautiful and elegant styling. I’m just saying.
I agree with you the 59 Ford is my favorite of the 50’s. Glad you brought up the award it received I remember reading that. My Father bought a new 58 black with cruiser skirts and a continental kit.
They also earned the title of “The World’s Most Beautifully Proportioned Cars” at the World’s Fair. And the top seller in 59. Conservative styling made a great looking car
Car has the “Interceptor Special V8” glovebox emblem which in my experience indicates a 352 engine. The 265-horse 332 was also called the Interceptor Special by Ford but did not get the glovebox emblem financembinc.comIK — I’ve only seen it on the 352 cars. That emblem is rare and goes for $300 these days on eBay.
Of course there is no indication that this car’s FE is the original engine. One detail that’s incorrect for a ’58 is the oil fill on the non-original valve covers instead of an oil fill tube on the passenger side. Also, the upholstery is definitely not original. Or even close.
Friend of mine in high school had a ’58 Fairlane 500 Town Sedan (4-door version of this car) with the 352 and Fordomatic and in those days we thought that car really moved. He paid $275 for it in 1966. It had a Carter AFB carb. Early ’58 352s had solid lifters but I don’t recall if his did.
I’m with you, JO, and most others, I thought the ’57 was the most beautiful, and ’58 with quad headlights and that massive smile grill, topped it. No question, Ford had some great designers then.
This ’58 along with the ’58 Country Squire station wagon are my favorite fords of the era. I love the quad taillights. Awesome color, unexpected and somehow perfect. $21k seems like a bargain to me.
So nice to see the 58s get some loving! I like color combo, too!
I restored a 58 Fairlane 500 club Victoria (two door hardtop for my dad 20 years ago and he loved it. I inherited it and continue to care for it. Fun car to drive! I think it was the Pinnacle car of the 50s. Mine is original robin egg blue over colonial white.
This is a GREAT looking car! really nicely done. I had a 58 “300”, which was just a little shorter than the 500’s. It was Black on black, with chrome reverse ,wheels topped with baby moons. Had a 351 4 speed, but had 588’s in the rear end. the engine screamed at 50 mph, had to get rid of the 588’s. That was a beautiful car, wish I had it now. Everybody has a style and year of car they like more, that’s just the way it is. There’s not many of these old cars I don’t like. This old girl is a beauty, and for the price, I think don’t think you can go wrong.
This brings back a lot of memories. I had a 58 rag top in my senior year of high school. Black on black with the 352 interceptor and automatic. That was a potent car. That’s when I started to learn transmission repair.
1958 was a bad year for rust. So buyer so beware.
There was an old saying back then, “On a quiet summer night you can hear the rust eating the 1958 Fords and Chevrolets.1958 was truly a bad year for rust.
First time I saw this car in my teens I fell in love with it & wanted one ever since If I had the money this would be mine. Had a chance to buy one in good condition in my 20’s for $600.00 but that was a lot of money then & I didn’t have it, someone got it first.
A friend bought h ht a new ’58 Fairlane 500 Hardtop in 1959. 352 cu in Interceptor, 3 on-the-tree.
Fast for the period.
I remember that group of years for Ford very well. “55 produced a blindingly beautiful car in every way imaginable. “56 saw minor changes. “57 brought an increase in size and more power with strange looking eye brows over the headlights. “58 had a bad reputation as junk with poor reliability and rusting. “59 was an improvement. “60 offered a rocket for performance. These are generalizations. But this was the talk at the time.
What a comparison this 58 Ford and the 57 Nash ahead of it! How crazy were the mid fifties in car design. I like it all ,whatever rings your bell. Or today you can go to any dealer to get an SUV, that’s about all they have except for pick up trucks. No problem, they all look alike and come in two basic colors, black and white. If you search you might find a variation of red, which is a good idea if you park in large parking lots, because you can’t find your black or white SUV without the key fob.
My grandpa bought a new ’58 Custom 300 four door, black with a gray interior. No options, just functional. Rocker panels did rust out and were replaced. Traded in ’64 for the mid size Fairlane as the full size Ford would not fit in the garage.
I owned a 1958 Ford Conv, blue on white with 352v8 / 3 on the floor and a chrome bar grill in 1961for $1,100. It was love at first site. I still have it on my computer screen.
Really nice looking car, something you don’t see very often… if ever? I’d be interested if it wasn’t on the opposite coast… anyone else catch the price of gas at that Shell station… holy crap.
Gorgeous and priced right.
Ford not only outsold Chevrolet in 57, they also mopped up the stock car tracks with’em. Gotta get my licks in whenever I can lol. 58 was a “different” year in the automotive world, and not just because of the recession. Ford lost its traditional big round taillights, only to return in 59, Chevrolet lost its fins, only to return in 59, Buick, Olds, Pontiac, and Cadillac went on a chrome spree, while nothing really changed at Chrysler. This 58 Fairlane is a real looker, and priced in-line most classic cars these days. Hard to tell from the photos, but I would guess the motor is a later FE, probably a 390, “Power by Ford” valve covers were about 10 years into the future in 58