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Ford Muscle Cars of 1958
Big Birds, Big Changes, Big Blocks
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The new Thunderbird retained
a sporty appearance with
comfortable seating for four.
(Mike Mueller)
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Introduction of the new 1958 models fell directly in the middle of the worst economic recession
since World War II. The sleeping economy and the ban on performance and racing parts spelled
a rather lackluster year for the high-performance enthusiast. While official sponsorship of racing
endeavors was prohibited, a good deal of “back door” supplying occurred throughout the
industry. Unfortunately, Ford’s “back door” was closed for the most part. While the other
manufacturers continued to develop heavy-duty parts, sending those parts out through the
aforementioned back door, Ford’s contribution to the high-performance market came in the form
of the big block FE V-8 engine, so named because of its “Ford/Edsel” applications. With a
maximum of 300 horsepower, the 1958 FE engines certainly weren’t high-performance offerings,
but they formed the foundation for the very successful “Total Performance” program of the 1960s
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Making its initial appearance in
1958, the 352 cubic inch FE
engine was standard equipment
in the new square Thunderbirds.
Producing 300 horsepower, the
big FE provided tons of civilized
torque for the new four-seaters.
(Mike Mueller)
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The new FE engine block was a big, meaty casting, with bore spacings designed for up to 425
cubic inches. In subsequent years, it has been discovered these blocks could actually be
enlarged to a maximum of 494 cubic inches, but displacements such as this were beyond the
realm of imagination in 1958. Loosely based on the Y-block design, the FE had considerably
larger valves and bearings, a vastly improved oiling system (which still needed improvement!)
and a more conventional side-by-side intake port arrangement. Ford engineers produced an
unusual design that directed the pushrods through sides of the intake manifold, instead of
through the cylinder heads. This resulted in a massive intake manifold that weighs more than 90
pounds bare. Take this statement from firsthand knowledge—more than one severe backache
has resulted from removing these monster manifolds from an engine block!
This was also the first year for the Cruise-O-Matic, three-speed automatic transmission. By
placing the gear selector in “D1,” the driver could start in first gear. “D2” selection meant starts in
second gear. A new hill-holder eliminated the need for brakes to keep the car from rolling
backward while stopped on a hill.
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The new full-size Fords all featured the current industry-wide rage, quad headlights. With the
exception of the trunk lid and taillights, the 1958 Fords shared body components with the 1957
models, from the firewall back. From the firewall forward, however, the 1958 models were totally
redesigned. The new, totally redesigned Thunderbird used a massive grille-bumper combination,
and the Ford line-up copied that same styling theme. A honeycomb grille was positioned behind
a single, horizontal bar with a small, circular “gunsight” in the center of the bar. A simulated hood
scoop was also borrowed from the Thunderbird styling studios, and four headlights replaced the
twin units used in the 1957 models. At the rear, a sculptured trunk lid led to four, oval taillights,
Ford’s first and only departure from its traditional round taillights, which first appeared in 1952.
As in 1957, the Custom was the base trim level, and offered buyers very conservative use of
chrome around the windshield and rear window, a single sun visor and arm rest, only for the
driver, and rubber floor mats in place of carpeting. A horn button was also used in place of the
fancier chrome horn ring used in all other series. Exterior trim was equally conservative, with a
single chrome spear beginning on the front fender, just behind the headlights, running
horizontally to the back of the front door, where it swept downward to a point slightly ahead and
above the rear wheel opening. At this point, the spear joined another horizontal spear, which ran
to the back of the car, ending at the rear bumper. The base Custom two-door business coupe
side trim was even more sparse, with a single chrome spear, which duplicated the standard
Custom side trim along its horizontal plane, and swept upward to the base of the fin, at its source.
The Ford name appeared in block letters, equally spaced across the front, just above the grille
opening. Customs rode on a 116-inch wheelbase, and weights ranged from 3,174 pounds for a
six-cylinder Custom two-door business coupe (no back seat), up to 3,289 pounds for a V-8 four-
door sedan.
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Custom 300 interiors were very
similar to their 1957 counterparts,
except the instrument panel featured
black numerals on white gauges,
just the opposite of the previous
year. (Ron Ball)
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The Custom 300 continued as the upper trim level of the base Custom series, and included all
the features of the Custom, in addition to a more elaborate side trim. The trim followed the same
lines as the Custom side trim, but added a three-inch-wide, gold anodized aluminum filler, which
ran horizontally, just below the body centerline, from slightly ahead of the center of the front
door, back to a point slightly above the bumper, at the rear of the body. As with the base
Custom, the Ford name appeared in block letters across the front. Inside, Custom 300 models
featured two sun visors, armrests on all doors, a chrome horn ring, and slightly more plush
upholstery. Wheelbase and weights were identical to the base Custom series. Interestingly, the
Custom 300 two-door sedan was the most popular model in 1958, with 173,441 examples being
produced.
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Using the same body as 1957, the
1958 models presented a totally
new appearance with the addition
of different front fenders, hood,
grille, and trunk lid. The Custom
300 side trim was the first
departure from the traditional
“Fairlane sweep,” which had been
used on most models for the
previous three years. (Ron Ball)
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The Fairlane continued as the base trim level of the longer Fairlane series, and featured chrome
window moldings and a unique two-piece side trim. The upper portion of the trim virtually
duplicated the contours of the Custom side trim, to the end of its downward sweep. From that
point, it was joined by a lower trim piece, which appeared as a “mirror image” of the upper piece,
ending at the back of the front wheel well. The “cove,” formed by this two-piece chrome trim, was
the point of color change, when a two-tone paint option was chosen. The second body color in
the cove was joined by the same color on the top. A “Spring Special” version of the Fairlane was
produced from March to June, in an attempt to bolster sagging sales figures. The Spring Specials
featured three “portholes” on the quarter-panels, and a ribbed, gold anodized trim piece,
surrounded by chrome trim, located within the side cove area. The Fairlane script appeared
directly above the grille opening, on the body sides directly ahead of the taillights, and in the
center of the sculptured recess in the trunk lid. Fairlane models also had two sun visors, arm
rests on each door, carpeting, and a chrome horn ring. Fairlanes shared the same 118-inch
wheelbase with their 1957 counterparts. The 1958 models weighed from 3,307 pounds for a six-
cylinder two-door Club Sedan, up to 3,499 pounds for a V-8 four-door Town Victoria.
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The Fairlane Spring Special was produced
from March to June 1958, in an attempt to
boost sales figures during a period of
economic recession. The Thunderbird-inspired
honeycomb grille and quad headlights
produced a totally different appearance to the
same body used in 1957. (Tom Hambleton)
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Spring Specials featured a gold anodized
insert within the “cove” area and three
simulated exhaust ports along the quarter-
panels. The trunk lid was redesigned and
housed four oval taillights, which were
located within chrome taillight bezels on this
example. The chrome headlight doors and
taillight bezels were available as options at
the Ford dealer. (Tom Hambleton)
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Fairlane 500s continued as the top trim level, and included all the features of the Fairlane
models, in addition to slightly more chrome around the C-pillar. All the bright work used with the
Fairlane models was joined by a side trim, which featured a double chrome strip with a gold
anodized insert. The upper portion of the trim began on the front fender, just below the
headlights, sloped slightly downward and ended just above the rear bumper. The lower trim piece
split from its counterpart and the front door, dropped downward to a point just above the rear
wheel opening, then swept upward and merged with the upper trim piece at the rear bumper.
Fairlane scripts appeared above the grille opening and on the trunk lid, and Fairlane 500 scripts
appeared on the rear quarter-panels, just in front of the taillights.
Popular options often chosen by 1958 Ford buyers included Ford-O-Matic two-speed automatic
transmission ($180); Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission ($197); Ford-Aire air
suspension ($156); overdrive ($108); power brakes ($37); power steering ($69); front power
windows (Custom business coupes) ($50); power windows ($101); manual, four-way adjustable
front seat ($17); power, four-way adjustable seat ($64); six-tube radio and antenna ($77); nine-
tube signal-seeking radio and antenna ($99); white sidewall 7.50x14 tubeless, four-ply tires
($33); white sidewall 8.00x14 tubeless, four-ply tires ($50); wheel covers ($19—standard on
Fairlane 500); Styletone two-tone paint ($22); tinted glass ($20); backup lights ($10); Custom
300 deluxe interior trim ($24); electric clock ($15—standard on Fairlane 500); windshield
washers ($12); positive-action windshield wipers ($11); Lifeguard safety package with padded
instrument panel and sun visors ($19); PolarAire air conditioning, which included tinted glass,
($271); select air conditioning, which included tinted glass, ($395); 332ci, 240-horsepower,
Interceptor V-8 engine ($196 in Custom 300, $183 in Fairlanes); 352ci, 265-horsepower
Interceptor V-8 engine ($59 in Custom 300): 352ci, 300-horsepower, Interceptor Special 352 V-8
engine ($159—$150 in station wagons).
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Previous | Next
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This has been a sample page from
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Super '60s Fords - The Inside Story of the
Most Powerful Fords Ever Built
by John Smith
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In the ‘50s, Detroit built cars with style in mind . . . but as the
‘60s arrived, a younger group of car buyers had another
thing in mind: Performance! Ford Motor Company met that
demand with some of the fastest and most powerful cars on
the street. In this book, John Smith covers the entire Ford
performance story in the ‘60s, -- and not just Mustangs and
Cobras, but Galaxies, Torinos, Falcons, Fairlanes, Shelbys,
Mavericks, and every other Ford that got extra horsepower
stuffed under its hood in this fast-moving decade. Models are
covered year by year, from the Supercharged T-birds of
1957 to the last gasp of the muscle car era in 1973, and
everything in between. Performance engines and stats are
listed for each year, and an informative appendix includes
information on deciphering VIN tags and parts codes.
With 200 black and white and more than 100 outstanding
color photos, this book has the images and information that
Ford fans want on their favorite performance models, from
supercharged Y-blocks to Boss 429s.
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Click below to view sample
pages from each chapter.
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Chap. 1 -1957 The Foundation
Chap. 2 -1958 352 Big Block
Chap. 3 -1959 High Style
Chap. 4 -1960 New Ideas
Chap. 5 -1961 Back to Tradition
Chap. 6 -1962 Legends
Chap. 7 -1963 Fast Backs
Chap. 8 -1964 The First Mustang
Chap. 9 -1965 Big Changes
Chap. 10 -1966 Beat Goes On
Chap. 11 -1967 Changing Guard
Chap. 12 -1968 428 Cobra Jet
Chap. 13 -1969 Boss 302 & 429
Chap. 14 -1970 429CJ & SCJ
Chap. 15 -1971 Last of Breed
Chap. 16 -1972 - 73 End of Era
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This is without a doubt one of the best books about
Ford muscle cars ever written!
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Soft bound
8-1/2 x 11
160+ pages
200 b/w photos
100+ color photos
Item #SA25
Price: $22.95
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Click here to buy now!
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This is a book any Ford enthusiast will enjoy to read over and over.
Read the sample pages to learn more.
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Other items you might be interested in
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Ford Thunderbird Performance Portfolio 1958-1963
Road and comparison test, specifications, model introductions,
performance date, consumer analysis, design, touring, and technical
study and data on the Sports Roadster and Sedan. 140 pages., over
250 b&w photos. Softbound.
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Price:
$22.95
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Shipping is combined and discounted for multiple item purchases!
Buy more and save on shipping!
We ship Worldwide! See International Shipping for more information!
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Search Our Store for More Great Ford, Lincoln & Mercury Items!
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Items usually ship within one business day of receipt of payment! We keep large quantities on hand
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Satisfaction is guaranteed. Our store has a NO HASSLE RETURN POLICY within 7 days of
purchase. Your exchange will be processed upon receipt. If you are not satisfied with your
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SHIPPING
Standard shipping is a flat rate of $4.95 to anywhere in the United States with USPS Media Mail.
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If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact us. We look forward to serving
you and fulfilling your needs.
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Thanks for your business!
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MRE
PO Box 47
Grinnell, IA 50112
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