Nowadays the well-dressed ’50s hot rod retains much of its original alure through preserving the factory sheetmetal but under the skin the excitement expands. For instance, this ’57 Ford features a Ford Coyote 5.0L supercharged V-8 showing off a Whipple 2.9L ’charger. From here a set of Ultimate 1-7/8-inch headers are used along with the stainless steel exhaust tubing with electric exhaust cutouts that transfer the spent gases rearward to a pair of Borla stainless mufflers and then out a set of SaltWorks custom tips. More V-8 appointments include a Vintage Air Front Runner serpentine belt system and a Mishimoto oil color.

The powertrain is huddled between the framerails of a Scott’s Hotrods ’N Customs coilover chassis made from 2×4-inch framerails with a 1-1/2-inch round tube X-member. From here the frame turned into a full performance chassis with more Scott’s components, such as the upper and lower tubular A-arms, forged drop spindles, and a 1-inch solid sway bar. Accompanying Scott’s workings is an EPAS Performance electric power added to the rack-and-pinion steering, Ridetech single-adjustable coilover shocks, and Wilwood four-piston calipers in black with 12-inch drilled-and-slotted rotors. The chassis is also plumbed from Scott’s with stainless brake lines together with its flex lines and stainless fuel lines. To get the modern chassis to fit underneath the two-door hardtop with its amplified rolling combo the rear wheel openings were modified by SaltWorks’ own Dean Van Der Walt. Handling the daily mechanicals were Chris Fair and Daryl Eggen and Van Der Walt who also received the nod for fabwork.

Moving 700-plus horsepower and nearly 700 lb-ft of torque rearward is a TREMEC T56 six-speed gearbox that’s operated through a Hurst shifter via a Centerforce hydraulic dual disc clutch setup. Once the power is delivered to the back it arrives at a Moser 9-inch rearend equipped with a Truetrac that spins 3.73 gears all loaded into the third member that’s accompanied by 31-spline axles. Wilwood four-piston calipers along with drilled-and-slotted 12-inch rotors are present as is the internal parking brake system and cables ready to run. The Moser 9-inch is held in position by several of Scott’s parts, including the equal-length parallel four-bar system, Panhard bar, and Ridetech single-adjustable coilovers. The chassis with its potent drivetrain rides around on a set of Billet Specialties Flare wheels measuring 17×7 in front and 17×11 in back, all wrapped in Michelin rubber. Sizing consists of 235/40R17s and 295/40R17s, respectively.

The ’57 Ford Fairlane 500 shows off its flipped and tucked bumpers while the remainder of the sheetmetal is straight from the Ford styling department from the mid ’50s. Because of the increased wheel and tire sizing the rear does feature 3-inch-wider wheeltubs also handled at SaltWorks. The required body- and paintwork was performed at SaltWorks by Van Der Walt and Tommy Whitman in a two-tone that features House of Kolor Oriental Blue for much of the body and then accompanied by Orion Silver.

We are thinking that this ’57 Ford Fairlane 500 is going to ride and drive down the interstate highways as well as any modern-day Detroit iron. Wally’s thinking of the two-door hardtop’s first major drive will be to this year’s Back to the 50’s event. We couldn’t think of a better way to break in a new ride than a long haul.