The 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 was Ford's new top-of-the-line series, sharing a fresh 118-inch wheelbase platform with standard Fairlane hardtops and sedans. That was two inches longer than the junior Custom and Custom 300 models, and the Station Wagon line was now separated into its own distinct series. True to 1950s fashion, everything was longer, lower, and wider, with many styling elements drawn from the 1955 Mystere show car.
The 1957 Fairlane 500s featured bigger, heavier bodies matched by a lower-profile "cowbelly" frame with a dropped rear floorpan and kicked-up aft side rails, allowing a two-inch reduction in overall height. Suspension improvements included swept-back front lower control arms and longer rear leaf springs. All 1957 Fairlane engines were essentially 1956 units tuned for more power through familiar methods.
The facelifted 1958 models looked more elaborate, featuring quad headlamps above a Thunderbird-inspired bumper and grille, broader side trim, a scalloped rear deck, four oval tail lamps, and longitudinal roof ribs added to strengthen those panels, which had been a known weakness in the 1957 models. The major mechanical advances included new big-block 332 and 352-cubic-inch V8 engines and a more sophisticated three-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission.
Ford beat Chevrolet in 1957 model-year production, then suffered alongside nearly every other manufacturer during the 1958 flash recession. The 1957 and 1958 Fairlanes were not as solidly built as earlier Fords, with early rust-out being a common issue. They went underappreciated by collectors for years, making them relatively scarce today, but they are well worth searching for. Griffin Thermal Products builds exact-fit aluminum radiators for Ford Fairlanes, delivering the cooling performance these classic Fords deserve.
Available Radiators
36 products available for Ford Fairlane
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.19" x 20.17" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 600 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.25" x 20.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 600 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 23.0" x 22.18" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 750 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.25" x 21.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 650 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.38" x 21.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 650 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 25.0" x 22.87" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 800 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 22.63" x 21.38" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 650 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.19" x 20.17" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 600 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.25" x 20.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 600 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 23.0" x 22.18" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 750 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.25" x 21.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 650 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.38" x 21.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 650 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 25.0" x 22.87" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 800 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 22.63" x 21.38" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 650 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.0" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.0" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.0" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.0" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.19" x 20.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 600 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.25" x 20.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 600 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.0" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.0" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 23.0" x 22.18" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 750 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.25" x 21.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 650 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.38" x 21.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 650 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 25.0" x 22.87" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 800 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 22.63" x 21.38" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 650 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.19" x 20.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 600 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.25" x 20.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 600 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.0" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.0" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 23.0" x 22.18" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 750 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.25" x 21.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 650 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.38" x 21.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 650 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 25.0" x 22.87" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 800 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 22.63" x 21.38" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 650 HP.