Race this brand new '57 Plymouth?

[bill dedman]

Jason,
In case you're NOT kidding (which is entirely possible), I'll answer that.

"Sputnik" was the name Russia gave their satellite, which was launched into earth orbit in 1957, thereby launching the "space race." It was the first successful satellite launch of that nature... by anyone.

I remember going downtown (Little Rock, Arkansas) on several nights,(about 2:00 a.m.,) in September of 1956 (I was 17) and watching them unload the new '57 cars off the trailers and drive them into the showrooms, which had their windows blanked out by opened-up newspaper sections. The cars were carried on trailers with car-covers on them, so nobody could tell what the new cars looked like.

It was all cloaked in secrecy, and very exciting!

Most cars were all-new (body-wise) for 1957, except some G.M. cars, which had re-do's so extensive that they LOOKED all-new.

The stodgy styling of the '56 Plymouth had given way to a space-age, finned, creation whose slogan was "SUDDENLY, IT'S 1960!!!" LOL!

The year 1957 was a landmark year for gearheads because nearly all cars that year, offered high performance engine packages.

Chevys were now available with fuel injection and 1 hp per cubic inch, and you could get multiple carburetion on about 90-percent of the cars offered. Dual-quad Cadillacs, Chevys, Chryslers, Dodges, Plymouths, DeSotos, Fords, Mercurys, and three-two-barrel setups on Pontiac, and Oldsmobile, were offered, while supercharged engines were available on Fords, Packards, and Studebakers, which gave nearly everyone a fast NEW car, if you opted to pay the freight on the package.

DeSoto matched Chevrolet with a 345 HP, 345cid engine in its "Adventurer" high-end car that year. Even Rambler had a performance car, the "Rebel," with a 327 motor that made 255 HP in a light car...

It was probably the most exciting year ever, for a "car guy." Certainly, up to that point, although 1955 was just as exciting for its styling revelations.

I remember being surprised that a Chevy didn't witn Stock honors at the NHRA Nationals (Okie City) that year. The top stocker there turned out to be a '57 Pontiac stick shift 2-door sedan with the 317-HP Tri-Power option, which was available with a ~VERY~ nasty, solid-lifter cam...

It went 94-mph on street tires, through the mufflers, with the air cleaner "on." That was back when "stock" meant "STOCK!"

1957... that wonderful year...



Bill