Words & Photos: Gary Rosier
For 1957, the Del Rio Ranch Wagon was introduced. Buyers were offered a unique two-tone optional paint scheme and, after researching this particular car, the owner found it was built originally with a Wimbledon white top and a Blue Dresden bottom.
The Del Rio Option had 11 inch drum brakes, and a better quality interior with both unique interior and exterior bright-work trim. The reverse hood openings on the Fords of that time (’57, ’58, ’59) were different than most other makes (hey – you NEVER had to worry about your hood blowing up into the windshield!)
It’s interesting to note that Ford sold more Del Rios in 1957 (46,105) than Chevrolet sold of its Nomad in its three years of production. However, after selling only 12,687 “sport wagons” as they were often called, it discontinued the model for ’59.
Dan O’Brien of Port Orange, Fla. saw this car advertised on Craigslist. It was located in Montana and advertised as a clean Western car, but in need of some tender loving care. After several phone calls to the dealer, Dan learned that this car had sat for over 10 years because of the death of its previous owner. The dealer he had contacted was actually a friend of the family’s and so purchased the car out of the estate just to try and “help them out.” He was always going to try to get around to fixing it up himself, he said, but it sat and sat for another 10 years before he decided to put it up for sale. It didn’t take much haggling, really – a warning, perhaps, of what lay ahead!
Dan’s interest in Hot Rods and Muscle cars – anything that moved around on four wheels, really – began while he was still in high school. He purchased an old ’38 Chevy coupe and, over the next 50 plus years, saw at least 60 cars of all types that he would call his. A ’64 Impala SS, ’55 Pontiac Safari (two-door) Wagon, Chevy Z-28, ’63 Split Window Corvette and many others of all makes and models graced his stable at one time or another. HOT ROD Magazine, Car Craft, Popular Hot Rodding and more were all the rage on the newsstands during this time and inspired him, he says, like so many of us into the Hot Rod hobby.
Dan was well prepared to take on another project car. It had “nasty” primer all over and didn’t run, but that didn’t deter Dan. That’s why he probably got it at such a decent price, he told me. While he didn’t open the motor up, he did have to replace all the belts, spark plug wires, plugs, hoses, carburetor, fuel pump and the “rat’s nest” of a wiring job someone had attempted long ago. In the process, he found out that the motor was a 1958 “Interceptor” 352 cu in which had replaced the original ’57 312 “Y” Block interceptor. The C6 transmission stayed, new fluid and filter were added as well as band adjustments necessary to get it to shift right. Three-inch exhausts help give it that nice mellow rumble. He gave it a good old fashioned tune-up, he said, had the radiator core rebuilt and got it running…. finally!
Homemade headers were already in place, so it was obvious someone had intentions of drag racing this car. Evidence of the same also came from the old N50 Drag radials on the car at purchase and “radius-ed” rear wheel well openings. The shifter was replaced with a new Lokar floor-mounted shifter, and he cut out the primitive roll cage that someone in its previous life had installed. All new shocks around were next, and he stuck with the Ford 9 inch rear (3:25 gears) but added new fluid.
The split front bench seat (make/model unknown) was retained, but the rear seat is original to the car. New carpet, door panels and a new headliner came next. ALL the gauges had to be repaired and after a tedious process of replacing all the wiring, he got those in working order too.
It rolls on a set of American Racing Torque Thrust 15 in wheels shod with P21565R15’s (rear) and P20570R15’s (fronts). 11-inch drums were a feature particular to this car originally and after a good re-build are more than satisfactory in getting the car stopped, he says, although he would like to upgrade to an all disc brake set-up perhaps at some time.
Dan painted the car in his driveway an Evercoat Feather-Fill Grey Primer with a little extra black in it to give it a little darker color. While his wife insists he paints the car a “REAL” color, Dan is sticking to his guns… at least for now.
