Ford Del Rio

Not to be confused with Ford Del Rey.

Motor vehicle

Ford Custom 300 Del Rio

1957 Ford Del Rio Ranch Wagon

Overview
Manufacturer| Ford
Model years| 1957–1958
Assembly| United States:

* Main plant
* Dearborn, MI
* Branch Assembly
* Twin Cities, MN
* Somerville, MA
* Richmond, CA
* Norfolk, VA
* Memphis, TN
* Louisville, KY
* Long Beach, CA
* Kansas City, MO
* Edgewater, NJ
* Dallas, TX
* Chicago, IL
* Chester, PA
* Buffalo, NY
* Atlanta, GA

Body and chassis
Class| Full-size Ford
Body style| 2-door station wagon
Layout| FR layout
Platform| 1957 Ford
Related| Ford Fairlane
Ford Ranchero
Mercury Commuter
Powertrain
Engine| 3.7 L (223 cu in) "Mileage Maker" I6 145hp[1]
5.4 L (332 cu in) FE V8 240-265hp [1]
5.8 L (352 cu in) FE/Thunderbird V8 300hp [1]
Transmission| 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase| 116 in (2,946.4 mm)[2]
Length| 202.7 in (5,148.6 mm)[3]
Chronology
Predecessor| Ford Parklane

The Ford Del Rio is a full-size, six-passenger[4] station wagon[3] that was produced by Ford in the United States for model years 1957 and 1958. The model was also marketed under the name Del Rio Ranch Wagon.

## Description

[edit]

The impetus for the creation of the Del Rio was Ford's desire to remain in the two-door sport wagon market started by the Chevrolet Nomad and Pontiac Safari and the decision to discontinue the company's original attempt at a sport wagon, the premium Parklane, which failed to entice buyers during 1956, its only year in production. Four-way power seats were available.[5]

While the Nomad was Chevrolet's most expensive model, offering a premium vehicle with a show car-inspired body style, the Del Rio was strictly based on an existing product, the utilitarian two-door Ranch Wagon, Ford's least expensive station wagon, as part of the Custom 300 series.[2]

Beginning with the basic body, buyers of the Del Rio were offered a unique two-tone paint scheme (optional), better quality interior and exterior brightwork (including gold anodized aluminum accents) and a higher grade vinyl upholstery. Del Rio buyers also had their choice of either Ford's “Mileage Maker” 144 hp six or its “Thunderbird” 215 hp, 312 cubic inch (5.1 litre) displacement Y-Block V-8. The Del Rio was equipped with 11-inch front drum brakes.[1]

Like all other Ford station wagons at that time, the Del Rio used a two-piece tailgate – a feature that dealers emphasized was an advantage over GM's steeply raked rear gate and self-storing window, which were known for water leaks in heavy rains.

While the Ford sold more Del Rios in 1957 (46,105) than Chevrolet did with its Nomad in its three years of production, Ford terminated the Del Rio program at the end of the 1958 model year after selling only 12,687 of its "sport wagons".

Ford didn't entirely abandon the concept of a two-door station wagon, and used a smaller version with the all-new Ford Falcon in 1960, offered in multiple bodystyles, including a two-door station wagon.

1958 Ford Del Rio Ranch Wagon (with after-market wheels)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d "Directory Index: Ford/1958_Ford/1958_Ford_Wagons_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
2. ^ a b Flory, Jr., J. "Kelly" (2008). American Cars, 1946-1959 Every Model Every Year. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7864-3229-5.
3. ^ a b Gunnell, John A., ed. (1982). Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975. krause publications. ISBN 0-87341-027-0.
4. ^ "Directory Index: Ford/1957_Ford/1957_Ford_Full_Line_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
5. ^ "Directory Index: Ford/1958_Ford/1958_Ford_Wagons_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ford Del Rio.

* v
* t
* e

« previous — Ford car timeline, North American market, 1946–1979 — next »

| Type | 1940s  | 1950s  | 1960s  | 1970s

|
|
|
|

6 | 7 | 8 | 9  | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9  | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9  | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
Subcompact |  |  |  |  | Fiesta
|  |  |  | Pinto
Compact |  |  | Falcon | Falcon | Falcon |
|  |  | Maverick | Fairmont
|  |  |  | Granada
Mid-size |  |  |  | Falcon 70½ |
|  |  | Fairlane | Fairlane | Fairlane | Fairlane |
|  |  | Torino | Torino | Torino | LTD II
Full-size | Deluxe | Ford | Deluxe | Mainline | Mainline | Custom, Custom 300 | Custom 300 | Fairlane | Galaxie Mainliner | 300 | Custom | Custom | Custom | Custom (cdn) |
Super Deluxe | Custom Deluxe | Customline | Customline | Fairlane | Fairlane | Fairlane 500 | Galaxie | Custom 500 | Custom 500 | Custom 500 |
Crestline | Fairlane | Fairlane 500 | Galaxie | Galaxie 500 | Galaxie 500 | Galaxie 500 |
|  | Galaxie
|  |  | Galaxie 500 XL | Galaxie 500 XL | XL | XL |
|  |  | Galaxie 500 LTD | LTD | LTD | LTD
Station wagon |  |  | Parklane | Del Rio |  |  |
|  | Ranch Wagon | Ranch Wagon | Ranch Wagon | Ranch Wagon | Ranch Wagon | Ranch Wagon |
|  | Country Sedan | Country Sedan | Country Sedan | Country Sedan | Country Sedan |
|  | Country Squire | Country Squire | Country Squire | Country Squire | Country Squire | Country Squire
Personal luxury |  |  |  |  | Elite | Thunderbird
|  | Thunderbird | Thunderbird | Thunderbird | Thunderbird | Thunderbird | Thunderbird |
Sports |  |  | Thunderbird |  |  | Mustang | Mustang | Mustang

* v
* t
* e

Ford vehicles

Current
models|

| Cars|

* Focus
* Mondeo/Taurus
* Mustang

|

Pickup trucks|

* F-Series
* Super Duty
* F-150 Lightning
* Maverick
* Ranger
* Ranger EV

SUVs/crossovers|

* Bronco
* Bronco Sport
* Capri EV
* Edge L
* Equator/Equator Sport
* Escape/Kuga
* Everest
* Expedition
* Explorer
* Explorer EV
* Mondeo Sport
* Mustang Mach-E
* Puma (crossover)
* Territory

Vans|

* Transit
* Courier
* Connect
* Custom

Commercial trucks|

* Cargo
* Super Duty
* F-250/F-350/F-450/F-550/F-600
* Medium Duty
* F-650/F-750
* F-Max

Other vehicles|

* E-Series Cutaway

Former
models
(by date of
introduction)|

| 1900s|

* Model A/AC
* Model B
* Model C
* Model F
* Model K
* Model N
* Model R
* Model S
* Model T

|

1910s–1920s|

* Model TT
* Model A
* Model AA

1930s|

* Model B / BB trucks / Model 18 / Model 40
* Model Y
* Köln
* Rheinland
* Model 48
* Model C (Europe)
* Model C Ten
* Eifel
* Model CX
* 1937 Ford
* Model 7W
* Model 7Y
* E83W
* Prefect
* Anglia

1940s|

* 1941 Ford
* Vedette
* Pilot
* 1949 Ford
* Custom
* B-Series
* Transit Bus
* N-series tractor

1950s|

* 1952 Ford
* 1955 Ford
* 1957 Ford
* Abeille
* C-Series
* Comète
* Consul
* Thames Trader
* Country Sedan
* Country Squire
* Courier
* Crestline
* Del Rio
* Edsel (brand)
* Fairlane
* FK
* Galaxie
* Mainline
* NAA tractor
* Parklane
* Popular
* Ranchero
* Squire
* Taunus
* Thunderbird
* Vendôme
* Versailles (France)
* Zephyr

1960s|

* 1960 Ford
* Capri
* Corcel
* Corsair
* Cortina
* E-Series/Econoline/Club Wagon
* Escort (Europe)
* Escort RS Cosworth
* Fairlane (Australia)
* P7
* Ford Shelby Mustang
* Fairlane Thunderbolt
* D-Series
* Fairmont (Australia)
* Futura
* Falcon (North America)
* Falcon (Argentina)
* Falcon (Australia)
* GT40
* LTD
* Torino

1970s|

* Courier
* Econovan
* Econowagon
* Elite
* Fairmont
* Fiesta
* Granada (Europe)
* Granada (North America)
* L-Series Trucks
* Landau (Brazil)
* Landau (Australia)
* LTD II
* Maverick (North America)
* P100
* Pinto

1980s|

* Aerostar
* Bantam
* Bronco II
* Del Rey
* Durango
* Escort (North America)
* EXP
* Festiva
* Laser/Lynx/Meteor/Tierra
* LTD Crown Victoria
* Orion
* Pampa
* Probe
* Capri (Australia)
* Pronto
* RS200
* Trader
* Scorpio
* Sierra
* Telstar
* Taurus (North America)
* list
* Tempo
* Verona

1990s|

* Contour
* Cougar
* Crown Victoria
* Freda
* Galaxy
* Ka
* Puma (coupé)
* Royale
* Versailles (Brazil)
* Windstar
* ZX2

2000s|

* Activa
* C-Max
* EcoSport
* Edge
* Excursion
* Explorer Sport Trac
* Five Hundred
* Flex
* GT
* LCF
* Freestyle
* Focus (North America)
* Fusion (Americas)
* Fusion (Europe)
* Ikon
* i-Max
* Maverick (Europe)
* S-Max
* Sportka/Streetka
* Territory (Australia)

2010s|

* B-Max
* Escort (China)
* Figo
* Taurus (China)

Military|

* GP/GPW
* GPA
* GTB
* M1918
* M8 Greyhound
* M151
* M656
* T17 Deerhound

Related topics|

* Concept vehicles
* Mercury (list)
* Lincoln (list)
* Police vehicles
* Crown Victoria Interceptor
* Tractors
* Trucks

* Category
* List

This article about a classic post-war automobile produced between 1945 and 1975 is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template