Join us for a guided tour of the Ford Motor Company’s styling process circa 1957 in this original factory film.

There are a number of neat angles covered in this original Ford Motor Company film from back in 1957, but the one in the opening segment was our favorite. Three well-known FoMoCo dream cars of the era are shown along with the eventual production vehicles they inspired:

+   The Ford Mystere, created by Bill Boyer of the company’s Advanced Styling Studio in the summer of 1954, which then originated a number of styling elements found on the 1957 Ford production cars.

+   The 1956 Mercury XM-Turnpike Cruiser, which led directly to the 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser production model and the Mercury division’s overall ’57-’59 styling theme.

+   The fabulous 1955 Lincoln Futura dream car, which later became world famous as TV’s original Batmobile, but also inspired the styling of the 1956-57 Lincoln production cars.

It’s fun to see how in these cases, experimental styling studies had a direct and recognizable effect on the company’s eventual production vehicles. Also mentioned in the five-minute color film are new engine developments including the free-piston engine and the gas turbine (the Mystere was designed for gas turbine power, reportedly) and rapidly emerging technologies of the moment like titanium alloys and the mysterious but promising transistor. It’s all very exciting stuff for 1957. Please enjoy the video.