Ford Del Rio
Encyclopedia
The Ford Del Rio was a full-size
, six passenger station wagon
produced by the Ford Motor Company
in the United States
for model years 1957 and 1958. The model was also marketed under the name Del Rio Ranch Wagon.
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 sport wagon, the premium Parklane
, which failed to entice buyers during 1956, its only year in production. Four-way power seats were available.
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.
Beginning with the basic body, buyers of the Del Rio 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 “Mile-Maker” 144 hp six or its “Thunderbird” 312 hp V-8 power.
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 Rio's 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".
Full-size car
A full-size car is a marketing term used in North America for an automobile larger than a mid-size car. In the United States, the EPA uses "large car" to denote full-size cars....
, six passenger station wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
produced by the Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for model years 1957 and 1958. The model was also marketed under the name Del Rio Ranch Wagon.
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
Chevrolet Nomad
The Chevrolet Nomad was a station wagon model made off and on from 1955 to 1972, and a Chevy Van trim package in the late 1970s and early 1980s, produced by the Chevrolet Division of General Motors...
and Pontiac Safari
Pontiac Safari
The 1955 Safari was built using shared body components with the Chevrolet Nomad station wagon, which would also allow both divisions to share in the tooling costs for the special bodied wagons. The Safari was fitted with Pontiac's unique front-end bumper/grille assembly and sheet metal and rear...
, and the decision to discontinue the company’s original attempt at sport wagon, the premium Parklane
Ford Parklane
The Ford Parklane was a car produced by the Ford Motor Company in the United States for one year only, 1956. Launched to compete with the Chevrolet Nomad, it was a two-door station wagon, based on the Ford Ranch Wagon, but unlike that low-end workhorse model, it was tricked out with all the...
, which failed to entice buyers during 1956, its only year in production. Four-way power seats were available.
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.
Beginning with the basic body, buyers of the Del Rio offered a unique two-tone paint scheme (optional), better quality interior and exterior brightwork (including gold anodized aluminum accents) and a higher grade vinyl
Vinyl
A vinyl compound is any organic compound that contains a vinyl group ,which are derivatives of ethene, CH2=CH2, with one hydrogen atom replaced with some other group...
upholstery. Del Rio buyers also had their choice of either Ford’s “Mile-Maker” 144 hp six or its “Thunderbird” 312 hp V-8 power.
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 Rio's 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".
| Year | Engine | HP | Transmission | wheelbase | length | brakes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 223CID "Mileage-Maker" I6; 332CID V8; 352CID V8 | 145(I6); 240; 265; 300 | Cruise-O-Matic | 116 " | 202.7" | drums, 11" front |