PRISTINE PRETENDERS

The Birth of Legends

Ninety-three million miles from the sun, give or take a few feet, and some 18,000 days ago, legends were born and built around great battles fought throughout North America. Using weapons forged from steel and tactics learned over the ages, epic encounters still studied today took place between warriors wielding bow ties and blue ovals. And it came close to never happening at all.

The 1957 Chevy: An Afterthought Turned Icon

Midway through the production run of the ’56 Chevy, designers were penning its replacement, and while you may think it was the car that has gained one of the largest followings ever, it was not the car you’re thinking of. Considering its phenomenal popularity, the ’57 Chevy was designed more as an afterthought when development problems held off the so-called “new design” until the 1958 model year. Good thing, too, because the ’57 Chevy went on to become one of the most celebrated cars in automotive history, and the “new design” of the ’58 Chevy never caught on at all.

The Black Widow: A Fearsome Competitor

Offered up in a surprisingly wide variety of body styles, with an equally lofty range of option packages, it’s interesting that one of the most celebrated and highly valued iterations of the ’57 Chevy started out as a variation on the most utilitarian model, the 150 Business Coupe. Conceived by Southern Engineering Development Corporation Operation, a division of Chevrolet in Atlanta, Georgia, a limited number of aptly labeled Black Widow ’57s displayed a black-and-white livery that soon provoked fear among the Stock Car ranks.

Power and Performance: The Heart of the Black Widow

In addition to the Rochester mechanical fuel injection, this particular 283ci Chevy engine featured solid lifters and a Duntov-designed Corvette camshaft. With this setup, these engines pumped out an underrated 283 hp in the lightest ’57 Chevy available. Once Stock Car racers adapted their own blend of modifications, it wasn’t long before these cars tested the capabilities of the competition. This included Buck Baker, who took his No. 87 Black Widow to 17 race wins in a single season, positioning him as the Grand Champion that year. These cars were so successful that fuel injection was outlawed in Stock Car racing, and that’s how it’s been ever since.

The Rival: The 1957 Ford Custom

Among the teams caught up in the web of the infamous Black Widow ’57 were teams hanging their hopes on the ’57 Ford Custom two-door sedan. Propelled by a high-performance version of the 312ci Y-block V-8 producing 270 hp, these engines also sported twin Holley 4000 carburetors fitted to a unique dual-plane ECG 9424D factory intake manifold. Combined with a lumpy camshaft and other performance-based hardware that maximized their potential, these were the latest development of the storied Y-block. While the newly invigorated fuel-injected Chevy engines tested these powerplants, these cars still enjoyed a fair degree of racing success in 1957 as well. The ’57 Fords also captured the attention of America as actor Robert Mitchum ran moonshine across the silver screen in the movie “Thunder Road,” which debuted in 1958. While never capturing the enthusiast audience of the ’57 Chevy, the arguably sleeker lines of the ’57 Ford certainly outsold Chevy that year and earned a following that still celebrates these cars today.

Kayo Erwin’s Tribute to History

As a fan of both cars, Kayo Erwin decided to twist a little history of his own, and created this matching pair of timeless machinery 50 years after they first rolled from the assembly line. Of course, Erwin is quick to point out that his black-and-white ’57 Chevy is not a real Black Widow, but a clone—a copy of the rare and treasured Chevy racecar that was built strictly for the fun of it. As for the ’57 Ford, it too was built with a little creative fun in mind, using the same combination of colors that were used on the original Black Widow Chevys. The result is two interesting cars that serve as a conversation piece in Erwin’s collection, as to what might have been, while both of these cars provide great driving fun wherever they go.

The Ford Custom: A Focus on Fundamentals

Two inches shorter than its Fairlane counterpart, the Custom model makes use of a 116-inch wheelbase, which for some is the more desirable length of the two. As you might expect, judging by the exterior of these cars, the underpinnings of this unique Ford Custom are just as they came from the factory, with coil springs supporting the weight and a recirculating-ball steering box maintaining directional control. In back, a pair of leaf springs located on either end of a 9-inch Ford rear axle maintains rear axle wrap-up and stability, while offsetting power application with drum brakes, such as those found in front. Of course, every detail has been pored over by Erwin’s staff to return this car’s original luster. Every fastener and component has been tediously refurbished or replaced to accurately recall simpler times when cars were less complex and just as much fun. As we’ve noted in past issues, Kayo Erwin simply considers himself a caretaker of these memorable machines and applies his craft in restoring them so that others will value them in the decades to come. Events such as these are history in the making, as such preservation will be welcomed by future generations.

The ’57 Chevy: Staying True to the Original

Similar in basic layout to its original suspension, this ’57 Chevy incorporates independent front suspension and a solid rear axle with leaf springs and drum brakes at each corner. While this stock approach may seem antiquated by today’s standards, if more modern hardware were incorporated, this setup provides surprising control over the narrow, bias-ply blackwall tires. While the benefits of radial tires could have been employed, Erwin’s passion for accurate originality goes right down to the gray steel wheels and dog-dish hubcaps. As with the Ford, the suspension and drivetrain could have been easily updated with modern components. However, the idea here was to replicate history, not rewrite it. Look elsewhere and you’ll find other familiar elements that have long been integral to the origin of these treasured Bow Ties.

A Replica, Not the Real Thing

But make no mistake: this Black Widow look-a-like is a copy, not the real thing, as these cars were built to be raced, not preserved. This car is built to look like one of those super-rare racecars, and it’s cool to see it. While the ’57 Chevy may be the unquestioned popularity leader, many people, including some loyal to Chevrolets, admit that the Ford gets the nod as the better looking of the two. This could be due in part to its sleek bodylines. Then again, we all know which car received the most praise over time, and by a large margin. While Ford considered initiating dual headlights on the ’57, federal regulations challenged what was then considered to be a too advanced approach, so single bulbs were fitted that year, and changed in 1958 on both the Fords and Chevys. While Ford Motor Company could have sought acceptance for quad headlights one state at a time, the cost of doing so was thought to be prohibitive. In 1958, the Custom and Fairlane models received dual headlamps, along with the small scoop and emblem centered on the hood. In case you are wondering, the hoods on the ’57 and ’58 Fords are interchangeable.