[Dobie Gillis]

Dave, for '57 it looks like Ford succumbed to the tail fin and chrome craze with the Lincoln. Tail fins were a styling touch they avoided except in that one instance. They ruined a design that borders on timelessness. The fins almost appeared tacked on as with the '56 Studebaker Hawks, but Stude made it work. The Lincoln looks like something George Jetson would drive. And they ruined the front end treatment with the quad headlights that also look tacked on. Total Lincoln production for '56 was 50,322, for '57 that dropped to 41,123, so I'd say public reaction to the restyle was less than stellar. I'm betting Bill Schmidt had to be dragged to it kicking and screaming if indeed he had anything to do with it. If it were me I would have quit.