An interesting pic

If both cars have the same stock suspension and tires then I am surprised at the height difference!

In any case or any configuration, they both look great. They both are clearly related to one another ....no surprise there !  

Although pertaining to G.M., there's a great comment in a book I have on Harley Earl. Accompanying a photo of Earl towering over the Chevy Nomad, it states that as cars became lower a new problem arose - the vast expanse of undecorated metal of the roof.  And so he had the Nomad returned to the workshop to apply its characteristic, horizontal grooves.

...this is no trickery. Many domestic cars became "longer, lower & wider"  in 1957.  "Lower"  was the industry's new buzzword; many makes also switched to 14" wheels to further enhance this new trend.  Additionally, many dealership giveaways, such as novelty yardsticks, rulers, etc.. all promoted "lowness & ease of exit/entrance." 

I just checked dimensions between the 1956 and 1957 Ford's. The former is 61 inches in height, while the latter is 56.5. Does the picture show a 4.5 inch difference?

One other observation - do cars like those cast a perfect square shadow? Check out the left side-front on each.

@perrone1 Good info. Tony. I would say that the height of the two cars is accurate based on the 4.5 difference. Chris is right as 1957 was the year the manufacturers were making it known that lower was better starting with the switch to 14" wheels.

We had a new '56 and a few months latter a neighbor purchased a new '57. Not only was the '57 lower, it's longer too.

@perrone1 If the photo' has been re-touched, I would not rule-out that having been done at the time. John French, '50s Fashion photographer extraordinaire, would surround his subjects with spotlights, hold fabric with bull-clips and even prop-up the hem of a ballgown with a milk bottle to give it a little 'flip'.  Then just paint the lot out! 1950s graphics were obsessed with clean imagery and it wouldn't surprise me if this might extend to tidying-up God's shadows.  He also had the habit of hiring a small pool of luxury automobiles for his shoots, so interesting from that perspective too.

Posted by: @charles-rockett

@perrone1 If the photo' has been re-touched, I would not rule-out that having been done at the time. John French, '50s Fashion photographer extraordinaire, would surround his subjects with spotlights, hold fabric with bull-clips and even prop-up the hem of a ballgown with a milk bottle to give it a little 'flip'.  Then just paint the lot out! 1950s graphics were obsessed with clean imagery and it wouldn't surprise me if this might extend to tidying-up God's shadows.  He also had the habit of hiring a small pool of luxury automobiles for his shoots, so interesting from that perspective too.

Cool info - thanks Charles!!!