Now Ford had a three speed automatic by then. You could launch in "L", quickly kick the shifter up to "N" and back to low to without lifting your foot would lock in second and then to "D" when you were ready to select third. A lot of drivers didn't know that trick.
The 312 engine with the optional Paxton supercharger in the '57 model produced 300 HP and put a hurt on a lot of Chevies and street rods. Unfortunately chicks liked the Chevy