My understanding is that certain cars did have the 4100 installed.  I bought a 57 312 that had a 4100 on it, it looked like the engine had never been apart.  I made a statement a number of years ago that no 57 came with a 4100 (my belief at the time) , but a number of people told me I was wrong.  Tbirds never got one, but the sedans did.


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

The 4150s were standard installation on the 1957 312 "D" code engines. 
The Carter AFBs were installed on the 1957 Retractables with the 312 engine
Oldmics

Interesting question.  The only information relative to what you're asking is that all D code '57 'Birds with the 312 engine came with the new end bowl 4150 Holley carburetors.  How passenger car 312s ended up with a 4150 Holley, a Carter AFB, or Ford / Autolite 4100 would be enlightening. 


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

I have a stock, original vacuum secondary Carter AFB on my 312 Fairlane. A while back I bought a correct '57 4100 to overhaul and use in place of the AFB, believing it to be a superior carburetor. The shop manual also references the first gen Holley 4150 as an option.

I was wondering, what determined which carburetor ended up on which car? Is one more common than the others? Did the customer choose between the 3, or was it a production order thing, or maybe by location?



1954 Crestline Victoria 312 4-bbl, 3-speed overdrive