Vehicle Description
If you're going back to the '50s, THIS is how you do it. A very
pretty Starmist Blue 1957 Ford Thunderbird, nicely restored and
ready to go. Add in a fantastic blue/light blue interior, a strong
312, and a few desirable options and you have one of the most
iconic symbols of the period that's also a lot of fun to drive.
Check the door tag again and you'll discover that this one was
always Starmist Blue with a Colonial White hardtop, so the
restorers dared not get creative and commit a color change faux
pas. If you're going to drive a '50s icon, it should be a pastel
color and we can't argue with how great the original shade of light
blue looks on the befinned '57. The car seems to glow from within,
and you'll note that even in our photos, the color seems to reach
out to its surroundings, giving everything a lovely blue tint.
Restored several years ago, the car does show some minor signs of
use, but I think it would be hard to resist the siren call of the
open road were this lovely T-Bird living in my garage. The finish
is a highly accurate reproduction of the original color, expertly
rendered in modern paints so it'll last virtually forever with
consistent care, and while there's some age on it, there's nothing
that will stop you from attracting a crowd everywhere you go. Light
blue shows off the car's good body gaps, particularly on the hood
and trunk which can be tricky to fit properly, and all the chrome
is in good order, another important factor on a '50s car.
Two elegant shades of blue is the right choice to match up with the
Starmist Blue bodywork, blending in the drama to the exterior and
making the interior a comfortable place to enjoy a weekend drive.
The seats, door panels, and carpets were restored when the car was
refinished a few years ago, and while there are comfort marks on
the seat, it's still a very stylish interior. The dash shows
correct pleats on the pad, and is full of original gauges in good
shape, all nestled into a bright engine-turned panel. It also
features a Ford-O-Matic 3-speed automatic transmission, which makes
this 'Bird very easy and relaxing to drive. The trunk is correctly
finished with a period mat set and full-sized spare, which was
moved back inside the trunk to alleviate understeer problems with
the continental kit on the '56s. And when you bought your new
Thunderbird in 1957, you could have either a hardtop or folding
soft top at no charge, so this car's original owner selected a
Colonial White porthole hardtop that's still in good original
condition.
The D-code 312 cubic inch V8 is topped by an Edelbrock 600CFM
4-barrel carburetor and makes robust horsepower, enough to make
this Baby Bird an impressive performer out on the open road. The
engine bay is neat but not overly detailed, showing off one of the
best-looking engines ever. Finned valve covers with Thunderbird
logos are works of art by themselves, and the bright red engine
still shows through and shows only regular signs of use beyond the
inevitable scale on the cast iron exhaust manifolds. Underneath,
it's very solid and shows signs of careful use, but nothing that
should alarm a guy who wants to drive his new Thunderbird, and the
newer dual exhaust system sounds great! Factory steel wheels with
proper Ford hubcaps are an ideal choice on any Thunderbird and
carry 205/75/14 thin whitewall radials.
Pink Cadillacs are cliche, but a Starlight Blue Thunderbird is
truly a treat. Few were built and fewer exist today, so take this
one home. Call today!