Vehicle Description
If you're going back to the '50s, THIS is how you do it. A very
pretty Flame Red Thunderbird, nicely restored and ready to go. Add
in a fantastic red interior, a D-code 312, and a couple of choice
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 code J Willow Green, and the restorers wisely elected to
upgrade the shade to one of the more iconic colors from the era. If
you're going to drive a '50s icon, it should be an
attention-grabbing color and we can't argue with how great the
Flame Red looks on the finned '57. The car appears 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 red tint.
Resprayed approximately a few year back, the car does show some
minor imperfections, 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 Flame Red shade from the '57 palate, expertly rendered in
modern paints so it'll last virtually forever with just a bit of
care, and while it's not some perfect trailer-queen, there's
nothing that will stop you from attracting a crowd everywhere you
go. Red really 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.
Red interior is the right choice with the Flame Red bodywork,
adding to the drama of the exterior and making the 2-seat cabin of
this Baby Bird a profoundly comfortable place to enjoy a weekend
drive. The seats, door panels, and carpets were likely restored
when the car was refinished, and with only very minor
imperfections, 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 an original AM radio and a floor-shifter that manages the
2-speed Ford-O-Matic transmission, making this '57 'Bird a lot of
fun to drive. And although options were often quite sparse for most
of these Baby Birds, this one comes equipped with a heater and
power windows. The trunk is beautifully finished with a correct
plaid 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, but
this car's owner wanted the best of both world's - selecting a
matching porthole hardtop along with a tan vinyl folding top that
are both in very good shape.
The 312 cubic inch V8 is topped by a 4-barrel carburetor, makes the
Thunderbird an impressive performer out on the open road. The
engine bay is nicely detailed to original specs, showing off one of
the best-looking engines ever. Thunderbird Special valve covers
with period correct logos are works of art by themselves, and
underneath the bright chrome air cleaner the red engine looks clean
and shows only minor signs of use - expected of a car that's been
driven and enjoyed since it was restored. Underneath, it's very
solid and shows off a life lived easy through the years, and the
dual exhaust system sounds great! Kelsey Hayes spoke wheels are an
ideal choice on any Baby Bird and carry 205/75/14 American Classics
wide whitewall radials at all four corners.
Pink Cadillacs are cliche, but a Flame Red Baby Bird is truly a
vintage treat. Few were built and fewer exist today, so take this
one home and continue the American tradition. Call today!