Vehicle Description
1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible
The 1955-57 two-seat Ford Thunderbird is among the most recognized
iconic American cars. It's been put in television shows, movies and
print advertisements, not to mention being pictured on a U.S.
postage stamp. The mass media often has mistakenly called any
sporty looking car, such as the Ford Mustang, a "sports car." It's
given the 1955-57 Thunderbird the same description, although Ford
stressed from the get-go that its new baby was a "personal car".
Ford knew that the sports cars market was very limited and that
calling the Thunderbird a "personal car" would give it much broader
appeal.
For consignment, a personal car, (as dubbed by Ford), 2-seater
adult getaway vehicle. This would be the last year for a good while
for this two seat configuration, and is widely thought to be the
best year of the first generation T bird. 1957 saw Ford add some
extra options including power which this one has, a 312ci for this
"C" series which now comes with a 4-barrel carburetor, 3-speed
Ford-O-Matic and retains its larger "G" heads in this engine during
its total rebuild. Fresh paint just last year, and now talk about
suburban driveway jewelry envy!
Exterior
When you pen a thin bodied, long hood with a scoop, and canted tail
fin 2 seater car, throw on some jet age styling for the taillights,
give it a hardtop option complete with a porthole window and has a
convertible underneath, add on fender skirts, a wrap around
windshield, and some chromed trimmings, you have this car. All
straight steel bathed in white paint showing like it was just
sprayed last year...and it was. Mirror like chrome bumpers, egg
crate grille, and for the rear in bumper exhaust ports, this car
screams steel sex. A white canvas convertible top is underneath the
white porthole fiberglass hardtop and presents as very clean and
tear free with a clear rear window in plastic. With the hardtop,
convertible up and down you are basically getting 3 totally
different looking cars, and the ability to use year round. Before I
move on, we need to give a shout out to the Ford dish styled ribbed
wheel coverings wrapped in wide whites. Suhhh-weeeet!
Interior
Swing the door and be met with soiled white panels that have no
idea what a straight line is as to their design. White vinyl mixes
with machined swirl pattern aluminum inserts for the door handles
and actuator. Some slight smudging and light dirt are seen on this
door panel. Speaking now of the seat, it's a gorgeous white bench
with tuck and roll inserts and smooth bolsters that curves neatly
into the body styling and allows for the top to hide behind it. For
the dash a big curved overhanging cowl in padded white vinyl for
the topper, and more machined aluminum and a litany of round gauges
and chrome bezel black knobs and pulls. A town and country radio is
neatly installed and as we gaze across this big padded curved top
dash we can note temp, fan controls, and a nearly hidden glove box,
but the deeply inset keyhole gives it away. A metal lower dash also
in painted white and some white kick side panels contrasted by
black carpet, and original steering wheel clean as a whistle, and
you will be left awestruck..Bee-uitfuhl!
Drivetrain
A flip of the front hinged hood and more bling with some sting with
312 cubes of "Y" block power. Painted a beautiful red, shoehorned
into a totally restored engine bay, and some "G" code bigger heads
now strapped on and topped with cast and ribbed polished winged
valve covers. On top is a 4-barrel carb and on back a 3-speed
Ford-O-Matic tranny. The rear axle takes the brunt of this power
with a 9-inch sporting 3.10 gears. Just wonderful underneath this
scooped hood. Noted is a chromed "spaceship" styled air cleaner
covering floating over the 4 BBLs. Ver-uuuuhmmmm!
Undercarriage
Showing nicely and original, rust free X framing and floor pans,
reworked suspension which is independent coil springs for the
front, and leaf springs on the back, and they look used but in good
condition. Power drum brakes are on all 4 corners, and a solid
exhaust system is now on. Yeeeowww-za!
Drive-Ability
She fired right up with a low rumble, and it was off to the test
track with a snap back of my neck. Those 4 barrels kicked right in,
and I was quickly transported to performance heaven. Great handler,
smooth shifter, quick bias free stopping with those drums, and all
was functioning awesomely.
1957 never looked so good with this beautifully restored and cared
for Bird. Very few criticisms for this car where a nice job has
been performed everywhere, even underneath. If you are in the
market for a classic bird, or just want to get your wife on board
to help clean out the other side of your garage, you need to see
this spectacle of Ford design in its last year of the two-seater
until Y2K. Ripe for the picking!
VIN DECODE
D7FH390865
D-312ci V8 4bbl 245hp
7-1957
F-Dearborn, MI Assy Plant
H-Thunderbird
390865-Sequential Unit Number
WARRANTY TAG
BODY 40-Thunderbird
COLOR EE-Colonial White
TRIM XA-Black & White
DATE 23W-September 23rd
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
