Vehicle Description
1957 Ford Thunderbird Roadster
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 in the form of 312ci of V8 power, but
the venerable 292ci V8, no slouch in and of itself, was still
available. Both the hard and soft tops, fender skirts, a photo
album of the build 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, then take the option of putting the fender
skirts on for class or keep it sporty with them off, a wrap around
windshield, and some chromed trimmings, you have this car. All
straight steel bathed in Colonial White paint showing very well but
not without a few inclusions, bubbles and spider cracks, works with
mirror like chrome bumpers, egg crate grille, and for the rear in
bumper exhaust ports, this car screams steel sex. A black canvas
convertible top is underneath the white porthole fiberglass hardtop
and presents as very clean and but does have 2 pinhole wear marks
and a fogged 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 14-inch Kelsey Hayes chrome wire wheels
wrapped in wide whites. Suhhh-weeeet!
Interior
Swing the door and be met with slightly yellowed 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
ribbed white vinyl for the topper, and more machined aluminum and a
litany of round gauges and chrome bezel black knobs and pulls. An
aftermarket JVC AM/FM/Cassette stereo 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
292 cubes of "Y" block power. Painted a beautiful red, shoehorned
into a totally restored engine bay, and topped with cast and ribbed
polished winged valve covers. On top is a 2-barrel carb and on back
a 3-speed manual tranny. The rear axle takes the brunt of this
power with a 9-inch sporting 3.70 gears. Just wonderful underneath
this scooped hood. Noted is a chromed "spaceship" styled air
cleaner covering floating over the 2bbl. Ver-uuuuhmmmm!
Undercarriage
Showing nicely and original, a black rust free X framing supports
the Colonial White 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 steering is
noted, drum brakes are on all 4 corners, and a solid dual exhaust
system with stock style mufflers and resonators 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 2 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. A few criticisms for this car, but mostly those that come
with an aged restoration, 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
C7FH394974
C-292ci V8 2bbl 212hp
7-1957
F-Dearborn, MI Assy Plant
H-Thunderbird
394974-Sequential Unit Number
WARRANTY TAG
BODY 40-Thunderbird
COLOR EE-Colonial White
TRIM XK Colonial White
DATE 13Y-November 13th Build
TRANS 1-3 Speed Manual
AXLE 2-3.70 Conventional
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 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.