Vehicle Description
Cruisin Classics is pleased to present this 1957 Ford Thunderbird.
This Flame Red "baby-bird" comes to us with its original sales
invoice, bill of sale, service policy, and dealer packet - all
still in great condition! Additional documents tell us that the
original owner (a Kentucky resident) left the car to his children
when he passed in 1983 and in 1991 the car was sold by a dealership
here in Columbus Ohio to a local resident who kept the car for the
next 33 years. Just before this T-Bird came to us it had a lot of
work done to prepare it for the next owner including a carburetor
rebuild, new valve cover gaskets, oil pan gasket, rear main seal,
oil pump gasket, oil sending unit, oil line, drain plug and gasket,
new power steering pump (plus cylinder control valve), idler arm,
rear pinion seal, and new wheel bearings. According to the VIN and
trim tag, this car presents the same today as it did when new with
a 312 V-8, a 4-barrel carburetor, Flame Red body with White
hardtop, and pleated Flame Red vinyl interior. Let's dig a little
deeper into this cool '57 T-Bird...
This Thunderbird has been resprayed in its original color at some
point in its life and the paint is currently in driver-quality
condition. Up front you'll find a hood scoop with a chrome vent,
single round headlights, a chrome grill, and a bright chrome bumper
with integrated turn signals. Bright trim continues with window
surrounds, side mirror, door handles, fender badges, and fender
skirt trim. Both fenders feature air intake doors that are
controlled from inside the car. At some point in the 67 year life
of this T-Bird, someone affixed a medallion to each door of the car
using 2 tiny metal screws each. We do not know the meaning of the
medallions and we did not try to remove them, as there will be
screw holes left in the doors. This Bird comes with two tops - a
white hardtop with porthole windows and a black soft-top - both in
good condition. Having both tops is highly desirable for these
cars, especially in different colors The wheel and tire combination
is a perfect complement to the car - red painted steel wheels with
correct Ford hubcaps all wrapped in BF Goodrich Silvertown white
wall bias-ply tires. Around back you'll find the iconic fins and
large round taillights that make these cars so recognizable from
behind. There's also another bright chrome bumper, this one with
dual exhaust exits running through it on each corner.
Open the forward-lifting hood to find a bright red 5.1 liter
Y-block 312ci V-8 that we suspect is original to the car. The
engine is topped with finned "Thunderbird" logo valve covers, a
stock-looking intake, a Holley 4-barrel carburetor, and an
OEM-correct chrome air cleaner with cork gasket. The Ford V-8 is
mated up to a 3-speed manual transmission with a factory overdrive
pull-switch mounted under the dash. While under the hood you'll
also notice the newer power steering parts, a modern distributor,
and cast exhaust manifolds. Stopping power is provided by 4-wheel
manual drum brakes with a single reservoir.
When you open the drivers door a courtesy light on the dash comes
on to illuminate a very stock-looking red interior with aftermarket
underdash gauges being the only non-OEM feature. The door panels
have crank windows, armrests, and eye-catching engine-turned
aluminum panels that flow onto the dash where they serve as a
backdrop for the gauges and instruments. The red vinyl bench seat
is wrapped in a protective plastic covering that is decorated with
tiny gold stars and has yellowed with age. It is likely that the
seat is original to the car and this plastic saved it over these
many years. Ahead of the driver is an OEM red steering wheel with a
bright working horn ring and a chrome-accented column. The steering
wheel perfectly frames a curved gauge pod that includes a
tachometer, speedometer, gas gauge, temp gauge, and clock (inop.).
The odometer shows only 49,517 miles and the title confirms those
miles to be actual. To the right of the gauges are the original AM
Radio (inop.) and the heat and fan controls. Ahead of the passenger
is a glovebox that contains some service receipts and a
reproduction owners manual. Atop the dash is a crack-free red vinyl
dash pad and underneath are pull levers for the hood release and
overdrive as well as a set of SW gauges for amps, oil pressure, and
oil temp. Floors are dressed in red carpet with red rubber
"Thunderbird" floormats on each side. Rising up from the center of
the floor is a shifter with a black knob for the 3-speed manual
transmission. Around back in the trunk you'll see a plaid mat, a BF
Goodrich Silvertown white-wall spare with factory jack, and a box
with a few extra parts.
If you're looking for a classic 2-seater convertible that won't
break the bank then give this 57 Thunderbird a serious look. It's
got a peppy V-8 with a manual transmission, a hardtop and soft-top,
lots of original documentation, and an iconic look that still turns
heads today! Adding to the appeal is the $7K in recent service work
to make sure that this baby-bird is ready for its new owner! Don't
let this one get away - give our friendly staff a call today.
ENGINE
5.1liter 312ci Y-Block V-8
Finned Thunderbird Logo Valve Covers
OEM-Style Intake
Holley 4-Barrel Carburetor
OEM-Correct Chrome Air Cleaner
Power Steering
Dual Exhaust
TRANSMISSION
3-Speed Manual with Overdrive
Floor Shift
Rear-Wheel Drive
BRAKES
4-Wheel Drum Brakes
Single Reservoir
EXTERIOR
Flame Red Paint
Good Quality Brightwork
White Hardtop with Porthole Window
Black Soft-Top
Fender Skirts
Through-Bumper Exhaust
Red Steel Wheels with Ford Hubcaps
BF Goodrich Silvertown White-Wall Bias-Ply Tires
INTERIOR
Very Original Flame Red Interior
Red Vinyl Bench Seat with Plastic Protective Cover
OEM Door Panels with Manual Windows
Engine-Turned Aluminum Gauge and Instrument Bezel and Door
Panels
Working Factory Gauges Including Tachometer
Under-Dash SW Gauges
OEM Steering Wheel with Working Horn Ring
Working Wipers
Working Heater and Fan
Original AM Radio (inop.)
Crack-Free Red Vinyl Dash Pad
Glovebox with Service Receipts and Reproduction Owners Manual
Original Invoice, Bill of Sale, and Chain-of-Ownership
Documents
Matching Spare with Factory Jack
If you have any additional questions, please call one of our
friendly sales staff. We will be glad to help in any way with
questions on financing, shipping the vehicle, or perhaps an
interest in our sell-your-car brokerage program. We've been in
business since 1996 and have sold cars all over the world and we
insist on giving the best personal service in the industry.
The sale is subject to the following conditions and
representations. This vehicle is being sold as-is, where-is with no
warranty in connection therewith. The seller shall not be
responsible for the correct description, authenticity, genuineness,
or defects herein, and make no warranty in connection therewith. No
allowances or set aside will be made on account of any
incorrectness, imperfection, defect, or damage. Any descriptions or
representations are for identification purposes only and are not to
be construed as a warranty of any type. It is the responsibility of
the buyer to have thoroughly inspected the vehicle and to have
satisfied oneself as to the condition and value based upon that
judgment solely. The seller assumes no responsibility for any
repairs regardless of any oral statements about the vehicle.
Thank you from all of us at Cruisin Classics.
