Vehicle Description
To be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at Auctions America’s Auburn Fall event, September 1-4, 2016.
Chassis No.
F7FH394780
Estimate:
$175,000 - $225,000 US
Model year 1957 was the third and final year for the original two-passenger Ford Thunderbird. The Ford Thunderbird had done everything Ford envisioned for it to accomplish. It seized the opportunity of bringing customers into Ford showrooms; such were the emotions it evoked. Seeing it firsthand captured many hearts and desirability for ownership, it was one of the cars of the period that you wanted to own and be seen in. For others, seeing the daily impracticalities of a two-seater inspired them into another Ford model. Either way, the Ford Thunderbird was helping promote Ford sales.
Sales for 1955 surpassed predictions, and even though sales dropped off for 1956 slightly, that was due to a late introduction of the '56 cars it is commonly thought. Nineteen fifty-seven would be the third and final year for the original two-passenger Thunderbird, and some feel it was the best one yet. In 1958, the Thunderbird would grow to accommodate four passengers. In 1967, it would introduce the first four-door “personal luxury car.” In 1968, a standard front bench seat allowed for six passengers for the first time ever.
In 1957, Ford celebrated its Silver Anniversary of V-8 leadership with their widest engine choice ever, from the basic 272-cid, 190-hp Ford V-8 to the extra-high performance special 300-hp Thunderbird 312-cid supercharged V-8. The supercharged version of the 1957 Thunderbird is the rarest.
Ford Motor Company was looking for a method of increasing the performance of their racing engines as part of their long running NASCAR clash with Chevrolet. With the Rochester Fuel Injection impending for GM, Fords prospects looked less positive for 1957 and looked at all options. Ford decided to use the Paxton-McCulloch supercharger for NASCAR, and after evaluation decided that the type VR57 fitted its need. NASCAR stipulated that a minimum of 50 powerplants had to be manufactured to the racing specification before the engine was allowed to race. The first 15 production supercharged Thunderbirds were reportedly built in January 1957 to homologate the engine for NASCAR competition.
Ford also introduced the supercharger as a $500 factory option on passenger cars and Thunderbirds in 1957. The production F-Code supercharged cars were slightly modified in design to the competition engines with longevity primarily in mind. The 1957 Ford Thunderbird, like all two-seat Thunderbirds, is among the most collectible of the genre. And the ’57 T-bird equipped with a supercharger as a factory option (such as this car), is one of the hottest performers and is commonly recognized as heading the list of classic Thunderbirds.
From Ford’s total 1957 Series 40 Thunderbird production of 21,380 vehicles, only 208 were ordered with the fabulous F-Code unit. This particular Thunderbird F-Code was built on November 9, 1957 and originally cost $3,788.79. It is reported as being “re-restored” in 2011 to extremely high standards and has been driven only 10 since the time of its completion. The Ford is shown to have appeared (and winning) show awards through the 1990s and as late as 2009 from its 1994 restoration. The re-restoration is a demonstration of the commitment that the owner (for nearly 20 years) has in keeping this very rare car in the exclusive class it is so deserving of.
The “F-Bird” is precise throughout and is finished in Raven Black (code A) with the removable “porthole” hardtop finished in the same tone; the interior looks spectacular in contrast by being Red Vinyl (code XH). Along with the esteemed 312-cid, 300-hp F-Code Supercharged V-8 engine, this machine it fitted with the Fordomatic three-speed automatic transmission with floor-shift (code PBA-E), Dial-O-Matic four-way power seat, tinted glass, signal seeking radio, back-up lights, whitewall tires, factory hubcaps; power steering, brakes and windows.
Factory literature in 1957 forwarded the idea that Ford Thunderbird ownership was “strictly personal” and offering “many rewards.” Strictly personal rewards await those at the wheel of this precision instrument who treat driving rare devices as an art.
Among its listed awards are the following:
AACA Class / Car #36d / 12361
June 1990: Bloomington Gold “Special Collection”
December 5, 1999: Best of Show – Postwar; Ocean Reef Concours Vintage Weekend
October 9, 1999: AACA National 2nd Junior – Hershey, Pennsylvania
March 4, 2000: AACA National 1st Junior – Pompano Beach, Florida
May 20, 2000: AACA National Senior – Winchester, Virginia
August 18, 2001: AACA Grand National 1st Junior – Moline, Illinois
September 29, 2005: Grand National Senior – Northglenn, Colorado
August 19, 2009: CTCI National Concours Silver (269 points out of 300) – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
