Vehicle Description
Except for perhaps the 1959 Cadillac, there's no better
representative of the flashy '50s than the 1957 Ford Thunderbird.
Since pastel colors look best on cars with fins, this one looks
period perfect with a coat of Dusk Rose paint and the result is
nothing short of jaw-dropping. The ultimate '50s icon? I'll let you
decide.
The door tag says this is one of those rare original code X Dusk
Rose cars, so when it was freshened a few years ago, there was no
hesitation in returning it to its original color. Finding one of
these that were originally that color can be a challenge, but it
pays off with a car that will stand out in a big way among all the
black, red, and white T-Birds at all the shows. The bodywork is
certainly worthy of the high-visibility hue, with decent gaps and
tight fits throughout, and zero evidence that this was anything but
a clean, southern Thunderbird. It's now showing some use and age,
but that's not a sin because Thunderbirds remain cars that are best
experienced out on the open road. There's plenty of chrome on this
T-Bird, too, with lovely faux-turquoise inlays on the emblems, and
taillights that really pop against the pink paint. Sure, there's a
little bit of wear and tear, but even so, this 'Bird is more than
just pretty, it's STUNNING going down the road.
The car also received elegant black and white upholstery, which
provides a great compliment to the exterior finish. The seat has a
correct two-tone cover with horizontal pleats, the carpets look
recent, and the door panels are in good shape and continue the
black and white theme. Long-time readers will know we love the
gorgeous details you find inside 2-seat Thunderbirds, things like
the engine-turned panels on the doors and gauge cluster, the
beautiful steering wheel with horn ring, and a simplicity of design
that isn't trying too hard. It doesn't seem to have any
modifications from stock, including the factory gauges that are in
good original condition and an AM radio in the dash. When you
bought your new Thunderbird in 1957, you could have either a
hardtop or soft top at no charge, but getting both was extra, so
after splurging on the pink paint, the original buyer called it
quits and settled for just the hardtop, which we think is a smart
choice. Check the trunk and you'll find a correct mat and a spare
tire assembly with jack.
The 312 cubic inch Y-block V8 looks great and runs superbly. The
list of new components is pretty extensive, including a new
aluminum radiator up front to keep things cool under the harshest
conditions. It spins to life quickly thanks to 12-volt electrics,
which arrived in 1956, and the Holley 4-barrel carburetor is
properly tuned, so it settles into an even idle and pulls the car
around with enthusiasm. It wears a proper dress-up kit, which was
usually dealer-installed, and it looks great against the bright
Ford Red engine enamel. It's also nice to see power steering and
power brakes, which make this T-Bird easy to drive for anyone. The
undercarriage is very tidy, with satin black paint, a new exhaust
system, and easy cruising 3.00 gears in the rear end, so this 'Bird
is happy just about anywhere. Gorgeous chrome wire wheels now wear
205/75/14 wide whitewall radials, but until you're behind the
wheel, nobody will ever know.
Beautiful and rare, this is a very pretty Thunderbird that neatly
straddles great to drive and great to show. Call today!