1957 Ford Thunderbird

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

Ford referred to the 1955–57 Thunderbird as “the brainchild of two men,” Louis D. Crusoe and George Walker, who first sold the Blue Oval on the idea of a “true Ford sports car.” For 1957, the final year of the sleek “Baby Bird” generation, Franklin Q. Hershey’s striking T-Bird body received a redesigned front fascia, along with more pronounced rear fins to accentuate the curb appeal of this classic sports car, and the spare tire was moved back into the trunk.  

Engine options included the base 292 cubic-inch V8 and 312 cu-in V8 in 245- and 270-horsepower variants, a Racing Kit 285-hp version with twin four-barrel Holley carburetors, and a supercharged, 300-hp V8. Transmission options included a three-speed manual, three-speed with overdrive, and a Ford-O-Matic automatic. Ford sold 21,380 examples of the 1957 Thunderbird before it was replaced by a larger, more spacious Thunderbird in 1958, leading to the first-generation cars being referred to as “Baby Birds.” 

This two-owner ’57 Thunderbird has spent most of its life in the milder climates of Southern California and Central Arizona but also in Washington State, where it was kept in climate-controlled storage. It was restored in the early 1990s by its original owner. 

Highlights 

• Finished in Colonial White paint over red interior 

• Powered by a D-Code 312 cu-in V8 engine rated at 245 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque 

• Ordered with removable porthole hardtop but no soft top (common with Southern California T-Birds) 

• Original interior

• Factory options include: 

  • Fordomatic three-speed automatic transmission 

  • Engine dress-up kit 

  • Fender skirts 

  • Positive Action wipers (working) 

  • Power steering 

  • Volumatic (“Town and Country”) signal-seeking radio 

  • Full wheel covers 

  • Tinted windshield 

  • Padded dash 

  • Padded sun visors 

  • Heater and defrost (working)  

• The Data Plate decodes as: 

  • 40 – Body Type (Thunderbird) 

  • EE – Colonial White paint 

  • XH – Pleated Flame Red vinyl interior 

  • 13 – Day of month 

  • B – February 

  • 71 – Los Angeles sales zone  

  • 1781P – Production code

• The chassis number (D7FH220580) decodes as: 

  • D – 312 cu-in V8 four-barrel carburetor 

  • 7 – 1957 model year 

  • F – Dearborn, Michigan, assembly plant 

  • H – Thunderbird 

  • 220580 – Sequential production number 

Features 

• Service/upgrades under current ownership during the last 1,300 miles (invoices totaling over $20,000): 

  • New weatherstripping for doors, top, hood, and decklid 

  • New aluminum exhaust system 

  • Replacement NOS original signal-seeking radio 

  • New park lamp assemblies 

  • New turn signal switch 

  • New brakes, including master cylinder, wheel cylinders, brake hoses, brake light switch, and brake hardware kit 

  • New aluminum radiator, thermostat, and coolant and heater hoses 

  • Valves adjusted and rear main seal, oil pump, and engine gaskets replaced 

  • Replaced rear axle bearings, pinion seal, and transmission selector shaft seals, and new rear end fluid added 

  • Overhauled front hubs, new wheel bearings 

  • Transmission service with new filter 

  • Rebuilt carburetor 

  • New fuel filter and hoses 

  • Replaced starter solenoid and Bendix drive 

  • Replaced fuel tank, new fuel sending unit 

  • New power steering return hose 

  • Quartz Retrofit clock 

  • New trunk lock cylinder 

  • Replaced hood release cable 

  • New Coker Classic 205/75R14 white wall tires (11/2020)

Known Imperfections 

• Some small paint imperfections, including several cracks in the upper portion of driver’s door near the front, and rear edge of window opening 

• Several marks on the original seat and original seat foam is beginning to dry out 

• Foam in padded sun visors is dry, and the driver's visor is torn 

• Some paint overspray on the original windlace in the door openings 

• Ding under driver’s side headlight 

• Ding in the stainless trim above the grille 

• Engine compartment has not been detailed 

• Some minor pitting in the interior windshield trim 

Included 

• Original porthole hardtop with rolling stand 

• Original spare tire with jack 

• Sales order dated February 18, 1957 

• Service records from 2017 

• Appraisal from 1991 

• Car cover 

• Two sets of keys 

• Vintage aftermarket horn installed under the hood 

Ownership History 

This 1957 Ford Thunderbird Coupe was sold new at Homer C. Thompson Ford in Santa Barbara, California. The current owners purchased the car from the original owner’s family on November 27, 2012, following his death earlier that year, and brought it to their winter home in Surprise, Arizona. An appraisal commissioned by the original owner in March 1991 noted, “Complete professional drivetrain rebuilt, new chrome, and just completed professional body and paint.” However, there are no records of this work. 

Additional Notes 

A Broad Arrow Auctions Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle. Broad Arrow Auctions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hagerty. 

Contact: Frank Malefors  Phone: 602-488-7888  Email: fmalefors@hagerty.com