1957 Ford Thunderbird D Code

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE 

Does any automobile define the 1950s better than the two-seat Thunderbird? And does any color reflect Fifties culture better than Ford's Coral Sand? 

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.” In 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. This was paired with a wider selection of V8 power plants. No wonder the 1957 Thunderbird was the most popular of the two-seaters. 

Offered from The Peters Family Collection, this 1957 Thunderbird is powered by the “D-Code” 245-horsepower version of Ford’s 312-cubic inch V8, which is mated to a rare three-speed manual with overdrive. It received a frame-off rotisserie restoration performed by renowned Thunderbird restorer Carnie Reynolds under prior ownership, then earned CTCI Gold with 289 points on the Classis Thunderbird Club International’s 300-point judging system. Coral Sand paint, Colonial vinyl interior, and Kelsey Hayes wire wheels — the Fifties await. 

Highlights 

• Offered from The Peters Family Collection 

• The final, most popular year of “Baby Bird” generation 

• D-Code 245 horsepower single four-barrel 312 cu-in V8 

• Rare three-speed manual with overdrive 

• Frame-off rotisserie restoration performed by renowned Thunderbird restorer Carnie Reynolds to CTCI concours restoration manual specifications 

• Judged CTCI Gold with 289 points on the Classis Thunderbird Club International 300-point system 

• People’s Choice award from Northern Ohio CTCI chapter 2006 

• Finished in Coral Sand paint 

• Colonial (white) vinyl interior and tan convertible top 

• Kelsey Hayes wire wheels 

• The chassis number (D7FH192380) decodes as: 

  • D – Engine code 

  • 7 – Model Year 1957 

  • F – Dearborn assembly plant 

  • H – Thunderbird 

  • 192380 – Sequential assembly number 

  • The body tag decodes as: 

  • 40 – Body Type 

  • Z – Coral Sand paint 

  • XK – Pleated Colonial vinyl interior 

  • 15 – Day of month 

  • A – January 

  • 13 – New York sales zone  

  • 0584P – Production code 

• Well-preserved since restoration, this 1957 Ford Thunderbird is offered with the five-digit odometer currently showing 331 miles at the time of cataloging, however, the true mileage is unknown 

Features 

• Removable body-color porthole hardtop  

• Ford Master Glide power steering

• Town & Country radio 

• Optional heater with defroster 

• Three-spoke steering wheel 

• Dual sun visors 

• Seat belts 

• Looped rayon carpets 

• Locking glovebox 

• Burtex trunk liner 

• Centered trunk antenna  

• Slanted tail fins 

• Radial white wall tires  

• Stainless steel exhaust  

• Stainless steel brake lines  

• Stainless steel vacuum lines  

• Stainless steel fuel lines 

 Known Imperfections 

• Two small paint chips on the end of the passenger’s side tail fin 

• Driver side rear leaf springs is slightly weak 

Included 

• Removable porthole hardtop 

• Original factory invoice 

• Set of four extra correct painted steel wheels with 7.50x14 bias-ply tires plus five extra painted correct steel wheels with new correct wheel covers. 

• Restoration photos in album 

• Spare keys 

• Correct spare tire and steel spare wheel with jack and lug wrench 

• Thunderbird handbooks, many magazines and books, new spare parts, awards, car cover 

Ownership History 

Sold new by Stevens Ford Inc., Milford, Connecticut, for $2970.61. Acquired from a Colorado enthusiast by The Peters Family Collection in January 2014  

Additional Notes 

A Broad Arrow Group Consignment Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle.  

Contact: Cason Vogel  Phone: 904.504.7848  email: cvogel@hagerty.com