1957 Ford Thunderbird

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

The 1957 Ford Thunderbird marked the final year of the first‑generation “Little Birds,” refining a design introduced in 1955 as Ford’s answer to rising interest in sporty personal cars. Originally conceived as a personal luxury roadster rather than a pure sports car, the Thunderbird emphasized style, comfort, and V8 performance.

For the ’57 model year, Ford updated the T-Bird with a longer rear end, more prominent tail fins, and improved cargo space, while offering multiple versions of the 312‑cubic-inch V8. The model continued to offer a removable fiberglass hardtop with an optional soft top.

This car was refreshed by a previous owner in 2005, reportedly including rebuilding the engine and transmission. Among the mechanical upgrades: an electronic parade fan, six-blade fan, alternator/generator conversion, Pertronix ignition, auxiliary electric fuel pump, and air conditioning. After the Thunderbird was stripped to bare metal, it was refinished in black Matrix single-stage urethane paint, the bright work was replaced or re-chromed, and the factory wheels were swapped for Roadmaster Kelsey Hayes wire wheels. Interior work is said to have included new bucket seats with pleated Red Flame vinyl upholstery and new door panels, carpet, dash pad, and an AM/FM radio.

This 1957 Ford Thunderbird is now offered at no reserve with a white convertible top, removable hard top and stand, service receipts, a shop manual, and a clean Florida title in the seller’s name.

Highlights

• 312ci V8 with four-barrel carburetor rated at 245 horsepower and 332 lb-ft. of torque

• Three-speed Fordomatic transmission

• Refinished in black paint over reupholstered Pleated Flame Red vinyl bucket seats

• Refinished black removable hardtop with porthole windows

• White convertible top

Factory Equipment

• Power steering, brakes, and windows

• Red steering wheel

• 140-mph speedometer, 5,000-rpm tachometer, and gauges for fuel and temperature

• The data plate decodes as:

  • Body: 40 – Thunderbird

  • Color: NN – Gunmetal Gray body and top (now Raven Black)

  • Trim: XH – Pleated Gray vinyl

  • Production code: 19G7120557 – Internal Ford scheduling number

• The chassis number (D7FH249168) decodes as:

  • D – 312ci V8 4bbl 245 hp

  • F – Dearborn (Michigan) assembly plant

  • H – Thunderbird 2-door convertible

  • 249168 – Sequential production number

Modifications

• Restoration (2005) by a previous owner reportedly included the following:

  • Bare metal application of black Matrix single-stage urethane paint

  • Replaced or re-chromed all bright work

  • Roadmaster Kelsey Hayes wire wheels

  • Rebuilt engine and transmission

  • Electronic parade fan

  • Six-blade fan

  • Alternator/generator conversion

  • Pertronix ignition

  • Auxiliary electric fuel pump

  • Air conditioning

  • Replaced and reupholstered seats

  • Installed seat belts

  • Replaced door panels, carpet, dash pad, and radio (now AM/FM)

Servicing

• Service under current ownership (2024-2025) includes:

  • New aluminum radiator

  • New water pump and thermostat

  • New rigid cooling fan

  • New brakes

  • Rebuilt brake booster

  • New gaskets and fluid

  • New steering components

  • New upper and lower ball joints

  • New front engine support

  • New front and rear shocks

  • New rear leaf spring bushings

  • New Diamond Back Classic wide whitewall tires (200 miles since new)

Documentation

• Service receipts from seller and previous owner accompany the sale

Known Imperfections

• Odometer is inoperable and reset to zero

• Weather stripping should be replaced

• Passenger door does not close flush, needs adjustment

• Suspension ball joints/bushings may need to be replaced (slight rattle noted)

• Rubber tube in air conditioner leaks

Ownership History

The seller of this 1957 Ford Thunderbird purchased it in September 2024.

Included Items

• Spare tire and scissor jacks

• Hard top stand

• New door weather stripping

• Battery trickle charger

• 1957 Ford Thunderbird Shop Manual

• Service receipts

Additional Information

The seller states, “The previous owner said the car had 57K miles when he bought it. When he did the restoration in 2005, he had the odometer set at zero, and said he put 20K on it, which brings it to 77K. I put around 200 on it, so estimating the total as 77,200."