Description
Ford Thunderbird | 1957
Highlights:
– 5.1-litre (312 cui) V8 petrol engine, automatic transmission
– Original D-code 312 V8, confirmed by the “D” prefix in the chassis number
– Comes with both the factory soft top and the optional removable hardtop
– Described by the seller as a rare colour combination
– Canadian import documentation, with duties and taxes reportedly paid
The seller offers for sale this 1957 Ford Thunderbird, powered by a 5.1-litre V8 engine, paired with an automatic transmission. The chassis number confirms this to be an original D-code car, fitted from the factory with the 312-cubic-inch V8 and single four-barrel carburettor. The car is offered with both the fabric soft top and the optional removable hardtop, and the seller describes the colour combination as rare. It is reported to be tidy underneath, with some crazing visible in the paintwork here and there.
The two-seat Thunderbird was introduced for 1955 as Ford’s answer to the Chevrolet Corvette, though it was pitched less as an out-and-out sports car and more as what Ford itself called a “personal car”, combining V8 performance with open-top style and comfort. 1957 was the final year of this original two-seat generation before Ford moved to the larger, four-seat “Squarebird” for 1958, and thanks to a delayed launch of that successor, the 1957 model enjoyed an extended sales run that made it the best-selling year of the two-seater era, with 21,380 cars built. That year brought a facelift with a reshaped front bumper, a larger grille and tailfins, bigger tail-lights, and a trunk redesigned to take the spare wheel internally. Buyers could choose from four engine options identified by a factory letter code: the base C-code 292, the D-code 312 offered here, the twin-carburettor E-code, and the rare supercharged F-code built in small numbers for racing homologation.
Among these, the D-code 312 was the most popular choice for 1957 buyers, offering a genuine step up in performance over the base engine without the added complexity of the twin-carburettor E-code or the scarcity of the supercharged F-code. Combined with the presence of both its original tops, this Thunderbird offers a usable, well-documented way into one of the defining American personal cars of the 1950s.
Condition of the bodywork & paint
2 — Fair. Noticeable wear and aging; drives but has issues.
Condition of the interior
3 — Good. Bodywork or mechanical repairs needed; drives.
Technical condition
3 — Good. Bodywork or mechanical repairs needed; drives.
Overall condition
3 — Good. Bodywork or mechanical repairs needed; drives.
This item is sold on an as-is basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and descriptions of the listing are for information purposes only.
