1957 Ford Thunderbird E-Bird

Description

A 1957 Ford Thunderbird dressed in beautiful Inca Gold and carrying its iconic porthole hardtop is a true standard in classic elegance. So it would be one of the last ones out there that people would think could also blow their doors off everyone else. That's the beauty of being also being a rare E-code car with the correct 312 V8 with dual four-barrels under the hood.

When you have a rare T-bird like this, it's always great to see plenty invested in its restoration. But since it's a '57, you always have to remember to be a bit more subtle. For example, the factory-correct Inca Gold paint needs to be just right. Gone are the days of overly bright pastels like Goldenrod, and instead this one was given a thorough professional respray during restoration so that it has the kind of sophisticated glow that adds distinction through elegance. The same goes for all the brightwork. The '57 still love chrome, but they do it in a different way. They trade in some of the ornamentation for smoother lines. This is seen on the front where the chrome bumper incorporates the bullet-nose design into a swoopy one-piece unit. It does the same in the rear where the curvaceous single piece hugs the body lines, while it arguably does the best job of integrating the dual exhaust within its mirror-like chrome. And a car that's restored to this level is about more than just all the intricate brightwork that's correct. You love seeing the jet-inspired taillights, fender skirts, and how the both the folding roof and the iconic porthole hardtop match the whitewall tires and factory wheel covers to give this a subtle two-tone effect when a roof is in place.

The idea of how pristine this car is can best be seen when you open the door. You'll really love showing off the recently restored Colonial White interior, especially how the seats, door panels, and dash almost look and feel like you're picking this up from the dealer in '57. And best of all, since the fresh carpets are black, you can hop into this pristine white machine on a whim without worrying about having to take off your shoes. When you slip behind the white and chrome steering wheel, it truly feels like a special machine. While this is Ford's personal luxury car, the Thunderbird was getting serious about competing with the Corvette with its full gauge package, including a tachometer. It's all displayed in an engine-turned panel that flows across both doors and the dash. This frames many of the intricate styling touches such as logo embossed side panels.

As amazing as this T-bird's exterior and interior look, you'd expect only the best in the engine bay, too. It has been restored and maintained to appear just as it did when this convertible left the Dearborn factory 60 years ago. As a matter of fact, this E-Bird won a gold medal in judging with Classic Thunderbird Club International. Everything is in place from the reproduction battery, to the Thunderbird valve covers from the optional appearance package. And of course you've noticed that distinctive air cleaner by now. That's the sign of the dual four-barrel carburetors of the rare E-code 312 cubic-inch V8. This performance upgrade gave the Thunderbird the ability to run with the Corvettes, but that's not why you buy this car. This was Ford's personal luxury vehicle. A '57 T-bird is about having the confidence to outmuscle lesser classics, but the maturity to enjoy the leisure that power steering, an automatic transmission, and a supple/relaxed suspension provides.

Complete with dealer invoice, if you know the difference between a car show and a concours, then you know how this one stacks up against other Thunderbirds. If you're looking for a cut above, call today.

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