This 1957 Ford Thunderbird was purchased by the owner in 1993 and subsequently refurbished with work including a repaint in white. Power is provided by a 312ci V8 paired with a three-speed Fordomatic automatic transmission, and equipment includes a removable hardtop with porthole windows as well as power-assisted brakes, power steering, a power-adjustable bench seat, a heater, an aftermarket AM/FM/cassette stereo, power windows, chrome bumpers, and parking lights. This Thunderbird is now offered by the seller on behalf of the owner with a clean California title in the owner’s name.
The car was reportedly refinished in white during the 1993 refurbishment, and equipment includes a body-color removable hardtop with porthole windows, chrome front and rear bumpers, fender vents, bumper-mounted auxiliary parking lights, a fixed antenna, and slanted tail fins. The reverse lights do not work, and paint chips are pictured in the gallery along with bubbles on the cowl and near the right-rear wheel well.
The 14″ steel wheels wear turbine covers and are mounted with older 205/70 Michelin Radial tires. Stopping power is supplied by power-assisted drum brakes at each corner.
The cabin features a power-adjustable bench seat upholstered in red vinyl accompanied by a color-coordinated dashboard and door panels. Equipment includes a heater, an aftermarket AM/FM/cassette radio, a floor-mounted shifter, power windows, and aftermarket lap belts. The seller notes that the power-adjustable seat does not work. Photos depicting corrosion on the floor pans are included in the gallery below.
The three-spoke steering wheel frames a centrally mounted 140-mph speedometer, a tachometer, an analog clock, and gauges for coolant temperature and fuel level. The five-digit odometer indicates 65k miles, approximately 1,100 of which were added under current ownership.
The D-code 312ci Y-block V8 is topped with a four-barrel carburetor and was factory rated at 245 horsepower. The engine was last serviced in 2021 according to the seller.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a Fordomatic three-speed automatic transmission. The seller states that the transmission was re-sealed in the 1990s.
Decoding the serial number and data plate reveals the following production information:
- D – 312ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor
- 7 – 1957 model year
- F – Dearborn, Michigan, assembly plant
- 330743 – Consecutive unit number
- Body 40 – Thunderbird convertible
- Color EE – Colonial White paint
- Trim XH – Pleated Flame vinyl trim
- Date 11 G – July 11th build date
- Trans 3 – Fordomatic automatic transmission
- Axle 1 – 3.10:1 axle ratio
The car is titled by the serial number D7F330743, which omits the typical “H” in the fourth position for a 1957 Thunderbird.