1957 Ford Thunderbird

Featured and up For sale in our Orlando Florida Showroom is a 1957 Ford Thunderbird. The Thunderbird created a market niche that eventually became known as the personal luxury car. The Ford Thunderbird began life in February 1953 in direct response to Chevrolet's new sports car, the Corvette, which was publicly unveiled in prototype form just a month before. Under rapid development, the Thunderbird went from idea to prototype in about a year, being unveiled to the public at the Detroit Auto Show on February 20, 1954. It was a two-seat design available with a detachable glass-fiber hard top and a folding fabric top. Production of the Thunderbird began later on in 1954 on September 9 with the car beginning sales as a 1955 model on October 22, 1954. Though sharing some design characteristics with other Fords of the time, such as single, circular headlamps and tail lamps and modest tailfins, the Thunderbird was sleeker and more athletic in shape, and had features like a hood scoop and a 150 mph speedometer hinting a higher performance nature that other Fords didn't possess. This 1957 Thunderbird has Deep Mahogany with a contrasting buckskin leather interior. This car is a very nice high driver quality car from California .... numbers matching, no rust ever, having undergone a complete professional , frame-off ,nut and bolt restoration in the 90's and been in the hands of collectors since then. A complete pro engine and transmission overhaul was done in 2003 about 4000 miles ago. The car is mechanically without issues and runs reliably and smoothly. Although care was taken to restore this car as stock, certain changes were made to enhance it's looks and drivability: front disc brakes added for safety interior changed from vinyl to buckskin leather and suede, stainless steel exhaust system, electronic distributor, hardened valve guides, etc, to allow use of unleaded fuel. The car does not smoke or use oil.,suspension and steering are good but could be greatly improved by changing from the existing bias ply tires to more modern radials.,original signal seeking AM radio (in trunk) replaced with AMFM cassette. If your looking for a 1950s Thunderbird that has been loved and well cared for this is the one. This 1957 Ford Thunderbird for sale is located in our Orlando Florida Showroom and can be seen in greater detail, including a High Def video at www.GatewayClassicCars.com. Please call 407-771-2000 or email us at for additional information. See more at : www.gatewayclassiccars.com/orlando/1957/ford/thunderbird-S964.html