I don’t know if it’s true anymore, but at one time the 1957 T-Bird was a candidate for America’s collector car Mt. Rushmore, if there were such a thing. The Baby Bird is still a hot commodity, although values have cooled to some extent, barring the E- and F-Codes of the world. Nevertheless, when I see a clean-looking two-seater with a $16,500 or best price tag, I’m going to take a look; I’m only human. Why so low? This eBay listing from Illinois has some good news and bad news, and your reaction to the bad is relative to your expectations.
Most people prefer to rip off the bandage and know the worst; after all, it’s the anticipation that kills you. Here it is, rust and bad bodywork. The seller honestly (way to go, seller!) describes the car as having a crummy paint job over a lot of filler. The inner rockers and body-mount crossmembers need some work. The tachometer, radio, and heater blower don’t function. The clutch needs an adjustment. This is all bad news, but it depends on your perspective; perfectionists will run away, and that’s fully understandable.
But what if you’ve always wanted a ’57 T-Bird, but have more talent and tools than money. The inner rockers and crossmembers are on the “must-do” list, in my opinion, and they just need to be solid; they don’t need to be beautiful. Any reasonable welder with a slab of sheetmetal can make it solid again. The good news is that it has a nice interior and a three-speed manual transmission, which is fun in a sporting car like a T-Bird.
The engine is the base 292 Y-Block with 212 horsepower, and the engine compartment is nicely detailed (especially for a driver). The radiator looks fresh and there’s an alternator conversion under the hood, which is not strictly necessary but not a bad idea.
To wrap up the good news department, it’s painted white, so people won’t notice the bad paint and bodywork until they’re right on top of it. Those “portawalls” will have to go, but the porthole top stays. It’s clear that this car is not for everyone, and a lot of people will be scared off by the pictures of the undercarriage, and that’s almost certainly why it’s still for sale. But there are certainly some car fans out there who don’t mind a little cutting and fabricating, knowing that there efforts will never win any awards but they’ll have a fun driver for their efforts.
From what I can gather by reading the text, the seller bought this car a year ago, having long appreciated ’57 T-Birds from afar. Maybe it’s a bit more of a project than they bargained for, and we’ve all been there. What’s a good “best offer” number for this T-Bird that’s looking for a home?
My comment is the same as it was last year: Get the price down to compensate for the metal repair and get rid of the Portawalls and put some decent tires on it. Got to be better cars around for the same price or less.
My lordy, it IS absolutely full of mud.
Never, ever buy a classic car, sight unseen. This car is a lesson in the reason why.
Always wanted a 57 Bird. This one is going to need some work but as it sits you can enjoy it now and then plot your restoration. Does it need work? Yep, but for the right price could be a good buy. I’m trying to be optimistic.
‘Plot’? Eh? Talk about needing to get to the rust! I’m an amateur in restoration-land, and this thing looks like the easiest thing to do is separate the body from the frame and start cutting and welding after media blasting the undersides. Lord knows what will show up and how much disassembly topside will need to be done. Amateurs need not apply. And bring money.
This was just on BF on December 10th, my comments are the same.
https://barnfinds.com/no-reserve-1957-ford-thunderbird-3/
It must have been 54 or 55, and my grandfather and I went to a new car show at San Francisco’s Cow Palace. The T-Bird, the Corvette and the Kaiser Darrin were all on display.
My mom was dating a stuntman/actor named Jack Williams. He was known for High Chaparral. He was driving a Willys and that didn’t rank him very high in my opinion. But then one day he must have gotten some money from a movie and he showed up in a white T-Bird and he immediately went to the top of my list. My mother’s cousin was visiting us and the two 35 year old woman had smiles on their faces as they drove off in the Bird.
A few years later I was waiting for the bus and one of the fathers, driving a T-Bird stopped and offered me a ride. His son was in the middle.That was my only ride in a 2 seater Bird, although later I would take my driving test in a powder blue 59.
At school one of the guys drove a candy apple Green 57 with a 348 Chevy.
A year or two ago I was at the Audrain museum in Newport, Rhode Island. And there was a blue 57 on display. I said something to a man that worked there about the “57.” And he asked me how I knew it was a 57? Please@
I’ve always liked them, but I’ve only owned Corvettes. Right now, my dad’s 340hp 62
We had one of these mudBuggies at the bodyshop I worked in during highschool,the old dudes there thought that it was “ FAST” that 312 y block was a total disappointment to a 17 year old gear head like me as I was daily driving a 1970 Roadrunner with a 375 hosspower 440 , my boss was also a gearhead and told me about him and his friends buying a couple of theese in the early 70s dirt cheap with connecting rods hanging out of the blocks and installing 392 Chrysler hemis in them really waking them up .Thanks for the memories Jack
Back in the 70’s there was a actress named Valarie Harper who played Rhoda on TV. Ms. Harper had a sister who lived in North Seattle whose son was best friends with my nephew. So then one day ms. Harper, and her sister show up at my brothers house to pick up her nephew who was visiting my nephew. She was driving a bright red 57 T-Bird. She took her nephew to Hollywood with her and he got to be on her show. He told me later they paid him $50. For the day.
God Bless America
The seller should be commended for their honest description of the car. I hope that their candor is rewarded with a sale and the buyer can make the necessary repairs to preserve the old bird.
Only if there’s a serious revision to the price….
I’ve often wondered why “baby birds” don’t bring more money than they do, but no matter what the answer to that may be, the reality is that they do not bring good money. This one is priced where a pretty nice one would be at, and this isn’t a “pretty nice one”.
I’d like this T bird for 10k – I’ve never seen a, what must be a base model with a 292 & 2 barrel carb and stick shift. Will take some work to bring the body up tp snuff but could be a nice car if you could do some of the work yourself it would be worth it to me.
Only if there’s a serious revision to the price….
Ain’t no shade tree mechanic is going to be doing the work this one needs. Serious prep, body off the frame, reinforced and aligned, please, and a whole lot of sheet metal fabrication.
Dunno. Compared to the numb slushboxes of automatic transmissions of the Fifties, I regard the 3-speed floor shift to be a serious advantage.
I tried and tried to get my dad to let me buy a running, driving rust bucket 56, had the porthole top and a continental kit, baby blue. I was 16 at the time (1968) He flat out said no, without even seeing it. Price? $75. It belonged to a friend of mine’s brother. My dad likely saved me a lot of money, maybe even my life!