Check out this clean, solid black ’57 Thunderbird that’s been garaged and in “HiBIRDnation” for the past 25 years. The seller is extremely brief in the ad and offers nothing in the areas of specs or explanations of why the ‘Bird was garaged in 2000 and hasn’t been started since. “Very clean car. Restored and was running and being driven and then garaged for ~25 years. It has not been started in over 25 years. Needs a gas tank and perhaps seals. Inside is in beautiful condition.” That’s all that’s included in the brief ad, just 37 words. I imagine there’s “a rest of the story” for readers old enough to remember radio broadcast legend, Paul Harvey.

Reviewing the photos, it appears to be a solid T-Bird and I don’t see any rust or accident damage. The Raven Black paint is glossy and presentable and the chrome, glass, trim, and lenses look to be in good shape. Although you could order the fiberglass removable hardtop in a variety of contrasting colors, the vast majority of Raven Black ’57’s seem to have been ordered with the matching black hardtop with porthole windows. It just makes for a cool, classy look. The period-correct whitewalls are a bit yellowed and the wheel covers are the standard full-sized Ford kind, not the sharp-looking turbine wheel covers that were a $12.75 option back in ’57. I’ll compliment the seller for including a photo of the T-Bird’s trunk. Many sellers do not include trunk photos in their listings and this ‘Bird has a very clean, like-new trunk.

I chuckled at the interior photos showing a full-sized skeleton behind the wheel of this Thunderbird (I hope the previous owner’s nickname wasn’t “Bones”). This T-Bird has the good-looking Code XA black and white pleated vinyl interior that appears to be in great shape. Even though it’s listed as having a manual transmission, I spot a Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission shifter on the floor, and I’m assuming this ‘Bird has power steering and power brakes. Nothing is mentioned about the ‘Bird having the optional soft top.

Under that Raven Black, front-hinged hood rests a Ford Y-Block V8 engine. I’m not sure if it’s the standard 292-cubic-inch or the optional 312 and the mileage is listed as 40,000. It has the optional Engine Dress Up Kit and I hope the T-Bird’s engine will turn over after all these years. As with any vehicle that has sat and not been started in decades, it’ll need a new gas tank and the usual long list of mechanical items needed to make this classic roadworthy again.

This “HiBIRDnating” ’57 Thunderbird, submitted by our friend, Mike F., is slumbering in Littleton, Colorado, and is for sale here on craigslist for $30,000. I think of Private Investigator Paul Drake, of the classic Perry Mason TV Series, whenever I see a black ’57 Thunderbird. Actor William Hopper tooled around in one in a few episodes of the first season and seemed to enjoy the ‘Bird’s pep, prestige – and ash trays. It was the perfect car for the coolest guy on TV back in 1957. Let’s hope the next owner can get this T-Bird awake and “up and at ’em” sooner rather than later. I’m sure it’s ready for a change of scenery!