While Chevrolet was trying to find a market for its new 2-seat sports car, the Corvette, Ford also introduced a dual-seater – but one as a small personal luxury car, aimed at different buyers. The car sold sparingly for a while, but then took off in 1958 when they added a back seat so you could take friends and family for a spin. This beautiful ’57 T-Bird was bought new by the Simpsons (not THOSE Simpsons) and stayed in their possession until recently. With just 20,000 miles, this beauty is in Riverside, California, and available here on craigslist for $30,000 OBO. Another neat find brought to us by T.J.!
Originally a car built for two, Ford sold more than 53,000 Thunderbirds from 1955-57, with ’57 having the best year of the three. While purists lament the change to a larger car in ’58, it turned out to be the correct one financially. In the second three years, 198,000 T-Birds rolled off the assembly line, so it was a sure-fire winner by then. The 2-seat T-Birds, like the one Suzanne Somers drove in the iconic coming-of-age movie American Graffiti, would be the last of its type until Ford’s EXP sport compact car came along in 1982. Ford would revive the 2-seat Thunderbird for 2002-05 before the nameplate was retired.
The seller’s car was originally purchased new from a Ford dealership in San Francisco. It would stay with that family for the next 63 years until today’s selling party took possession and treated it to a mechanical refresh. That work included installing a new radiator and hoses, an electronic ignition system, fuel pump, carburetor, water pump, belts, and a new fuel sending unit, along with a few other items. New American Classic tires were added at all four points of the car. We’re guessing this work was necessitated because the car sat more than it was used for long periods.
Still wearing its original Colonial White paint, the T-Bird presents nicely but has a few little dings and scrapes and one small dent on the passenger side rocker panel. But rust doesn’t seem to be an issue, so repainting this beauty should be at the bottom of anyone’s to-do list. The T-Bird comes with its factory hardtop, convertible top, and roadster tonneau cover for all sorts of driving conditions. Other than new carpeting, the material in the interior is also original.
The optional 312 cubic-inch V8 with automatic transmission should provide plenty of power for cruising around in this cool car. If you open the trunk, you’ll find all sorts of leftovers from yesteryear, such as the owner’s handbook, jack and spare tire, a set of tire chains, a road flare, and some other odds-and-ends and spare parts. Suddenly, it’s 1957 all over again!
Better photos on CL.
The car aged better than Suzanne. I guess the same could be said for my rides too. Man, was she hot in the ’70’s.
The steering wheel alone gives me an indication of possibly alot more miles than 20K. And the dash pad? Looks like it sat in the CA. sun totally exposed all it’s life.
I believe that’s the tonneau cover rolled back.
I don’t think so. That melted mess IS the dash pad. The tonneau snaps are clearly visible below the windshield. The sun visors and steering wheel are also quite sun-baked.
Still, if the car is as rust-free as it looks and the paint is ALL original, it’s a good value. I appreciate the mechanical work that’s been done. The twisted bumpers and new lowering blocks do bother me a little, though.
I’m not buying the 20,000 miles unless the seller has a bunch of good documentation.
I would have to agree on the miles. Again, how would the finish of the steering wheel be that worn off with only 20,000 miles on the clock. 😵💫
Obviously this car has been driven 120k miles. The seller is full of himself to say otherwise.
Neither LA or the Bay Area is known for snow and ice. Why are there chains in trunk?
The chains are for re-enacting a fight scene from West Side Story or Jersey Boys…possibly a percussion instrument when singing doo-wop with the guys on the front stoop.
You don’t have to go far from LA to get to the San Gabriel Mountains (good view of Mt Baldy yesterday on the Nascar Race at the Coliseum), and in winter many of those roads use to have chain requirements to go up the mountain
American Graffiti.
http://thenewswheel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Suzanne-Somers-in-a-1956-Ford-Thunderbird-in-American-Graffiti.png
THAT was the shot that made me crazy in High School! I did marry the blond girl from back than who is just a pretty! It is tempting to buy this car if only to reenact this scene with my beautiful wife.
Thank you for posting this, what a powerful trip down memory lane. I grew up in San Rafael when it was filmed and really enjoyed the cruising scene that occurred after this film. Sure wish I had a bit more money back then, I could barely come up with .50 cents for gas.
At least it isn’t $30,000 for a rotted and no drive line 68 Charger. I bet most of you 64 year old dudes think there should be no wear anywhere. Have you looked in a mirror lately? I am 66 and realized a few years ago the face and body ain’t what it was in the 90s. And I am a vegetarian, don’t smoke or drink and go to the gym. So the steering wheel looks old. Nit picking.
Sorry, those guys aren´t nit picking. This car has EASILY over 100 big ones on the clock, the dash and steering wheel are disasters and heavens only knows what lurks underneath. How anyone with a smidgen of brains would let such a beauty sit in the broiling sun, without protecting the interior is mysterious. Such neglect means this car was neglected in other ways as well.
Maybe the miles are accurate. Maybe it sat is a hot garage and baked. Looks nice. Lots of weekend projects to make it more pretty.
Someone has put lowering blocks in the back springs. Sort of odd for a so called original car.
Also where are the Thunderbird valve covers
Someone has fitted lowering blocks to the rear springs, they look new, no mention from the seller on these, sort of odd on an “original” car. Also where are the Thunderbird valve covers?
Also, the CL Pictures of underneath show some surprisingly shiny front springs….. Maybe recent?
The Thunderbird valve covers and chrome air cleaner were an option
Original tin valve covers would have been black with a decal denoting V8 engine size:
292=”Thunderbird”,
312=”Thunderbird Special”.
There are some questions but WOW what a pretty car❣️😍
Riverside is less than an hour from snow covered mountains
Agree on the 120K mileage estimate. Take a look at the spare tire. It’s got more than 20K on it.
According to seller for 11 years the car was in the bay area. Then according to the seller the Simpsons moved south to Claremont CA. According to some excuses after moving to the valley the family may have taken an interest in snow sports and used the chains to go up to the San Gabriel Mountains possibly to Mount Baldy. This is all based on a license plate frame, a 50+ year old title, and a yarn the seller spins about this supposed 20k mile car. No one selling a used car would be less than honest in order to make a sale
would they?
To pick a nit if the upper radiator hose installation is an example of the seller’s “small mechanical restoration” … SMH. According to Hagerty a base 1957 Thunderbird (292/2 bbl) is valued at $30K in good condition. Spending $30k on this rag will lead to $30k+ worth of buyer’s regret.
I don’t believe anything the seller says. But any educated buyer will know that it is all lies. However, it is a sound car free of rot. They are asking 20K, but I am sure that is negotiable. It is a good car to restore.