The seller believes that this 1957 Thunderbird may have belonged to the same family since new. It is a solid classic, but it has undergone a few changes throughout its life. However, returning it to its former glory would seem to be a relatively straightforward proposition. It is the sort of project that would suit somebody who wants to tackle a DIY project. If undertaking such an activity is one of your New Year’s resolutions, you will find the Thunderbird located in York, Pennsylvania, and listed for sale here on eBay. The bidding has reached $11,100, but this figure remains short of the reserve. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for spotting this classic for us.

There’s a bit to take in with this Thunderbird. The Trim Tag indicates that it rolled off the production line wearing Dusk Rose paint. It seems that the original owner may not have been a fan of that color because it has received a repaint in its current shade of Green at some point. The paint is okay, but there’s little doubt that the vehicle would benefit from a cosmetic refresh. On a positive note, the panels look extremely straight, and there is no evidence of external rust beyond a few minor spots on the rear quarter panels. There is no soft-top, but the T-Bird wears a factory hardtop that appears to be in good condition. The exterior trim and chrome look to be acceptable for a survivor-grade car, as is the tinted glass. As a DIY restoration, this Thunderbird shows a lot of promise.

This shot is one of several underside photos that the owner supplies. They all tell a similar story, and it appears to be a good one. There is a consistent coating of surface corrosion, but there is no evidence of penetrating rust. The floors look to be clean and sound, as is the frame. The buyer will almost certainly treat the surface corrosion to ensure that it doesn’t progress further, but it seems they will be leaving the grinder and welder in their cupboard on this one.

The news with this Thunderbird is less favorable when we lift the hood and look in the engine bay. The VIN indicates that the original owner ordered this classic with an E-Code 312ci V8 under the hood. That engine would have produced 270hp, which found its way to the rear wheels via a Fordomatic transmission. The bad news with this car comes in two forms. While this engine date codes for 1957, it isn’t clear whether it is numbers-matching. The E-Code V8 was equipped with a dual-quad intake and carburetors, but as you can see in this photo, that setup is no longer in evidence. That suggests that either the engine has been changed at some point, or the original intake and carburetors are gone. The second piece of bad news is that this 312 is frozen. It appears that the owner has not attempted to free it, so that task will fall to the buyer. It may be the case that a healthy dose of Mystery Oil will address the problem, but the buyer will probably need to brace themselves for an engine rebuild to return this car to a sound mechanical state once again.

I think the time is right to return to some positive news with this T-Bird. Before spending a dime on the interior, I would treat it to a thorough clean. The seat looks free from wear and tear, as are the dash and pad. The door trims look slightly ragged around the lower edges, and only an in-person inspection will determine whether they are salvageable. With a thorough clean, the buyer may only need to source a replacement carpet set, and door trims to have this interior presenting at its best. If that is the case, this could be the cheapest part of this restoration. The only other item that the buyer may want to address would be to restore the wheel. It shows some wear on the rim, but it is still a restorable proposition. The original owner installed an air conditioning system, but with the belt missing off the compressor, it may need a rebuild and recharge. There are no other aftermarket additions, and the factory Town & Country AM radio remains intact.

The bidding on this 1957 Ford Thunderbird is probably indicative of its potential value once restored. The buyer will be commencing that process with a rock-solid vehicle and needs little in the way of rust repairs. If it were a 100% original and numbers-matching classic, it could potentially be worth a figure beyond $40,000 fully restored. The big question revolves around the V8 under the hood. If it proves to be the original motor, rebuilding it and sourcing a set of date-code correct carburetors, intake, and air cleaner, could see the car nudge that value once the work is finished. If this isn’t the original engine, that will negatively impact its potential value. However, it may still be one worth watching if you do fancy tackling a hands-on restoration.