1957 Ford Thunderbird

Gateway Classic Cars of Atlanta is proud to preset this 1957 Ford Thunderbird. Dubbed a "a personal car of distinction" by Ford, this title was also used by the motoring press at the time. The car built upon the heritage of the bespoke roadsters of the 1930s, yet was constructed of existing components, marking the first step toward the evolution of the personal luxury car as a mass market segment in the United States. While light weight for its era and fitted with a standard V8 engine, the Thunderbird focused more on driver comfort than speed, and was not a direct rival to either the Corvette or European sports cars. The Thunderbird proved more suited to the American market than the Corvette, with sales of 16,155, versus 674 Corvettes in 1955.

For the 1957 model year, the front bumper was reshaped, the grille and tailfins were made larger, and larger taillights were fitted. A new option was "Dial-o-Matic" 4-way power seats that would move rearward when the ignition was turned off to allow easier exit and entry. Engine-turned aluminum trim lines the dashboard face and door panels, and equipment includes a floor-mounted shifter, air conditioning, manually operated windows, lap belts, floor mats, and a vintage-look push-button AM/FM/bluetooth radio. Ford's 312CID V-8 engine pushed output 225hp and 324lb-ft of torque through a Ford-O-Matic 3 speed transmission. An American classic is not complete like this Thunderbird unless it is complete with power steering and one of those fancy electric fuel pumps! The three-spoke steering wheel features a chrome horn ring and fronts a 140-mph speedometer, a 5k-rpm tachometer, an analog clock, and gauges for fuel level and coolant temperature.

With strong parts support, and unmistakable late-'50s styling, the first-generation Ford Thunderbird is appealing as both a starting point for collectors as well as a valuable addition to a classic car fan's existing garage!