1957Birdman

Guess he also never heard of a compression check. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

Looks like a really nice car for the price and it even has the better looking (IMHO) single headlights. One thing to check would be the 312 Y-block to make sure the rear main seal isn't leaking too badly. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

Pretty strong asking price for a car in its current condition. If it is an original New York car there is no telling what it looks like underneath the car. It also might hard to find some of the exterior parts that it needs, since I don't think the survival rate for that particular make and model is too high. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

It is a car that presents well, but I would have to think really hard before laying down 18 large for a Henry J, no matter what the condition. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

Looks like a very nice car at a reasonable price. I am not a big fan of that landau top and the large blind spot it creates, but other than that it does look like it is in turn-key shape. It even has the 7 Liter V8 engine.n Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

This is a sad commentary on the state of the hobby. For my part, I have always put more emphasis on having my cars running well first before I put the time into fixing the cosmetics. I am proud of the fact that I can hop into my car and make the 2 hour drive to Hershey each year from Rockville, Maryland without major problems. I am also pleased that I could, if asked, confirm that the headlights, turn signals, wipers, and horn work as they are supposed to. I drove to Knoxville, Tennessee for a national T-Bird convention and put over 500 miles on my car in one day. I would never recommend that for a car that has not been sorted out. The fun in the hobby is about driving our cars and I am glad that Matt stuck it out to end up with the fine driving car that he has now. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

Check out the following link: Neoprene Rear Oil Seal Installation (Plus other key points to consider) - Classic Thunderbird Club International (ctci.org) This is something that is encountered quite frequently in the early T-Birds. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

Well, the Dodge's styling is certainly more distinctive, if that is what you are looking for. It is also a convertible. Other than that, I think the Mercury is the better buy with the 406. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

Steve, I understand. I will say this much, the best thing the car has going for it is its price (which is realistic). He does not mention a convertible top, which would really add to the value of the car. From what I can see I don’t think it has one. As a project, I would not consider it unless I had a chance to make sure the frame is solid with no rust problems. There are patch panels for the body, but the frame is a different matter. This car looks like a lifetime project for the do-it-yourself auto restorer. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

Looking good Chris. Enjoyed meeting you at Hershey. Keep up the good work. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

Other than it seems to have a fairly rare color (Thunderbird Grey), this car does not have much going for it. The rust showing is bad enough, imagine what it looks like underneath. Doing a complete restoration on this car will put the owner majorly under water. There are better cars out there that you can buy and drive today. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

I pretty much agree with the previous comments, especially trimacar's. I don't agree with the comment about lower build quality. Most cars from the 1950's don't have perfect gaps between panels. Anyway, here are a few suggestions if you proceed forward with the idea of purchasing one. Join your local chapter of CTCI and talk to current owners. Lots of times that can provide leads to good cars that are available at a good price. Sit in one to be sure you fit comfortably. If you are 6'4" and weight 250 lbs it is probably not the car for you. The telescoping steering column helps fit the car to you, but there is not a ton of space to stretch out for a tall person (I am 6'2"). Stay away from cars needing lots of rust repair, for obvious reasons. The survival rate of these cars is quite high, so look for and get the best one you can afford. Be aware that a car with both hard and soft top is worth more than a car with one or the other. Decide which one you want and go for it. Lew Bachman 26 year owner of a 1957 Thunderbird

I think the single head light version of the car looks better. Definitely looks better without the continental kit. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

So there were actually cars in the car corral this year! By Friday afternoon they were as scarce as hen’s teeth. Even though I am not in a position to buy anything, I always have enjoyed looking at what is available. Since I only come up for the car show I guess I missed most of the cars that were available. This forced schedule change by H***o has changed a lot of things, not necessarily for the better. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

Like the 55er says, what is lurking underneath (rust wise) given where the car was parked? It also suffers from the "unusual" styling of a number of 1959 GM cars, IMHO. I agree that $9K is a stretch. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

This color combination was definitely a fifties thing. I have a picture of a 1955 Ford Sunliner in Raven Black and Goldenrod Yellow with a yellow and black interior. It would have made a self-respecting yellow jacket proud, and it was a far cry from the "refrigerator" colors many cars have today. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

Yes, it is a 1954 Ford, body type 60 F Crestline Skyliner. It looks to be in pretty good shape. First year for the Y-Block V8 with the one year only 239 cubic inch engine. I don't care much for the color combination, but it looks like a good paint job. Will be interested to see how much it goes for. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

I am sure you are aware that this only came in dealer installed kit form, not directly from the factory. The parts you will need are probably available if you look hard enough. I would check with the T-Bird parts suppliers since a lot of these ended up on 1955-7 T-Birds. I will say that I think it would be easier to find the 1957 setup as there were more produced. The problem there is the shape of the air cleaner, which is different from the on available in 1956. Good luck with your search, Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

Nice car, but price seems to be a bit on the optimistic side. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

Ugly "cow catcher" front bumper, the original chrome bumper and grill of the 1960s cars definitely improves the looks, in my opinion. I am not a big fan of 1970s cars due to mandated safety regulations and poor engine performance. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

There is definitely a reason that the 1955 Chevies and Fords outsold this car by miles. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

Just to clarify the engines available for the "early" Mustangs, there was a 170 CID 101 HP six-cylinder, a 260 CID 164 HP V8, and two 289 CID V8s, one with 210 HP and one with 271 HP (both of these engines had a 4 barrel carburetor). Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

That rear bumper guard is definitely heavy duty. It reminds me of the push bumper that police cars have on the front for intentional collision with another vehicle. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

Darryl Dierigner would have loved this car. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird

I agree it looks like a really good deal, especially if it looks good underneath. Just be aware that it has the one year only 256 CID Y-Block. My father had one that he bought new. I had an interesting anomaly. It would suck oil out through the fuel pump when going downhill. One time coming down off of the Skyline Drive there was a guy riding our tail on the 2 lane road. Dad floored it and left the guy in a cloud of blue smoke that would have made James Bond proud. Of course, it also sucked out a quart of oil. He never liked that car and jumped at the chance to buy a 1957 Ford Fairlane Five hundred, a much better car. Lew Bachman 1957 Thunderbird