Guest cameron1 Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Looking for some help on '57 T-Bird I am looking to purchase. Please provide any information on vin# d7fh213250. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 (edited) Someone will certainly tell you that it's not a VIN, it's a serial number, but we know what you're asking. The beginning "D" signifies the engine option. In this case, the 312cid Thunderbird Special that produced 245hp and had a four-barrel carburetor. The "F" means it was built in Dearborn, and the "H" signifies the body type (Thunderbird). The rest of the numbers are sequential. Edited March 25, 2011 by West Peterson (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cameron1 Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Thank you for your reply. The tag containing the serial number is in the engine compartment. Should there be a plate or tag in the door jamb? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shop Rat Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Can you share where the car is? We might be able to find someone near it to go look at it for you if you are not close enough to go yourself. My husband and I have done that a few times for folks. The last time was for a T-Bird as a matter of fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cameron1 Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Pittsburgh Pa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest martylum Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Hi-I've owned and restored 8 56 and 57 Birds over a period of 15 years. The 57s are the best of the 3 years and have the highest sale value. They did rust quite substantially if operated in snowy weather in the rust belt areas. I have seen many Birds for sale at Carlisle and Hershey which had very poorly done rust repair and this leads to bad door fit as rust usually is in the front of the rocker panels under the doors. Outer and inner rear 1/4 panels are the other area to look over carefully. As the cars aged, weatherstrip shrank and floors got pretty wet especially with the softopp. A magnet will tell pretty quickly how solid the body is and how much plastic is in the usual rust areas.The powertrain components are fairly durable and reasonable in cost to restore. Plenty of reproduction parts are available. Having done quite a bit of rust repair to 3-4 Birds, I would never again buy one which needs a lot of rust repair.They're fun to drive and handle better than the standard passenger car their mechanical components are sourced from but a good many bolt on engine parts are unique to the Bird..Lots of literature is available to do a top notch authentic restoration.I'm too old to enjoy getting in and out of a T-bird any longer.Martin Lumformer 57 Bird owner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Thank you for your reply. The tag containing the serial number is in the engine compartment. Should there be a plate or tag in the door jamb?The serial number tag is supposed to be attached to the left front body pillar below the upper hinge opening. The plate in the engine compartment is the Patent Plate, and is supposed to be located on the dash panel in the engine compartment. It consists of the serial number, and codes for the body type (obviously T-bird), exterior paint color, trim scheme and the production code.I believe the D-code engine only came with the automatic transmission (w/overdrive), so if it's anything other than that, it's not correct. There will be no plate on the car explaining what production options should be on the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cameron1 Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Thank you for the reply and information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlLaFong Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 I believe the D-code engine only came with the automatic transmission (w/overdrive), so if it's anything other than that, it's not correct. There will be no plate on the car explaining what production options should be on the car.AOD on a 57 Bird??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shop Rat Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Pittsburgh Pa.Here is a list of Regions and Chapters for PA. None listed exactly for Pittsburg but several look close by. Contact the ones closest and see if someone in the club could help you with getting a look at it, make some notes for you and maybe some good photos. You can click on club names or member's names that are in green and go to web-sites or e-mails.PENNSYLVANIAAllegheny Mountain RegionPresident - Bill Loy256 Mary LaneAltoona PA 16601Anthracite RegionPresident - Michael Havrilla340 Trecow RdMcAdoo PA 18237Butler-Old Stone House RegionPresident - Maryetta White123 Claytonia RdButler PA 16001-8043 Central Mountains RegionPresident - Roger Menard444 W Pauline DrClearfield PA 16830-1011 Coke Center RegionPresident - Stephen Regish338 East End RdConnellsville PA 15425 Covered Bridge RegionPresident - Layton Wise292 Franklin TerraceWashington PA 15301Delaware Valley RegionPresident - Wayne Watson1308 Biwood RdAmbler PA 19002-1501 Flood City RegionPresident - Robert Weimann206 Mayluth RdJohnstown PA 15904 Fort Bedford RegionPresident - Earl Clites4157 Hyndman RdHyndman PA 15545Gettysburg RegionPresident - C Edward Rogers200 Westview DrMechanicsburg PA 17055 Golden Triangle RegionPresident - Michael Paine1835 Guyton RdAllison Park PA 15101 Hershey RegionPresident -Richard Spina1313 W. Market StPottsville PA 17901 Keystone RegionPresident - G Griffin1121 Randall AveBoothwyn PA 19061 Kiski Valley RegionPresident - Kimberly Frederick1146 Lincoln StVandergrift PA 15690Kit-Han-Ne RegionPresident - Roberta Jensen239 Hillberry RdWorthington PA 16262 Lakelands RegionPresident - Kevin Ellway3325 Youngstown Kngsvle RdCortland OH 44410-9409 Lanchester RegionPresident - Albert Storrs4 Main-Lin DrCoatesville PA 19320 Laurel Highlands RegionPresident - Marianne Caruso1858 Ridge RdJeannette PA 15644 Lehigh Valley RegionPresident - Donald Jones114 Quaker DrBethleham PA 18020 Lower Bucks RegionPresident - Frank Gibbs1405 Miller AveCroydon PA 19021 Mason-Dixon RegionPresident - Frank Spielman7910 Pendleton CourtBoonsboro MD 21742Mon Valley RegionPresident - Russ Redshaw125 Baer RdSmock PA 15480Northeastern Pennsylvania RegionPresident - Robert Stavish515 S Irving AveScranton PA 18505 Ontelaunee RegionPresident - Alberta Davis331 Raven Run RoadLost Creek PA 17946 Pennsylvania Dutch RegionPresident - Donald Hickernell26 Norma Ln Box 353Richland PA 17087 Pennsylvania Oil RegionPresident - William Gratkowski515 N Petroleum StTitusville PA 16354 Pocono RegionPresident - Michael Romano506 Falcone AvenueRoseto PA 18013 Pottstown RegionPresident - Robert Dare312 Green StRoyersford PA 19468-2514 Presque Isle RegionPresident - Howard Krack8774 Laurel DrErie PA 16509-5016 Presque Isle Region - French Creek Valley ChapterPresident - Edward Mengel866 Martin StMeadville PA 16335-1037 Punxsutawney RegionPresident - Gary Hoover3803 Patchin HwyCherry Tree PA 15724 Scranton RegionPresident - Gloria Lyons31 Railroad StArchbald PA 18403Shannock Valley Car Club RegionPresident - John McLaughlin301 St Paul RdRural Valley PA 16249-2217 Shenango Valley RegionPresident - Edward Bailey888 Trumbull DrSharon PA 16146 Shikellamy RegionPresident - John Odell Jr.4643 Clarkstown RdMuncy PA 17756Sugar Bush RegionPresident - Terry Tressler828 Nat'l Hwy.LaVale MD 21502 Susquehannock RegionPresident - Herb Seltzer346 Sydney StreetMontoursville PA 17754 Valley Forge RegionPresident - Chuck Mason125 Oaklyn AveEagleville PA 19403Wayne-Pike RegionPresident - Arthur FlynnBox 418Callicoon NY 12723 Western Pennsylvania RegionPresident - Harvey Eger1005 Sleepy Hollow RdJeannette PA 15644 Wolf Creek RegionPresident - Larry Surrena1275 Barkeyville RdGrove City PA 16127 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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