1957 Ford THUNDERBIRD

Built in March 1957 and first registered on the 27th of August 1957, this Series III is the sought-after 'porthole window' hard-top model, complete with a tonneau cover and a new soft-top. Imported into the United Kingdom in 2012 and showing just one former keeper, it’s been racking up advisory free MOTs ever since. Clearly sourced from a dry state, its underside is as clean as its coachwork.

The recipient of more than £3,000-worth of recent mechanical work by acclaimed American classic specialist Complete Automotive Repair Service (CARS) of Uckfield in East Sussex, the T-Bird us said to be “mechanically excellent”.

Only for sale because the vendor bought it to take out to his place in Spain before COVID hit, it is being offered for sale with a very reasonable guide price and an even more reasonable reserve, making this is your chance to get your hands on one of the most iconic American convertibles ever built for (possibly) not a lot of money.

“We were makin’ Thunderbirds

We were makin’ Thunderbirds

They were long and low and sleek and fast

They were classic in a word.”

‘Makin’ Thunderbirds’ by Bob Segar

The extensive white coachwork looks terrific. With straight flanks and a good shine to the paintwork, as you can see in the extensive photo album everything seems to line up nicely. The doors all open and close well too, latching securely.

It’s got good chromework too, and if some of it is a little patinated with some light scratches and pitting none of it is bad enough to warrant anything more intrusive than a damned good polish.

The hooded headlamps add interest but not half as much as those iconic rear lights with their ‘atomic’ design that predate those used on British cars like the Cortina by a decade. All are in good shape, as are the badges and glass. All the vibes it gives off are positive, and we like it a lot.

The chromed wire wheels look to be good with only very light rust marks here and there and no scuffing, scrapes or other damage. A front disc brake conversion sits behind them and the wheels themselves are fitted with matching 205/75R14 Coker Classic whitewall tyres, all of which have good tread.

As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The ‘porthole window’ hard-top is in good shape. A much sought-after option, its condition is good and its presence adds considerably to the Thunderbird’s versatility. It looks to have had recent rubber seals, too.

Faults? Well, apart from the usual stonechips and minor marks that every car accumulates, the lower rear corner of the nearside door doesn’t fit quite as well as it could, and the leading edges of the chrome trims on the lower rear wheelarch spats are a little scuffed.

More significantly, there is a brand-new red convertible roof in the boot, but a frame for it will need to be acquired if a buyer wishes to have a soft-top option. There is a tonneau cover though, so you could undertake some al fresco adventures straight away.

“Don’t gimme no Buick,

Son you must take my word.

If there’s a God up in Heaven,

He’s got a Silver Thunderbird.

You can keep your Eldorados,

And the foreign car’s absurd.

Me, I wanna go down,

In a Silver Thunderbird.”

‘Silver Thunderbird’ by Marc Cohn

The red leather front bench seat ticks all your American classic car boxes. Still firmly sprung, it’s in great shape with only a few mild stains and general patina and no damage or significant wear bar the usual light creasing. The carpets are protected by natty red rubber over-mats.

The machine-turned instrument cluster looks fabulous. As you can see, while it is home to the speedometer, rev counter, clock, and water and fuel gauges.

The door cards are finished in a matching metal finish along with red leather and chrome; it’s a very attractive combination and chimes with the matching full-width dashboard.

There’s a working Thunder-badged radio in there too, plus a wonderfully ornate steering wheel; few cars of any generation can beat a 1950’s American automobile for interior ambience and panache and this is an especially nice example of the genre.

The hardtop’s headlining is free of damage but might appreciate a valet given how good the rest of the car is.

Other work to do includes sorting out the wipers, which work but are a little on the slow side at idle. The fan for the heater, on the other hand, doesn’t work at all.

The boot is clean and solid and home to the very good steel spare wheel and tyre.

“My Thunderbird, my Thunderbird,

Put your head on my shoulder,

Don’t say a word,

We’ll cut across town in my Thunderbird.”

‘Thunderbird’ by John Hiatt

There’s a wonderfully period Ford Motor Company ‘See Clear’ washer fluid reservoir bag under the bonnet, and the engine bay itself is neat and tidy without being obsessively detailed. Few will find much to complain about under there, although some might want to get the air cleaner re-chromed and replacing the odd rusty bolt, nut, and washer would be a very quick win.

Recently serviced in February by classic car specialists Pilgrim Motorsports which included rebuilding the carburettor,re-seting the ignition timing and oil change totalling more than £1700.00.A copy of the invoice is in the photograph section. Also American car specialists Complete Automotive Repair Service (CARS) in October 2020 undertook work which included a new radiator, hoses and fresh coolant, four new dampers, a differential seal, new fuel lines, fresh transmission oil and filter, and a handbrake cable in addition to the usual service items. Please see the two invoices, totalling more than £3,000 copies of which are also to be found within the photography section.

The underside is solid and looks to have been recently undersealed.

“We’re burnin’ out the highway

Me with my foot to the floor

No wonder everybody goes crazy

Gotta drive this T-Bird more

I gotta have this T-Bird Angel, so we can fly away

I gotta have this T-Bird Angel, and drive all night and day”

‘T-Bird Angel’ by Uriah Heep

The Thunderbird’s most recent MOT certificate, which expired in September 2021, was gained without a single advisory point, something it’s been doing since 2012.

It has a number of expired MOT certificates and tax discs plus old invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years, an owner’s handbook, and a historical HPI certificate.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been refurbished to a good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

“My first love was an older woman,

There’s been many since,

But there’ll never be another.

Built in 1955, snowshoe white, overdrive,

I never should’ve sold her, I’ll always love her,

She was mine.”

‘First Love’ by Alan Jackson

The Thunderbird is THE quintessential American convertible striking a balance between showy and gaudy better than any of its contemporaries.

Yet, this counts for nothing if the car itself is neglected or rusty or both – and this example is neither. Looking stunning, it drives beautifully and only the most fastidious would feel the need to remedy its few minor blemishes; the rest of us would be happy to drive it late into the night with a loved one curled up next to us and the Beach Boys playing softly on the radio…

Plus, it’s not as if it’s going to cost you a fortune. Despite being one of the most lusted after cars of 2020 – and one the vendor advises us that Quentin Wilson has tipped only recently as one to watch – we think that this one will only sell for between £27,000 and £35,000, which is an absurdly small sum for such a magnificent slice of 1950’s Americana.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.