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1957 Ford Thunderbird
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Die Cast Models
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$56,900.00
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| Address: Manchester, NH | |
Mileage: 37,366 | |
| Exterior Color: Raven blk | |
Interior Color: blk/wht | |
| Transmission: Manual | |
Body Style: COLLECTOR | |
| Condition: Good | |
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Contact Me...
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Who was Bill Frick? Bill Frick was a gifted early model mechanic and fabricator many years before the term "Hot Rodders" was used. Well known in the late 40s by his custom engine conversion packages out of a little shop in Long Island NY. In 1950, when the new 331 V8 OHV overhead valve Cadillac engine was introduced, he offered a conversion package to swap with the 1950 Ford flat head engine which would increase the horsepower tremendously. It earned the name Fordillac, which became famous among the early gear head "hot rodders". In 1953, the same 331-V8 Cadillac engine was offered for the engine consumption in the Studebaker for $1,500, also known as the Studellac. The Studellac was capable of speeds of 125mph and accelerated form 0-60 in 8.5 seconds. Bill Frick Motors Inc. was an exclusive distributor of Kieft Sport Cars, exclusive Long Island dealer for Allard Motor cars, an MG and Morris Minor dealer. He was involved in building race cars and partnered with Ted Tappett, who then became a well known racer in the lemans 24 hour race circuit. Also, Bill Frick Motors was heavily involved in Nascar. The Frick-Tappett conversion Cadillac engine in a Ford made them famous among the performance gear heads, claiming up to 25mpg at cruising speed and 0-80mph in 15 seconds. Very sophisticated for their time, Bill Frick built a tubular air craft design chassis in the 1949 using a Cadillac 331-V8 which they called the "Le Monstre". It ran in Lemans and was driven by Phil Walters, known as Ted Tappett and placed in 7th, according to our research. Well known Briggs Cunningham was involved on the financial side of Bill Frick Motors Inc. and also drove the "Le Monstre". Interestingly enough, the car is still shown today. A private collector owns the car and shows it at car shows such as Lime Rock CT. Here's the scoop: This very unique and rare example of one of Bill Frick's conversions (according to our research) that there were only 3 Thunderbirds built by Bill Frick Motors, however, only one with the Pontiac 389 engine. When the car was purchased new in Lowell MA, the owner of the car was a big time drag racer. He wanted to build a car that would blow the doors off anyone who would come against him. he sent the car to Bill Frick in Rockville Centre NY for a performance upgrade engine swap. They used a modified 1959 Pontiac engine, completely balanced, forge true pistons, PC rings, Clevite bearings, full floating wrist pins, high pressure oil pump, relieve combustion chamber, ground out ports, adjustable rocker arm studs, Howard cam and lifters, special log-type intake manifold and 6 Rochester carb, lighten and polished valves. Spaulding special flywheel and clutch, a special dual McCulloch blower set up was installed and a special panel for blower solenoids, fuel pump and over drive was installed under the dash inside the car. A Stewart Warner tach and manual spark control was also installed in the car. Many modifications to the motor, clutch linkage, throttle linkage, a custom engine to trans, adapter plate was made, fabrication of special headers with Lake pipes and plugs installed For non-slip differential gears, removed and replaced gas tank modified for special fuel system. Special under ride dual traction bars and lowering the back end to raise the front end. The Paxton McCulloch system was aborted and sent back to Paxton and the car ended up with dual 4s Offenhauser alum intake and 2 Carter 4 barrel carbs. They gave $500 credit to the 312 V8. Some modifications had to be done to the hood of the car to make provisions for the dual supercharger system. 3 bulge style tear drops were dollied by hand and refinished in black lacquer. Looking over this rare example, the car has a solid original body with no signs of any rust or repair what so ever. The exterior body of this car is perfectly straight with no ripples, dings or dents. Light patina in the lacquer in some areas of the car. The front header area near the driver's side light you'll notice the paint has flaked off in that area. Also, some lacquer cracking around that area as well. The chrome bumpers are orig. and are considered excellent condition. The glass is also orig. to the car and is excellent through out. Bright work, emblems, front grille, headlamps, tail light bezels are excellent. Orig. paint in areas of the trunk, hood and door jambs have a nice clean appearance. The weather strip is orig. with no signs of being dried, cracked or weathered. Doors, hood and rear deck lid open and close perfectly, proper alignment to all those areas as well. Windows roll up and down effortlessly. Factory continental kit, trunk area is solid and orig., spare tire, jack trunk mat in fair condition. WSW tires factory hub caps, hard top with port hole windows that has excellent glass and a nice orig. white headliner. The interior of the car is all orig. including the carpet. Blk/wht/ bench seat has some dried cracks on the drivers side. Door panels, dash board, instrument cluster is all in great shape, no cracks in the orig. dash. Custom Hurst shifter with Bofg Warner 3 spd. gear box with OD works fine. Vintage Stewart Warner and McCulloch vacuum gauges and switches installed. Town& Country am radio, no PS, power brakes, crank windows, telescopic steering wheel, no cracks noticed in the orig. steering wheel. This unique single family owned thunderbird is straight from an estate, stored since 1999 in dry storage, the car is in running condition, however it hasn't been driven for the past 15 yrs. We clay barred the exterior and it came back beautifully but we think it's best to preserve the originality of this car as a true time capsule without changing too much. Comes with documentation, thousands of $$ in receipts, Owner History and many great stories. Surely, one of a kind and modified from a famous legend (Bill Frick) who was well ahead of his time. The only one know to exist with Pontiac engine...own a piece of race history! Contact Roland for more info: . Price: $56,900
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