This pretty 1957 Ford Thunderbird wears the word "driver" as a badge of honor. Skillfully restored and slightly modified to make it a fantastic long-distance cruiser it has an impressive track record of reliability which when combined with its gorgeous 1950s styling makes you start re-thinking your vacation plans. You don't see many Starlight Blue Thunderbirds at shows and that's a shame because this car is just gorgeous. The restoration was completed in 2005 and the car has indeed been driven quite extensively but thanks to quality workmanship and someone taking care of it along the way it still shows quite well. It has a wonderful shine that's perfect on the '50s shape. Fit and finish are quite good with doors that open and close easily and a hood that fits well which is important since you'll be looking over it quite a bit. All the chrome was apparently refinished at the same time and is holding up very well particularly the front bumper and grille that look almost too fresh another sign of careful work. This car definitely remains a head-turner. The two-tone white and blue interior is obviously a great place to spend some time and given the Thunderbird's luxurious mission it shouldn't be a surprise that it's comfortable as well as stylish. The seat covers show some minor wear but nothing that demands attention and the carpets have been protected by floor mats almost from day one so they're still quite nice. The door panels have that beautiful engine-turned trim that blends into the dashboard and you'll note that the original window cranks now actuate power window motors inside the doors a neat trick. The factory instruments are in good order assisted by an aftermarket temperature gauge down low and as a car designed and built for long drives it shouldn't surprise you to see an AM/FM stereo radio in the dash and an authentic-looking A/C unit underneath. The car includes a handsome blue cloth convertible top as well as a contrasting white porthole hardtop and the trunk is finished with a correct mat and full-sized spare. A vast majority of 1957 Thunderbirds came with the D-code 312 cubic inch V8 which was rated at a robust 245 horsepower with a 4-barrel carburetor. That's plenty of engine to make for entertaining performance and I'm pretty sure this one has proven its reliability many times over. Fitted with a full dress-up kit featuring chrome air cleaner and finned valve covers it looks quite tidy under the hood. Sensible upgrades include a modern A/C compressor and R134a refrigerant exhaust headers for a few more horsepower front disc brakes for safety and an AOD 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission which makes for truly effortless highway cruising. There's plenty of evidence that the car has been driven but none of it should be regarded as a demerit because you know it's well-sorted and properly maintained which are almost always better cars to own than trailer queens. Original painted wheels and chrome hubcaps are fitted with 205/75/14 whitewall radials for an authentic look and a better ride. Complete with restoration receipts maintenance records and some spare parts this is a great-driving T-Bird that has already proven itself to be worthy of going on vacation with you. Call today! This vehicle is located in our Dallas/Fort Worth showroom. For more information please call or toll free . Price: $42,995
