The Thunderbird made its debut at the Detroit Auto Show on February 20, 1954, by Ford. Production began shortly after, and it officially went on sale as a 1955 model year offering in October of that same year. Ford had initially planned to sell 10,000 units of the Thunderbird in its first year, but the actual sales far surpassed expectations. A total of 16,155 Thunderbirds were sold, easily surpassing the Corvette. Ford marketed their new sleek two-seater Thunderbird as a distinguished “personal car.”
Among all the Thunderbird models, the 1957 edition is widely regarded as the most desirable. It introduced subtle changes to the 1956 styling that resonated exceptionally well with the public. The rear of the body was extended by six inches, providing more space for luggage and a spare tire, and additional engine options became available. This year also marked the end of the first-generation Thunderbird production.
This particular 1957 Ford Thunderbird featured the powerful 245-horsepower “D-Code” Thunderbird Special V-8 engine. It was equipped with the engine dress-up kit, a two-speed Ford-O-Matic transmission, power windows, a power seat, power steering and brakes, a signal-seeking radio, a heater/defroster, rear fender shields, and a “porthole delete” hardtop.
Source: RM Sotheby’s
