245 bhp, 312 cu. in. overhead valve V-8 engine, four-barrel carburetor, three-speed automatic transmission, independent front suspension, live rear axle, and four-wheel hydraulic brakes. Wheelbase: 102 in.

• Expertly restored by Hibernia Auto Restorations

• Properly maintained and stored; less than 1,800 miles

Regarding the new Thunderbird introduced in 1954, Motor Trend’s Detroit Editor Don McDonald wrote, “Perhaps the most outstanding feature of the new Ford Thunderbird is the clever wedding of sports car functionalism with American standards of comfort.” For 1957, the Thunderbird sported a restyled front grille, a rear deck, and new bumpers. New features included a Volumatic Radio System, which automatically increased the radio volume as the car’s speed increased, and the Dial-O-Matic seat, which provided a memory setting for the driver’s seat position. The rear deck was restyled once more with the spare tire returning to the trunk. Since Ford had redesigned the trunk layout, the spare could be stored in a vertical position, leaving enough space for storage. A minor flared fin and new larger fourteen-inch tires rounded out the changes in the ’57.

The Thunderbird presented here is finished in Torch Red and was completely refurbished at a cost of well over $184,000, by well-respected restorers Hibernia Auto Restorations. Every conceivable facet of this automobile was restored to better than new condition, and receipts for the work completed will be made available to the purchaser. The example here is equipped with its original 312-cubic inch engine with a four-barrel carburetor, a porthole hardtop and soft top, and power steering and brakes. All of the chassis and engine markings are correct, and the quality of the detail is remarkable. Since the current owner purchased the T-Bird in 2000, it has been used sparingly, having traveled less than 1,800 miles. It was properly stored in a heated garage and has since been serviced to ensure it drives as well as it looks. This Thunderbird presents itself as a remarkable opportunity to acquire one of the finest available at a fraction of the documented restoration cost.