As with so many great cars, the original two-seater Thunderbird convertible reached its apex in its final year of production, 1957. A mild facelift up front and stylish rear fins with sharp, creased edges added greatly to the car’s appearance, as did a new instrument panel that had a safety-oriented Lifeguard Design, which included a padded dashboard and a dished steering wheel. Six engine options were offered, along with a host of power refinements and wide whitewall tires. An added leaf to the rear springs, 14-inch wheels, and larger front brakes were among numerous engineering changes.

Buyers responded by continuing to make the Thunderbird fly out of showrooms, with some 21,000 examples being sold in 1957, and reportedly, there were continued requests for many more that could not be answered by the factory. Today, the 1957 Thunderbird is seen as the most desirable of the first-generation T-Birds, and it has been considered a collectible for nearly its entire life, which is a feat that few automobiles can claim.

The Raven Black Thunderbird offered here has a complementary black and white interior, and it is documented by a copy of its Ford invoice showing it as being sold new at King Ford in Bronx, New York. The soft-top is white, as is the removable hardtop which features the iconic “porthole” window. It is driven by the desirable and optional D-Code 312-cid, 245 horsepower engine V-8 engine that is paired to a Fordomatic automatic transmission. To add visual appeal and detail is an engine dress-up kit, wire wheels and wide whitewall tires. Additional equipment includes power windows, steering and brakes.