1957 Ford Thunderbird

Convertible

8 - Cyl.

Automatic

D7FH161546

Gasoline

1957 Thunderbird This car is located in Del Rio, Tx; which is 150 miles west of San Antonio, Tx on US 90. It is not operational and is in about the same condition as when I bought it 2yrs ago. The previous owner had a fiberglas front driver side fender grafted onto it and body/paint work done while it was off the frame. When they bolted it back to the frame, this stressed those areas that were grafted to the original metal, and subsequently cracked these areas. The paint and body work was well below standard; which means this car will need to be stripped and redone. I purchased, as seen in a picture, an original FOMOCO NORS (1972) steel driver side fender, to replace the fiberglas one. I also purchased FOMOCO NORS fender skirts to go with the car (pictured). The hood appears to be pretty straight and solid. The doors are solid and not rotted but will need to be blocked out, and the hinges need to be rebuilt because they sag while opened. I purchased two NOS door handles, but ended up with 55'-56' buttons (57' are longer), so you have to reach inside to open the doors. The trunk lid appears to be solid and presentable. It looks like someone took a pick axe to the panel below the trunk lid, but I have purchased an original one; as pictured with the fender. The frame has been painted by the P.O.. He had the bumpers, both front and rear, re-chromed and some of the chrome is pealing off both of them. He represented the transmission and engine as being rebuilt. The day before I picked this car up it rained on it and he had the hood and breather off of the car, so as soon as I got it home I pulled the heads and removed a little water from three cylinders. I saturated the cylinders and pistons with liquid wrench and Marvel Mystery Oil. It does have new pistons that are .040 over, so I was relieved to see some indication that the engine was rebuilt. Now, the transmission I don't have any idea if it was rebuilt or not. The car has a new exhaust system on it, but he used some of the old hangers; with a couple of them breaking since. The floors look solid with one flat patch panel where your heel goes while operating the gas pedal, and it goes up the side of the trans. tunnel. The car has a fiberglas after market top (cheap) with plexi-glass, which I would haul to the dump. The seat springs and frames are very solid but are missing the seat tracks, motors, etc.. The original wiring harness looks like a bird's nest. Wide white wall tires, that were new, but now dry rotted. It comes with a set of gauges, but the needles on the gas and temp gauges are slightly bent. It comes with original power steering set-up. I purchased a power brake booster for it, but it has the wrong mounting bracket. All the engine components look period correct. Both rear quarter panels will need some work, the driver side being the worse. The front right fender is original but has a whiskey mark by the front wheel well opening. Comes with original vent doors and a lot of other parts (see pictures). Instead of being a 20 footer this car is about a 30 footer. I would like to speculate and say that this car is probably over 95% complete. This car was originally colonial white (EE), top and bottom, with a black and white (XA) interior. I have a clear Texas title, that is in my name. I also have the original cowl tag, which is not on the car. The vin, on the cowl tag, is the same as on the title and number stamped into the frame, just below where the heater motor mounts. I will not sell parts off of this car. A Project with Potential!