Jive-Bomber submitted a new blog post: The Gentleman's Custom: 1957 Thunderbird Continue reading the Original Blog Post
Not just for Gentleman... Don't forget Annette Funicello had a Watson painted '57. Unfortunately it was restored back to stock.
A convertible that looks good with the top up. Great amount of engine setback from the factory, also.
Shameless plug - I inherited a nice '57 that I can't bring with me to New Zealand. Well I could, but I already imported 3 cars and a WLA Harley and I am out of space and $ for my car toys. The car is still in my Dad's shop outside of Austin. Check out the ad here on the HAMB .....
Hello, When we saw the new Thunderbird in the showrooms, it looked odd. We liked the 55 Thunderbirds, but as a hot rod, not a cruiser sporty car. But, our teenage girls we knew, loved going to the showroom floors to look at the new sporty car, especially the ones that had the hardtop removed. These did not look racy or powerful, just nice... For us, the roof line and stance was/is good. It looked like a custom car. It actually looked better than the 53-55 Corvettes. The first Thunderbird we saw was a black 55 version rolling up into the restaurant drive-in parking lot with a couple of older guys. No one we knew had the money to buy a Thunderbird. The two guys just looked at all of the hot rods and cruisers and just idled by everyone. When they rolled out of the exit driveway, we never saw them again. Years later, a black 57 Thunderbird came cruising into the same parking lot. This time we could hear something different and the look was slightly on the “racer” version. So, it gave all of us a second turn of the head and a constant stare at what was in front of us. The motor purred and when the rev was upped, a gentle whine popped up. Two older guys cruising in a teenage hangout was strange enough, but with a top down sporty car convertible? At least something was going on with the motor that caught our attention. No one we knew had a sporty Thunderbird in their garages as mostly it was family cars or the teenage hot rod sedan parked in/outside of the garage. Jnaki Now, we all knew something was different about the Thunderbird. It had to be a centrifugal supercharger we have seen on other drag race builds. Only, this one was on the street. We saw plenty of sporty cars at Lion’s Dragstrip during the time period that the centrifugal superchargers were available. We even raced against one a 1957 Ford Sedan in our stock car racing cl***. But, never in the sporty car cl***. So, this one was a street racer/cruiser…YRMV
I'll tell ya Steve..... I love the look of that Warbird, boy would Laura be MAD! LMAO God Bless Bill https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/
And wouldn’t you know it, the value of these cars didn’t start dropping until after I bought mine!!
I’ve heard it said when you customize you take the ugly out of the car ( Chip Foose) With regards to a 55-57 Tbird where is the ugly? my wifey with her bird
I agree, I don't mind the one on m y 55 Nash, but very glad Laura's 57 T-bird doesn't have it! God Bless Bill https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/
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