This Beautiful 1957 Ford Thunderbird Features A Rare Manual Gearbox

Ford Thunderbirds were hit or miss, but there’s no denying the original is an undisputed classic.

Originally conceived as a response to the Chevrolet Corvette, the Thunderbird was launched in 1954 and became an instant hit as over 16,000 were sold during the original 1955 model year.

That brings us to this 1957 T-Bird which will be up for grabs at Mecum’s Dallas auction later this month. Recently given a professional restoration, this particular model looks like it just rolled off the assembly line.

Also Read: Untouched 1955 Ford T-Bird Is Looking For A Loving Home

Of course, true T-Bird fans will notice it’s not quite original as it sports a beautiful Azure Blue paint job from the 1958 model. That’s not necessarily a bad thing as it helps the classic chrome grille ‘pop’ while also accenting the iconic fins.

Elsewhere, the model has an original Royal Blue Stayfast top which has been restored to like-new condition. The car also wears wire wheels which are outfitted with BF Goodrich Silvertown whitewall tires.

The blue theme continues in the cabin as there’s a Dresden Blue and Starmist Blue interior with “correct embossments.” Pictures are sadly lacking, but the model has air conditioning, OEM-style seat belts and a “Town and Country signal-seeking radio.”

Power is provided by a 5.1-liter V8 engine that has been rebuilt and equipped with dual four-barrel carburetors. They reportedly enable the car to produce 270 hp (201 kW / 274 PS).

The engine is connected to a Borg Warner T85 three-speed manual transmission with overdrive. While that doesn’t sound terribly exciting, the listing notes “less than .02% of all 1957 Thunderbirds” were reportedly outfitted with that gearbox.

There’s no auction estimate but, given its condition, the car will garner plenty of attention.