Engine - 312 cubic-inch V8
Transmission - 3-speed manual
Horsepower - 272 at 4,800 rpm
Production - 1,499 E-Code Thunderbirds produced

“A personal car of distinction”

By the 1950s, Ford Motor Company had an extensive history of producing practical vehicles. However, the Ford Thunderbird addressed demand for a powerful two seat roadster that could compete indirectly with the Chevrolet Corvette and popular European imports favored by returning war veterans. Ford took significant risk in developing a 2-seater vehicle, but the car reached a much broader audience due to its superior long-distance capabilities and driver amenities. Although the Thunderbird was lightweight for its era and equipped with a standard V8 engine, it prioritized driver comfort over speed. Introduced in 1955, the T-Bird was a success, and soon began to outsell its Chevrolet rival by a ratio of 10 to 1 due to appealing V8 engine options and styling that mirrored Ford's larger models.

While market trends leaned toward larger, heavier cars for open-road driving, The 1957 model year restyling included more exaggerated tail fins, "jet engine" style taillights, and a more substantial front grille. This example, restored in its original paint color of Thunderbird Bronze, represents one of just 1,499 examples of the E-Code variant produced. This model incorporates a 312 cubic-inch V8 with dual 4-barrel carburetors, and a 3-speed manual transmission. Ford referred to the Thunderbird as "a personal car of distinction," a descriptor that was also used by automotive journalists at the time. As such, the Ford Thunderbird marked an important step in the evolution of the personal luxury car as a mass-market segment in the United States.