Car: Ford Thunderbird
Year: 1957
What makes it special: The first-generation of Ford’s Thunderbird were produced for the 1955 through 1957 model years, and the two-seater convertible was the first two-seat car from Ford since 1938. Thunderbird was created as competition to Chevrolet’s Corvette model, which was created in response to the rising popularity of European sports cars in the U.S.
What made it famous: For 1957, some restyle began for the Thunderbird. The front bumper was reshaped, grille and tailfins were enlarged, and it received larger taillights as well. The spare wheel was placed inside the trunk, and it’s “Thunderbird” side script was relocated from the rear fins to the front fenders. New for ’57 was the “Dial-O-Matic” 4-way power seats option, that would move the seats when the ignition was off to allow owners to enter or exit the car easier. Also, joining the standard 292 and optional 312 Thunderbird V8 choices were higher performance version of the 312, including two with a 4-barrel Holley carburetor McCulloch/Paxton centrifugal superchargers at 300hp, and 340hp.
Why I would want one: It’s the best of both worlds: It’s both sporty and luxurious.
Fun fact: The 1957 Thunderbird was the last two-seater Ford sold until the Ford EXP sport compact model in 1982.
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