In 1957 Ford modified the Thunderbird with new front and rear ends as well as a more powerful V8 engine. This more powerful model was met with great enthusiasm by consumers who purchased over 20,000 units that year.

Upgrades to the 1957 model year included larger 14-inch wheels, increased chassis rigidity, a new suspension and excellent new and far larger brakes at all four-corners.

Five distinct V8s were offered. On the lower end was the 292 cubic-inch engine and a D-code 312 cubic-inch engine called the Thunderbird Special V8, with a single Holley carb.  Higher spec cars included the E-code which used dual Holley four-barrels to produce 270 bhp or 285 with a racing kit which had 10.0:1 compression large port heads, dual 4 barrel carburetors, 290 degree cam and reworked distributor.  At the top end was the F-code McCullough-Paxton supercharged model which offered 300 horsepower.

This is one of the last two seat Thunderbirds ever produced. It was completed in late November 1957 with the last Thunderbird rolling off on December 13, 1957.  The last chassis was E7FH395813, but the chassis numbers were based on all of Fords production, and not just on Thunderbirds being built that year.

This particular example is one of the utra-rare, original special-order 285bhp “E-Code” models.  There were 21000 Thunderbirds produced in 1957 due to the 1958s being delayed.  There were however only about 1200 E model thunderbirds produced.  Most of these did not come with power windows, power steering, or power brakes which this example has had since new.

This is a fully restored, zero rust, zero accident example chocked-full of the very best and rarest options available in the final and most desirable year of the original two-seat Thunderbird production.