1957 Ford Thunderbird

edited by David Barth, 1 March 2009.
Courtesy The Automobile Driving Museum in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Photos were taken in January 2009.

As the story goes, Lewis D. Crusoe, the ex-General Motors executive, was lured out of retirement by Henry Ford II to design a new style of American sports car. Crusoe was dissatisfied with the list of names for the new Ford, so he offered a $250 prize to anyone who could suggest a great name.

Alden "Gib" Giberson submitted "Thunderbird" and got the prize. This car has a continuous hardtop without porthole windows which were optional on the 1957 models. The 1957 Thunderbird was the last year of the two-seater cars.

Body Style: Two-Door, Two-Seat Sport Model
Factory Price: $3,408
Production: 21,380
Weight: 3,145 lbs.
Engine: V-8 (two engine options)
Horsepower: 245
Displacement: 312 inches
Wheelbase: 102 inches
Transmission: Automatic, with overdrive; 3 speed manual optional