This 1957 Ford Thunderbird is a modified example that was built from the late 1990s to 2002, reportedly by Steve’s Restorations of Portland, Oregon. Power is from a 5.7-liter LS1 V8 paired with a six-speed manual transmission, and the body is finished in pearl blue over a customized blue interior. Additional details include handmade bumpers, a matching convertible top, a Kugel Komponents independent front end with rack and pinion steering, Corvette independent rear suspension, Wilwood brakes, staggered Boyd Coddington wheels, and a retrofitted HVAC system. The car received the Outstanding Interior Custom and Chip Foose Design Excellence awards at the 2003 Grand National Roadster show in addition to awards at several other events on the West Coast in the early 2000s. This Thunderbird is offered by the selling dealer with a service manual, a period brochure, build photos, and a clean Oregon title.
The factory fender vents and headlight bezels were eliminated along with other trim, while the blend from the headlights to the fenders was extended and smoothed. The car was repainted in pearl blue and fitted with hand-fabricated chrome bumpers, a custom rear license plate recess, stainless bar-stock grille and scoop inserts, billet taillight surrounds, and a remote trunk release. The seller notes a crack and ding in the right tail fin. The custom convertible top is shown raised and lowered.
Boyd Coddington alloy wheels measure 17″x8″ up front and 18″x8″ out back, and are mounted with 245-section Michelin Pilot SX tires. Braking is handled by four-wheel Wilwood discs with aluminum calipers and a dual-circuit master cylinder. The Kugel Komponents front end features stainless steel A-arms and a Mustang II steering rack, while the independent rear suspension is based on Corvette components and has been narrowed by 6.” Adjustable coilovers are featured at all four corners.
The interior was reportedly designed by Chris Ito in Portland, Oregon and features power-adjustable Porsche-based seats with BMW headrests and Saab heaters, a hand-formed wrap-around dash, custom door panels, and aluminum trim. The seats, dash, and rear bulkhead are upholstered in indigo leather over blue carpets.
Amenities include a trunk-mounted stereo system with a CD changer, a Vintage Air heating and air conditioning system, and power windows. A leather-wrapped billet steering wheel frames a 180-mph speedometer, a tachometer, and four auxiliary gauges. Approximately 1,200 miles are shown on the six-digit odometer, 40 of which were added by the selling dealer.
The shaved and tucked engine bay is home to a 5.7-liter LS1 V8 crate engine with body-colored covers, a chrome intake and accessories, and coated headers feeding a polished 2.5″ mandrel-bent exhaust system. Cooling is from an aluminum radiator with an electric fan.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission and a Corvette differential. An included summary notes that the chassis was custom-fabricated from the midpoint of the engine to the front of the car. The driveline and suspension components are painted, chromed, or polished.
Photos showing the car before and during the project are included in the sale. A reproduction data plate matches the serial number stamp on the frame rail, with both shown in the gallery below.
Other extras include a model brochure, an accessory catalog, and a service manual for the C5 Corvette on CD.
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