The first generation of the Ford Thunderbird has been on the “iconic list” for many years. Collectors tend to migrate to the 1957 editions due to their longer rear decks and mild tailfins. Though they sold well enough, Ford wanted more, and the T-Bird became a 4-seater in 1958 and beyond. This ’57 just came out of storage after a long slumber and – while it looks good – it will need a lot of work. Located in Hico, West Virginia, this non-running “Bird” is available here on eBay where the latest bid without a reserve is $11,900.

While many consider the early Thunderbirds to be a competitor to the Chevrolet Corvette, that’s misleading. While both cars had two seats from 1955-57, the T-Bird was going after the “personal luxury car” segment which wasn’t well-defined at the time. It didn’t help that the T-Bird had a removable top and came with a V8 engine, making it a better performer than the Corvette in many situations. And it was the only Ford at the time to come with a 150-mph speedometer, adding to the sports car illusion. After building more than 21,000 Thunderbirds in 1957, Ford transformed it into a bigger car – and sold even more of them as a result.

Though it still looked like its 1955-56 predecessors, the ’57 T-Bird was a more streamlined version of the automobile. A 312 cubic inch V8 became standard and the one in the seller’s car was rated at 245 hp when new with a 4-barrel carburetor. The title, dated in 2022, says that this ’57 Ford has just 46,000 miles on it, so it wasn’t necessarily worn out when it went into storage for reasons not mentioned. Overall, it looks solid though we’re told there is a bit of sheet metal rust here and there. The top has been “repainted” but with a vinyl material that looks good but isn’t nearly original, if that’s important to you.

We don’t know why this Ford doesn’t run other than it may have sat long enough for the fuel in the car to have broken down. This is no convertible top provided with this Thunderbird, though the seller knows someone who has one for sale. The tires are nearly new, so maybe only the engine and the brakes would top the buyer’s to-do list. The rear bumper is missing, and the dashboard may be in trouble as the seller has a spare to go with the car. Other than cash, the seller might consider a trade and a 1956 Ford pickup seems to top his/her wish list.