We probably don’t need to go into a lot of detail about how important the early 2-seat Ford Thunderbird was to both Ford Motor Company and to the industry in general, but there’s certainly a reason why they outsold the Corvette 7-to-1. Today, they’ve become almost a commodity, with a huge fan base and widespread acceptance across all walks of life. Driving in an early ‘Bird, you’ll make friends everywhere you go and everybody recognizes Ford’s famous ‘50s cruiser. They’re also rather pleasant cars to drive, with smooth road manners, good power, and a comfortable interior specifically designed for two passengers to travel long distances. Sure, there are a lot of them around, but the reason is that these are simply great cars to own and drive.

Two-seat Ford Thunderbirds are a lot of things to a lot of people, but one thing they frequently are not is affordable. That changes here with this handsome Raven Black 1957 Thunderbird, which is a solid original car with some recent cosmetic freshening. In fact, the paint is only a few years old and looks fantastic, applied over what appears to be a very straight body. Black isn’t very forgiving, especially the high-gloss two-stage urethane used here, and as you can see in the photos, there are almost no waves or ripples in the surface. Thanks to a professional wet sand and buff, it has a fantastic shine, and the overall look is all out of proportion to its price. Of note, the fender skirts are fiberglass reproductions, but they fit well and were professionally finished to match the car, giving it an all-of-a-piece look (and Thunderbirds without skirts just look odd). The chrome trim is almost entirely original, so it’s showing its age but it’ll be a judgment call whether to replace or refinish any of it. There’s light pitting on the emblems, the bumpers have some pockmarks, and there’s some discoloration around the exhaust tips, but none of it is evident from even a few feet away. Then again, that’s part of why this car is so affordable.

The black and white interior wears new seat covers, door panels, and carpets, so it’s fresh and comfortable inside. The reproduction stuff is pretty good and the seat is supportive enough for a comfortable all-day drive, and with white inserts, it doesn’t get too hot when you’ve got the top down. The gauges are original and somewhat faded, and beyond the temperature gauge and fuel level gauge, none of them are operational, so that should be first on your list of jobs this winter. On the other hand, the original Town & Country signal-seeking radio works properly, all the lights and turn signals are in order, and things like the dash pad and headliner in the removable hardtop are in excellent original condition. Tucked behind the seat is a relatively recent black canvas folding top and the trunk is outfitted with a new mat set. Peel back the mats and you’ll be pleased to see that the original floors aren’t showing the telltale signs of body cancer, suggesting that this car has led a pretty good life.

The engine is the popular 312 cubic inch Y-block V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor up top. Given its condition, it’s probably safe to say that it’s original, and while it isn’t sparkling fresh, it remains a strong runner that’s quite pleasant to drive. It sports the dealer-installed dress-up kit that would brighten up with a little elbow grease and the bright red engine enamel is likely factory-applied, again indicating a car that’s had it easy for the past six decades. Power steering is a very desirable option on an early Thunderbird, making parking lot maneuvers effortless, and you can see that some efforts were made to keep it as original as possible, right down to the Ford-stamped radiator hose and original voltage regulator. Backed by a Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission, it’s a pleasant cruiser that never puts a foot wrong and at this price, it’s a great-driving car that can still have fun on the road. It’s not detailed underneath (in fact, it’s pretty greasy) but that also means that it’s been protected from the elements and the foundation is quite good for a car that you’ll be driving rather than showing. There's a brand new reproduction exhaust system, complete with resonators, so it sounds proper and there are no obvious signs of trouble. Four new Uniroyal 14-inch whitewall radials have been fitted and have less than 100 miles on them, so just go out and have some fun.

It’s not perfect, and we’re not going to over-sell the car. But the basics are quite good and you can get into an early 2-seat Thunderbird for far less than you’d expect. Most of the heavy-lifting is done and the car represents an opportunity for a talented hobbyist to add value by just cleaning it up and detailing the little stuff. It’s not often that we say this, but this Thunderbird represents inexpensive fun that may have an upside. Call today!