For many fans of the early Thunderbird, the '57 is the pinnacle of evolution. Learning from the previous two years, Ford substantially revised the T-Bird, adding some small fins, enlarging the grille opening, and moving the spare tire back inside the trunk. This lovely Colonial White 'Bird offers a recent paint job, great road manners, and a true '50s feel. You simply can't go wrong with tradition, and nothing looks better on an early 'Bird than code E Colonial White, which is this car's original color. Refinished in January of 2017, it's extremely fresh and looks spectacular. Bodywork is exceptionally straight, with super-smooth panels and plenty of attention to detail where it matters; note how neatly the taillight end caps fit, how crisp the character line along the side of the body appears, and the even gaps all around. Somehow the paint shop gave the modern urethane finish a soft shine that looks straight out of the Ford factory in 1957, but with a durability that gives it a forever shine. Other details, such as the elegant Thunderbird badges, the cool rear bumper with integrated exhaust outlets, and the stainless trim on the fender skirts have all been expertly restored to new condition. We never say a car is "perfect" but this one is exceptionally nice and you'll never hesitate to take out of the garage knowing that everyone will give you a "thumbs-up" out on the road. The interior takes a slightly different turn than most white 'Birds, carrying a handsome two-tone blue interior that is correct code XL Dresden and Starmist. Highly detailed door panels offer machine-turned panels that extend across the dash and a stylish armrest that gives the cockpit a wrap-around feel. The gauges are in well-preserved original condition with clear markings and the original Town & Country AM radio still lives in the center of the dash. The only thing that really stands out is the steering wheel, which appears to be original and scuffed, although restoring it would be so easy that I wonder if leaving it alone was intentional. Overhead there's a blue canvas convertible top as well as a Colonial White factory "porthole" hardtop, so this T-Bird is ready for any occasion. They've also finished the trunk with a color-matched carpet set mat and matching full-sized spare tire. By 1957, Ford had upgraded the D-code 312 cubic inch Thunderbird Special to 245 horsepower. Linked to a 3-speed Ford-O-Matic transmission and a set of 3.10 gears out back, it's an exceptional cruiser with moves more like a muscle car than a luxury car. Up top, there's a traditional chrome air cleaner that inhales through the fully functional hood scoop, Ford Red paint on the block, and those beautiful finned aluminum valve covers. Unlike a lot of Thunderbirds, this eliminates early carburetor problems with a modern Holley 4-barrel that makes it easy to start and maybe even adds a few horsepower. There's a new aluminum high-efficiency radiator up front, a rebuilt starter and distributor to make it fire quickly, and power steering makes it easy to handle. Underneath, there's a rumbling dual exhaust system that sounds appropriately muscular, but in a muted sort of way. Hailing from the southwest, the chassis is extremely clean although not detailed for show, and it wears 205/75/14 whitewalls on a set of flashy chrome Cragar mags, although the original restored wheels and hubcaps are included along with a car cover. Iconic, fun to drive, and a still a solid investment, this '57 Thunderbird needs looks like it should cost a lot more than it does. Call today!