10102
D7FH108119
1957
40 - EE - XJ - 27J - 210003C
Frank Sell says: This car was found on a used car lot in Chesney, South Carolina in 1994 or 1995 by a non-professional car hobbyist who did a fair restoration job, but did some things that were not correct, that I have straightened out under the guidance of Bob Walker, Past President of CTCI, and '55-'57 T-Bird parts dealer. <p>It was sold to an individual from Gastonia in 1996. I bought it from him in 1997. It had been painted Raven Black with a white Hard Top, but it had no soft top. I entered it in the Southeast regional "Primary Original Driven" in 1999 to get a judging sheet on the car and see what all was wrong with it, but surprisingly it won a bronze award. I did not buy the car to show, but rather to drive and enjoy. I purchased a complete original soft top with swing bar in 2002. We have driven the car on several Tarheel Classic T-Bird Club outings. <p>Since it is a driver I am doing some modifications to make it as as safe, comfortable, and dependable as possible, for example: seat belts, conversion to an alternator, heavy duty stabilizers-(front & rear), air shocks on rear, air conditioning, cooling fans, electronic ignition, halogen head lights, disc front brakes, radial tires, and FM radio-tape player with new speakers. It is a pleasure to drive and attracts attention everywhere we go in it. <p>It has two bolts on each side of the front bumper which I understand indicates that it was one of the first 12 1957 Thunderbirds built. It is the only one that I have seen with this feature.
I would love to know the entire history of the car, but do not know how to do this. It is basically a very straight, rust free car in very good condition. We bought a 2003 Desert Sky Blue T-Bird in December, 2002 which we are enjoying very much also, but it does not replace the '57.
Frank N. Sell
8/3/2003
312 V-8 - 1/4V
Intact
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