Ford Thunderbird 1957

This Ford Thunderbird scale model reproduces the first-generation car, built from 1955 to 1957. Enthusiasts called these cars ‘Classic Birds’, while the name T-Bird was also used. The car’s name comes from the mythology of Indigenous peoples of North America, in which the Thunderbird was a spirit of lightning, rain and thunderstorms.

The Thunderbird was a small two-seat convertible with an all-metal body on a chassis frame with an X-shaped crossmember. Its removable hardtop was made of fibreglass, while a folding fabric roof was available only as an option. The car used a V8 producing 193 hp; from 1957, a 5.1-litre engine with 245–300 hp was also available and could be equipped with a supercharger.

Positioned in the Personal Luxury segment, the car offered a spacious cabin and comfort-oriented suspension. The Thunderbird had a steering column adjustable for tilt and reach, along with power side windows. Sales were strong: 21,380 cars were sold in 1957 at a price of US$3,408 each.