Summary

1 of 156 of the original 211 factory Supercharged 'F' birds known to exist today. Has had a fresh frame-off rotisserie restoration with only 75 test miles since completion.

Details

Another exciting, rare Thunderbird from the Tom Maruska Collection. This one is the 34th factory Supercharged 1957 Thunderbird to be built of the 211 total built. Of that total, only 156 are known to exist today according to John Shields, keeper of the 'F' Bird Registry. This wonderful example is finished in Colonial White with a strikingly beautiful red interior and a black Stay Fast softtop. The entire car just completed a frame-off rotisserie restoration in July, 2008, and has only 75 test miles since the restoration was completed. Every correct component of the Supercharger system, as well as the 312cid engine, automatic transmission, and rear end have been completely rebuilt to original specifications. Please view the pictures that accompany the car. The original invoice also accompanies the car. Brilliant Thunderbird wire wheels have been installed to further enhance the appearance of this rare beauty. In order to stay competitive in NASCAR and to keep up with the Corvette fuel injected engines, Ford developed the Supercharger system for the Thunderbird. NASCAR wouldn't allow it to be used on the track unless it was used on regular production cars so Ford began producing Supercharged Thunderbirds and Ford cars. Although Ford rated and marketed the 'F' Code Thunderbirds at 300hp, McCulloch, the manufacturer of the Supercharger system rated them at 365hp, a whopping 100 hp higher than the non-Supercharged counterparts. Preying on unsuspecting Corvettes accustomed to tromping on Thunderbirds at stoplights all across the country, the new 'F' Code Thunderbirds with no tell-tale markings finally got revenge in the summer of 1957. The first factory Supercharged Thunderbird hit the streets around mid-June, 1957 and began seeking out Corvettes to embarrass. The moral of the story is 'don't mess with a '57 T-bird unless you know what's under the hood.' The complete restoration of this rare Bird was chronicled in 'Legendary Ford' magazine as well as two international Thunderbird club publications, the 'VTCI Scoop' and the 'CTCI Early Bird'.