I need to sell a 57 Thunderbird

[HardDrive]

Step father has a 1957 Thunderbird he wants me to sell for him. Very good condition. Bare metal body restoration done about 15 years ago. Interior is very good original. Car has barely been driven, currently getting a light refresh to bring it out of storage mode.

Thoughts on the best approach to take?

Don't need to sell, so we can wait until spring. Car is in Salem Oregon.

[stomachmonkey]

BAT.

Seems to be the place these days.

[pavulon]

Are there no T-bird forums online? Maybe post an image and some details here to get the ball rolling.

[Jim Bremner]

Hemmings

[LWJ]

Or a quality local classic auction. BAT and Hemings are all good picks.

Good luck. Pics? Porthole thirds are cool.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I think BaT is probably your best bet. Going to a full on auction is pretty time consuming and they take a bigger cut. I would wait until spring if its not a big issue, winter is always a tough time to sell a collector car, particularly a convertible.

[speeder]

The one thing you can do is look on BAT and see completed auctions to get a feel for what it's worth. There have been several early T-Birds that have run through there recently.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

If you send me pics and info, I can get input on the car's value and best place to sell from one of the top Ford restorers in the country. I did all the cadmium plating for a factory supercharged 57 Thunderbird for him.

[speeder]

They are fairly common as collector cars go, they sold in good numbers and have been saved almost since they were new.

Here is decent original car running through BAT right now, located in SoCal. How does yours compare to this one?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1956-ford-thunderbird-19/

[stomachmonkey]

Dammit Denis.

That's pretty enticing at $10K.

I hate you.

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by speeder

They are fairly common as collector cars go, they sold in good numbers and have been saved almost since they were new.

Here is decent original car running through BAT right now, located in SoCal. How does yours compare to this one?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1956-ford-thunderbird-19/

Condition is comparable but, thats a 56, a 'baby' bird. 57s go for more $.

The 57 had FINS.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Dammit Denis.

That's pretty enticing at $10K.

I hate you.

You cannot buy it now for $10k. The auction ends in 3 days, whatever the hammer drops at may or may not buy the car. BAT auctions have hidden reserves, unless the heading says, "no reserve."

Hopefully that makes you feel better.

Still, they don't go for huge money.

[pavulon]

[Evans, Marv]

That T-Bird on BAT (pictured) is a '55, not a '56. The '55 had round turn signal/parking lights, whereas the '56 had flat ones. IIRC the '55 had a 6 volt system and they went to a 12 volt system in '56.

[Sarc]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Condition is comparable but, thats a 56, a 'baby' bird. 57s go for more $.

The 57 had FINS.

Not necessarily. At this point it's all about condition. Here are some '57 comps:

https://bringatrailer.com/search/1957+thunderbird/auctions/

for what it's worth, the 57s are considered baby (or little) birds as well, with the square bird debuting in 1958.
Got any pictures??

[Sarc]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

That T-Bird on BAT (pictured) is a '55, not a '56. The '55 had round turn signal/parking lights, whereas the '56 had flat ones. IIRC the '55 had a 6 volt system and they went to a 12 volt system in '56.

It's a 56; Thunderbird hood emblem, red dot back-up lights, no Y-block side badging, side wind wings, and (most notably) fender vents.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

That T-Bird on BAT (pictured) is a '55, not a '56. The '55 had round turn signal/parking lights, whereas the '56 had flat ones. IIRC the '55 had a 6 volt system and they went to a 12 volt system in '56.

Nope, '56 T-Birds had same round signals as '55. See photos here:

https://www.amosminter.com/Thunderbirds_For_Sale.html

As for pricing, the BAT results are going to be more helpful than the Pebble Beach cars @ Amos Minter.

EDIT: Sarc beat me to it.

[Evans, Marv]

Looks like you guys are right. I thought I remembered the '56 having the same turn signals as the '56 Fords. I remember going to the LA auto show when the T-Birds first came out and looking at a Robin's Egg blue one. I thought it was the most beautiful car I'd seen.

[Sarc]

Originally Posted by speeder

You cannot buy it now for $10k. The auction ends in 3 days, whatever the hammer drops at may or may not buy the car. BAT auctions have hidden reserves, unless the heading says, "no reserve."

Hopefully that makes you feel better.

Still, they don't go for huge money.

Hammered at $25k. Nice car.

And this one is already at $20k:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1955-ford-thunderbird-20/

[Scott Douglas]

That black one is a lot nicer than the white one that hammered yesterday, IMO.
I'd prefer a '57 myself as I think they look more 'refined' than the '55-'56's do.
I've been lucky enough to have actually driven a '56 that a friend restored. It was an eye opening experience to say the least.