1 of 8 Phase-1 Thunderbird Factory Supercharged 312 V8 3-speed Award Winner

Will the automobile industry ever match the glory it achieved in the 1950s and 1960s? A hallmark of an industrial powerhouse that's spawned legendary designers, groomed global leaders and literally driven innovation, the 'Golden Age' was an excellent time to be a car enthusiast. Consumers were enamored with the latest and greatest cars, and virtually every manufacturer, from Ferrari to Hudson, was busy winning on Sunday and selling on Monday. It seems only fitting that, along with celebrated personalities and modern-era dynasties, this period gave rise to some of the most valuable collector cars ever created. This authentic Phase 1 Ford Thunderbird, documented with an original Build Sheet, is an award-winning salute to all things great about American motorsports. And if you're in the market for a pedigreed collectible that backs an incredible story with timeless looks and impressive athleticism, you're reading about your next classic!

SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT

Robert Strange McNamara is one of those fabled automotive executives who, in the era of ardent titans like Shelby, Mitchell and Iacocca, often gets glossed over. A Ford 'whiz kid' who graduated from UC Berkeley, enjoyed a stint at Harvard, and achieved Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Air Force before ever breaching Dearborn's doors, he approached every aspect of life with a scientific mindset. In addition to setting the industry standard for product modeling and assembly line optimization, McNamara's keen sense of logic is what compelled Ford to introduce the highly successful Falcon and a smaller, more competitive Lincoln Continental. It should come as no surprise, then, that former U.S. Secretary of Defense and World Bank President Robert McNamara eventually became the first president of Ford Motor Company who did not bear the Ford family name.

In late 1956 America was firing on all cylinders and, in many ways, those cylinders were getting ignited in Detroit. Chevrolet was busy perfecting its recently launched Corvette with Rochester mechanical fuel injection and had just announced that it was producing the first small block to feature one horsepower per cubic inch. McNamara, not to be outdone by his crosstown rivals, decided to create a factory supercharger program that paired a select number of hand-built Fords with innovative McCollough blowers. The idea was to produce enough cars to meet NASCAR's homologation rules, and then head to Daytona to publicly whip Chevrolet. That's where this incredible Thunderbird comes into the picture. Purportedly the last of the 15 Phase 1 T-Birds created under McNamara's Executive Orders, and currently one of only eight still in existence, this exclusive classic features the perfect blend of performance, pedigree and provenance. In February of 1957, a Phase 1 roadster blistered Daytona Speed Weeks' Two-Way Flying Mile at 138.755 MPH -- besting the previous year's record by a solid six MPH. And Ford would go on to sell roughly 212 regular production Thunderbirds, known as F-codes or F-Birds, that were specifically modeled around these racers.

ROTISSERIE RESTORED WITH AUTHORITY

Hand-assembled on January 25th, 1957, this fully documented Thunderbird benefitted from a world class rotisserie restoration that made excellent use of many original components. Completed over 18 months in Melbourne, Australia, that ground-up rebuild was shepherded by Classic Thunderbird Club International authority Gil Baumgartner. Naturally, the car's solid, jet-inspired profile wears rare Flame Red paint under either a Black retractable cloth top or Flame Red fiberglass hardtop. And today, this concours Ford rolls as a first-class example of one of the rarest Thunderbirds ever created, having won both the Gold Medallion Award and the Excellence in Authenticity Award from Classic Thunderbird Club International.

THUNDERBIRD V8

Tilt McNamara's Safety Package hood and you'll find 312 cubic inches of supercharged Thunderbird V8! Introduced in 1956, this stout little Y-block remained an option in blue oval staples well into the mid-1970s. At the top of the bright orange mill, a correct McCulloch Phase 1 VR57 blower pushes wind into a petite air cleaner, which caps a correct 1536 Holley. Atomized octane passes through a cast iron intake to cast iron heads that are topped by painted and Thunderbird-branded valve covers. At the front of those covers, requisite Ford V-belts spin an old school FoMoCo-branded generator. Spark comes courtesy of a factory distributor, which sequences fire between a FoMoCo coil, a FoMoCo voltage regulator and pliable Ford plug wires. Cooling is provided by a factory radiator, which passes water through fresh FoMoCo hoses. And it all adds up to 300 Fuelie-stomping horsepower!

RESTORATION-FRESH

Park this T-Bird on a lift and you'll find a sturdy Safety Package X-frame that's bolted to virtually spotless floors. Behind the motor, a correct BorgWarner T85 3-speed twists torque through a correct rear end. At the ends of the floors, a fully restored double A-arm front and solid axle rear suspension has been completely returned to factory specifications. At the corners of the car, factory drum brakes complement good handling characteristics with solid and confident stops. Exhaust is managed by big, true-dual pipes, which span both resonators and turbo mufflers. And power meets the pavement through Flame Red steelies, which spin fresh 7.50-14 Firestone Deluxe Champions around tasteful Ford hub caps.

PURPOSE OVER POSH

In the vein of Model Ts with Black paint, Phase 1 Thunderbirds were only assembled with radio, heater, clock and lighter deletes. And, in keeping with that high performance theme, this roadster's interior is beautifully simplistic. Front and center, stylish, engine-turned trim frames fully rebuilt telemetry. A firm bench seat floats between sculpted side panels. At the middle of the floor, a petite chrome shifter is as handsome as it is stylish. In front of the driver, a classy steering wheel laps a polished column. And that wheel joins lap belts, a padded dash and padded sun visors to round out the car's documented Safety Package.

Pedigreed, exclusive and concours restored by an authority from Classic Thunderbird Club International, this national award-winning Ford is an excellent chance for any serious enthusiast to score a world class collector car. Only 15 of these legendary 'birds rolled down Ford's hallowed production lines, and even fewer survived to become coveted collectibles. Looking for the ultimate homage to the 'Golden Age' of the automobile industry? Find it now at https://www.RKMotors.com!

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HIGHLIGHTS

* Rare, fully documented Phase 1 Thunderbird that's benefitted from a world class rotisserie restoration
* One of only 15 Hand-Built Phase 1 Thunderbirds produced
* Only of only 8 Phase 1 Thunderbirds believed to still exist
* Restored by CTCI Authenticity Chairman, Gil Baumgartner
* Received the Gold Medallion Award from Classic Thunderbird Club International
* Received the Excellence in Authenticity Award from Classic Thunderbird Club International
* Correct 312 cubic inch Thunderbird V8 with factory McCulloch Phase 1 VR57 supercharger
* Correct BorgWarner T85 3-speed manual transmission
* Flame Red paint with a Black convertible soft top and a Flame Red hardtop
* Red interior with correct deletes and a correct Safety Package
* Original Build Sheet Copy
* All RK Motors vehicles receive a comprehensive, multi-point inspection
* We can arrange shipment of your purchase anywhere in the world