“Goodness gracious, great balls of fire,” became a pop-culture phenomenon when a catchy song with that line was released in November 1957 by rock and roll musician Jerry Lee Lewis. You might have the same reaction when seeing this ’57. Featured on AutoHunter is this 1957 Ford Thunderbird Custom Convertible. It is being sold by a private seller from Vernal, Utah, with the auction ending on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. (MST).
The T-bird’s striking Kandy Apple Red paint has a gold flake in it and looks as sweet as candy indeed. The car’s trim tag, decoded in the listing, denotes an original paint combination of Starmist Blue and Raven Black two-tone so, at some point in life, the aesthetic was changed. A set of 17-inch chrome wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich tires complete the package. The car also comes with two tops: a white removable hardtop is included in addition to the standard-issue retractable soft top. While not as extravagant as some other cars from the late 1950s, the Thunderbird did have pronounced tailfins at the rear that gave it a performance-oriented, aerodynamic silhouette.
Ford’s personal luxury car was in its third model year by 1957, and it was about to undergo some major engineering changes. Most notably, the car would grow a backseat for 1958, doubling seating capacity from two to four. For that reason, the 1957 would go down in history as the last year of the “Baby Bird.” Despite being discontinued, the two-seater was a sales success with 21,380 units sold, beating the prior year’s number by almost 5,000 cars. One of those 21,380 was this car—and a lot more was changed with it than just the color.
The car’s original D-code 312ci V8 was swapped out for a crate-sourced 347ci V8. Additional upgraded performance equipment includes a four-barrel carburetor, Edelbrock intake manifold, and MSD distributor. Finally, a replacement four-speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels. The power-assisted front disc brakes and dual exhaust system are modern upgrades that round out the package in true restomod fashion.
Today, first-generation Thunderbirds are highly-collectible (and culturally significant) classics. While some enthusiasts steer toward cars with perfect originality, there is no mistaking that an eye-catching custom—especially with “kandy”-colored paint—gets just as many looks on the road, if not more.
The auction for this 1957 Ford Thunderbird Custom Convertible ends Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. (MST).
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery
