This 1957 Ford Thunderbird is much more than one of the rarest Fords produced in the post-WWII era, for while outwardly identical to production models, its origins and history set it apart as almost singularly unique as one of a group of fifteen hand-built for competition and one of just eight that survive today.
In 1957 NASCAR relaxed its engine rules to allow the use of enhanced induction systems including fuel injection and supercharging, both the subject of development programs by Detroit manufacturers. In a November 26, 1956 letter to the Ford Executive Committee, Ford Division General Manager Robert S. McNamara described an internal engine development program “deemed essential to the maintenance of the Ford car and Thunderbird performance reputation.” Citing Chevrolet’s ongoing development of its fuel injection system, McNamara recommended on behalf of the Ford Engineering Office
“the installation on the 312 cu. in. 4V carburetor engine of a new design McColluch supercharger for use on the Ford car and Thunderbird…which would provide operational characteristics equal to or better than any fuel injection system at present day development. The supercharger option would carry a rating of 300 horsepower.”
McNamara proposed an initial production run of one hundred vehicles to meet NASCAR homologation requirements, and targeted the week-long Daytona Beach Speed Trials scheduled to begin on February 3, 1957 for their competition debut. Thus was born the Ford Motor Company Supercharger Program, which mandated the production of sixty-five Ford Custom Two-Door Sedans, twenty Ford Convertibles and fifteen Thunderbirds, the latter group all hand-built at the Dearborn Assembly Plant. All fifteen Thunderbirds were built on January 25, 1957, incorporating the specified 312 CI single carburetor engine, McCulloch VR57 Phase 1 supercharger, a heavy duty three-speed manual transmission, seat belts and a fiberglass hard top. The formula proved itself at Daytona, where one of the Phase 1 Thunderbirds set a new record for American sports cars with a speed of 138.755 mph, a 6 mph improvement over the previous year’s record set by Corvette.
The Daytona success prompted Ford management to approve a milder version of the racing ‘Birds for regular production, which began in June 1957; only one hundred ninety four units were built, making them exceedingly rare today. These became known as “F-Birds” for the letter in the serial number denoting a supercharged engine. It is important to note that although identified within Ford as the “Phase 1 Supercharger Thunderbirds, the supercharged racing version’s use of the single-carb engine resulted in its lasting popular identification as the “D/F Bird.”
Comprehensive documentation, a full ownership record and an interesting history all serve to recommend the Inca Gold Phase 1 Supercharger Thunderbird offered here, but its full value lies in its status as one of the finest of the original fifteen hand-built race cars. It was originally sold by Duval Ford in Jacksonville, FL to Dewey “Gilly” Gilliland, a local drag racer whose success in his own McColluch-supercharged 1955 Thunderbird convinced Ford management to offer him a factory-built Phase 1 car. Because of what Gilliland himself described as his “slight stature”, he ordered the car equipped with a power seat. Also unusual for a race car were his choice of a tonneau cover and a Town & Country radio for between-rounds entertainment.
Interestingly, while the Ford Motor Company invoice to Duval Ford does not mention an overdrive unit, the dealer invoice to Gilliland lists one as part of the equipment as delivered. According to the car’s restorer, noted Thunderbird specialist Gil Baumgartner, Ford did not offer the factory three-speed overdrive transmission, which was unable to handle the supercharged engine’s torque; the car was built with the specified heavy duty three speed manual, and the overdrive unit was installed by the dealer.
Gilliland entered the car in the Daytona Speed Trials but his scheduled run was postponed, forcing him to return home without having competed there. He then modified it for drag racing, recording an impressive best time of 13.10 seconds at 117 mph in the late Fifties.
After its drag racing career was over, Gilliland returned the Thunderbird to stock, installed a convertible top, and used it as a daily driver. He eventually sold it, with over 60,000 miles on the odometer, to its second owner in Columbia, South Carolina. It was then purchased in 1979 by a Maryland Ford collector who had it restored by Gil Baumgartner. Currently the Chairman of the Authenticity Committee of the Classic Thunderbird Club International and author of the Thunderbird Restoration Details and Specifications Manual, Baumgartner wrote in a 2003 report that the restoration revealed that the car was rust free and completely undamaged. The restored Thunderbird earned the CTCI Gold Medallion Award, the CTCI Senior Car Award and a reported perfect score of 400 points at the 1988 Hershey AACA event, where it won First in Class. It was also featured on the covers of Car Collector and Cars & Parts magazines and has appeared in numerous articles.
The current owner purchased the car in 2003 with the intention of enjoying it in road events such as the Colorado Grand, but he soon concluded that such activities would diminish its value as a Concours-quality, award-winning treasure. As a result, the car shows just over 100 miles on the odometer, which was reset to zero during the restoration.
Today the car’s presentation and impeccable condition belie the twenty three years that have passed since its restoration, the decision to preserve it validated by subsequent appearances at Amelia Island, Meadow Brook and the Palm Beach International Concours, where it received a 'Best in Class' award.
The accompanying documentation alone distinguishes this Thunderbird from its peers. It includes a copy of the internal Ford Motor Company Executive Communication from Robert S. McNamara to the Executive Committee outlining the Ford Motor Company Supercharger Program, described by the owner as the “birth certificate” for these cars and probably the most significant document in the historical record.
The original Ford Motor Company invoice to Duval Ford lists the supercharged engine and other optional equipment along with the January 25, 1957 production date. A copy of the sales invoice from Duval Ford to Dewey Gilliland, the original Florida title, the original Warranty/Service Policy and original Battery Warranty Card, all in Gilliland’s name, are also included.
Restorer Gil Baumgartner’s 2003 evaluation contains several important points, perhaps the most significant pertaining to the car’s excellent condition prior to its restoration. Two issues of CTCI’s Early Bird magazine (May-June 1976 and March-April 1977) contain articles written by the first owner, Dewey Gilliland. The first is a detailed account of the car’s history to that point, the second addresses the Phase 1 Thunderbirds’ unusual rarity. In addition, original issues of Car Collector (February 1979) and Cars & Parts ( January 1989), both containing cover feature articles on the car, are included, as are photographs of many unique Phase 1 components, showing casting numbers and embossed part numbers.
The exceptional rarity of the surviving Phase I Supercharged Thunderbirds surpasses that of almost any other American factory built competition vehicle, especially in the case of this historically significant, superbly restored and extensively documented example.
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