How much did a 1957 Thunderbird cost in 1957?
About $3,000. The exact sticker price varied by trim and options.
The 1957 Thunderbird was Ford’s premium two-seat personal car, offered in a couple of trims and with a range of option packages. While the base price began in the low $3,000s, buyers could push the final price higher with luxury touches and additional equipment. This article outlines the likely price points you’d have seen in U.S. showrooms in 1957 and explains what influenced the final sticker price.
Pricing in 1957: base, trims, and options
Prices listed here reflect contemporary dealer catalogs and promotional materials from 1957, and show how much a buyer would have paid for different configurations of the Thunderbird.
- Base Thunderbird (standard hardtop two-seat model): roughly $3,000 in 1957 dollars.
- Town Landau trim (higher-end version with additional styling and features): typically higher than the base, generally in the mid-to-upper $3,000s.
- Convertible variant (if purchased with the same trim): usually a few hundred dollars more than the corresponding hardtop configuration, depending on options.
- Fully equipped builds with popular options (power windows, power brakes, automatic transmission, upgraded interior, etc.): could approach or slightly exceed $4,000.
Prices varied by region, dealer incentives, and specific option choices. These figures are representative of the era’s sticker prices and show the Thunderbird’s position as a premium Ford offering rather than a mainstream model.
What influenced the price
The Thunderbird’s pricing structure in 1957 reflected its market positioning as a stylish, performance-oriented two-seat car. Key factors that affected the final price included trim level, the availability of the removable top options, and the inclusion of power accessories and comfort features that were less common on Ford’s volume models at the time.
In addition to the standard hardtop, buyers could opt for the Town Landau treatment, which added exclusive styling cues and equipment. The presence of a convertible variant and the availability of features such as Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission, power assists, and upgraded interiors all contributed to higher sticker prices on selected configurations.
Note on historical sources
Prices cited here come from period catalogs and promotional materials. Individual dealer pricing could differ due to regional market conditions, taxes, and incentives. For collectors, these figures provide a general sense of the Thunderbird’s market value when new in 1957 rather than a single fixed price.
Summary
In 1957, the Ford Thunderbird typically started around $3,000, with more luxurious trims like the Town Landau and additional options pushing final prices higher—often into the mid-to-upper $3,000s and, for fully loaded configurations, toward $4,000. The exact amount depended on trim level, body style (hardtop vs. convertible), and which options a buyer selected.
Context and takeaway
The Thunderbird’s price in 1957 mirrored its branding as Ford’s stylish, premium two-seater. For buyers, the decision often came down to desired features and the prestige of owning a distinctive personal-luxury car, rather than simply the sticker price.
Summary recap
- Base price around $3,000 in 1957.
- Town Landau and option packages raised the price into the mid-to-upper $3,000s and could approach $4,000 for fully loaded cars.
- Price varied by trim, body style, and options, with regional and dealer differences.
