1957 Ford Thunderbird Experimental at the Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races

1955-1961 Sports Racing Cars Over 2000cc

1959-1966 Sports Racing Cars

1961-1966 GT Cars Under 2500cc

1963-1967 GT Cars Over 2500cc

1973-1980 IMSA GT, GTX, AAGT Cars

1966-1974 Can-Am Cars

1971-1976 FIA Mfg. Championship Cars

1964-1971 FIA Mfg. Championship Cars

1981-1990 IMSA GTP & FIA Mfg. Championship Cars

1955-1961 Sports Racing Cars Over 2000cc Vehicles

1954 Jaguar Type D

1955 Jaguar XK-D D-Type

1956 Aston Martin DB3S

1957 Aston Martin DBR2

1957 Devin SS

1957 Ferrari 250 TR

1957 Ford Thunderbird Experimental

1957 Maserati 200 SI

1957 Monsterati Special

1957 Townsend Typhoon MKII

1958 Devin SS

1958 Echidna Racing Special

1958 Ferrari 250 TR

1958 Lister Costin

1958 Lotus Fifteen

1958 Scarab Sports Roadster

1959 Balchowski Ol Yaller MKII

1959 Bocar XP-5

1959 Devin SS Special

1959 Ferrari 250 TR

1959 Hagemann Sutton Special

1959 Lister Special

1960 Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage

1960 Witton Special

Information on the 1957 Ford Thunderbird Experimental

More photographs of the 1957 Ford Thunderbird Experimental

Four 1957 Thunderbirds were officially sanctioned by Ford Motor Company to be race prepared by Peter DePaolo Engineering Company.

Two of the Thunderbirds were built to compete in the experimental class and were highly modified. The other two retained their stock bodies. The highly modified cars had Aluminum doors, hood, and trunk lid. They also had aluminum heads, tail light door housings as well as aluminum side vent doors and a fairing behind the drivers for streamline purposes.

This particular car has a Ford 312 CI engine, while the other experimental car had a modified Lincoln engine. This particular car placed third in a standing mile acceleration test with a speed of 93.312 MPH at Daytona Beach in 1957. Marvin Panch also drove this car to a second place finish on the sports car road course in 1957.

In 1957 the Automobile Manufacturers Assoc. made the decision to pull support from the factory racing teams, so the cars ended up in private hands. The two stock bodies' cars are in a private collection while this is the only remaining car of the two experimental cars built in 1957.

This #98 Battlebird was powered by a highly modified Hilborn-injection 312 Ford Y-Block V8 with magneto ignition. It was mated to a Jaguar four-speed manual gearbox sourced from an XK-120. It had a Halibrand Quick-Change rear end and lightweight aluminum body panels. Weight distribution was improved by moving the engine back six inches and placing it four inches lower.

In 2010, the car was offered for sale at the Sports & Classics of Monterey presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $275,000 - $375,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $280,500 inclusive of buyer's premium.

Also photographed at :

RM Auctions - Sports & Classics of Monterey >> 1951-1959

RM Auctions - Sports & Classics of Monterey >> Quest for Speed

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