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1 of 3 Bill Frick Conversions. Raven Black. 389ci & 2-BBBLs 37,337 1-Owner Miles

1957 Ford Thunderbird Bill Frick Conversion for sale in Thomaston, Maine, United States

Condition: Used
Item location: Thomaston, Maine, United States
Make: Ford
Model: Thunderbird
SubModel: Bill Frick Conversion
Type: Convertible
Trim: Bucket Seats
Year: 1957
Mileage: 37,337
VIN: D7FH340010
Color: Raven Black
Fuel: Gasoline
Transmission: Manual
Drive type: Rear Wheel
Interior color: Raven Black
Vehicle Title: Clear
Want to buy? Contact seller!

Description for Ford Thunderbird 1957

To start with, et me first say that I am listing this modified Bill Frick 1957 Ford Thunderbird for a well-known classic and muscle car dealership and in doing so, will be acting as an agent for this dealership. The owner, ho is a friend and someone that I have known for over 20 years, span>founded his dealership in 1996 and has been a veteran of the car business for over 30 years. All of his vehicles are chosen for the highest standards and quality. A careful and complete analysis is done on every one before they offered for sale. If you want an honest and complete description via telephone, lease feel free to call Roland at 603-361-3693.

As an FYI, he modified Bill Frick 1957 Ford Thunderbird is located in Manchester, ew Hampshire, ust 15 miles from the Manchester-Boston RegionalAirport.

I understand that there is a lot of information in my ad. I also understand that this may be boring to the person who is just looking and not buying. However, or the person who is looking to buy and spend their hard earned money, feel that there is never too much information.

As to myself, am not a dealer, ust a (66) year old kid that loves muscle cars. For my work, am retired from managing a Correctional Facility here in Maine and had worked for the Maine Department of Corrections for (40) years. I am also a respected member of my community. I mention this only because of the value of this car and so that prospective buyers will have some idea as to who they are dealing with. Also, lease check out my eBay feedback which is 100% with (1,139) transactions. Many of those have been muscle cars which I have sold to individuals all over the country as well as Canada, ngland, rance, witzerland and Australia.

INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS ARE WELCOME WITH A DOWN PAYMENT VIA PAYPAL AND THE BALANCE VIA WIRE TRANSFER ONLY.

Who was Bill Frick? Bill Frick was a gifted early model mechanic and fabricator many years before the term "Hot Rodders" was used. Well known in the late 40s by his custom engine conversion packages out of a little shop in Long Island NY. In 1950, hen the new 331 V8 OHV overhead valve Cadillac engine was introduced, e offered a conversion package to swap with the 1950 Ford flat head engine which would increase the horsepower tremendously. It earned the name Fordillac, hich became famous among the early gear head "hot rodders".In 1953, he same 331-V8 Cadillac engine was offered for the engine consumption in the Studebaker for $1,500, lso known as the Studellac. The Studellac was capable of speeds of 125mph and accelerated form 0-60 in 8.5 seconds. Bill Frick Motors Inc. was an exclusive distributor of Kieft Sport Cars, xclusive Long Island dealer for Allard Motor cars, n MG and Morris Minor dealer.He was involved in building race cars and partnered with Ted Tappett, ho then became a well-known racer in the Lemans 24 hour race circuit.Also, ill Frick Motors was heavily involved in Nascar.The Frick-Tappett conversion Cadillac engine in a Ford made them famous among the performance gear heads, laiming up to 25mpg at cruising speed and 0-80mph in 15 seconds.Very sophisticated for their time, ill Frick built a tubular air craft design chassis in the 1949 using a Cadillac 331-V8 which they called the "Le Monstre". It ran in Lemans and was driven by Phil Walters, nown as Ted Tappett and placed in 7th, ccording to our research.Well known Briggs Cunningham was involved on the financial side of Bill Frick Motors Inc. and also drove the "Le Monstre".Interestingly enough, he car is still shown today.A private collector owns the car and shows it at car shows such as Lime Rock CT.

Here is the information on this wicked, uper rare modified Bill Frick 1957 Ford Thunderbird:

This unique single family owned thunderbird is straight from an estate, tored since 1999 in dry storage. According to our research, his is a very unique and rare example of one of Bill Frick's conversions. There were only three (3) Thunderbirds built by Bill Frick Motors, owever, nly one which had the Pontiac 389ci engine.When the car was purchased new in Lowell MA, he owner of the car was a big time drag racer.He wanted to build a car that would blow the doors off anyone who would come against him.He sent the car to Bill Frick, n Rockville Centre NY, or a performance upgrade and engine swap.Originally, special dual McCulloch blower set up was installed with a special panel for the blower solenoids. However, he Paxton McCulloch system was aborted and sent back to Paxton and the car ended up with an Offenhauser aluminum dual quad intake topped off with two Carter 4-barrel carburetors.Bill Frick Motors gave a $500 credit to the 312 V8.Also, ome modifications had to be done to the hood of the car to make provisions for the dual supercharger system. Three bulge style tear drops were dollied by hand and refinished in black lacquer. In the final version, ill Frick Motors used a modified 1959 Pontiac engine.

When owned by Al Ornella of Jack and Al's Esso in Lowell Massachusetts, l would gladly race any takers but not before the challenger put down $500. This was Al's minimum bet before he would even start up his T-Bird. For the record, t was said that Al was never beaten in any of these races.

It is our understanding that only three of these conversions were completed by Bill Frick and this particular 1957 T-Bird is the only one left of the original three.

Trim Tag Decode:

SERIAL NUMBER: D7FH340010

D 312ci 4BBL 245hp Engine

7 1957

F Dearborn, I Assembly Plant

H 1957 Thunderbird

340010 Sequence Number (VIN)

BODY 40 Thunderbird

COLOR AA Raven Black Upper and Lower Exterior Paint

TRIM XA Pleated Raven Black Vinyl and Pleated Colonial Vinyl Seats

24 G July 24, 957 Assembly Date

TRANS 2 3-Speed Manual Transmission with Overdrive

AXLE 3 3.70:1 Rear Axle Ratio

Exterior:

The modified Bill Frick 1957 Ford Thunderbird presents as excellent.We clay barred the exterior and it came back beautifully but we think it's best to preserve the originality of this car as a true time capsule without changing too much. Super clean exterior body and paint.Looking over this rare example, he car has a solid original body with no signs of any rust or repair what so ever. The exterior body of this car is perfectly straight with no ripples, ings or dents.There is a light patina in the lacquer in some areas of the car.In the front header area, ear the driver's side light, ou will notice the paint has flaked off in that area.Also, ome lacquer cracking appears around that area as well.

Other exterior notes of interest are:

· The chrome bumpers are original and are considered excellent condition;

· The glass is also original to the car and is excellent throughout;

· Bright work, mblems, ront grille, eadlamps, ail light bezels are all excellent;

· The original paint in areas of the trunk, ood and door jambs have a nice clean appearance;

· The weather strip is original with no signs of being dried, racked or weathered;

· The doors, ood and rear deck lid open and close perfectly with proper alignment to all of those areas as well;

· The windows roll up and down effortlessly;

· The factory continental kit and trunk area is solid and original with the spare tire, ack assembly and trunk mat considered to be in fair condition;

· White Side Wall tires with factory hub caps;

· Hard top with port-hole windows that has excellent glass and a nice original white headliner.

Interior:

The interior of the car is all original including the carpet. Note the black with white insert bench seat that does have some dried cracks on the driver's side.The door panels and instrument cluster are in great shape. The dash board is original with no cracks. There is a custom Hurst shifter mated to the fine working Borg Warner 3-speed gear box with Over Drive.

Other interior notes of interest are:

· Vintage Stewart Warner gauges;

· McCulloch vacuum gauges and switches;

· Town & Country am radio;

· Power brakes;

· Crank windows;

· Telescopic original steering wheel with no cracks noticed;

· No power steering.

Engine:

They used a modified 1959 Pontiac 389ci engine, ompletely balanced. The Paxton McCulloch system was aborted and sent back to Paxton and the car ended up with a dual 4BBL Offenhauseraluminum intake and two Carter 4-barrel carburetors.

Other engine notes of interest are:

· Completely balanced;

· Forged true pistons;

· PC rings;

· Clevite bearings;

· Full floating wrist pins;

· High pressure oil pump;

· Relieve combustion chamber;

· Ground out ports:

· Adjustable rocker arm studs;

· Howard cam and lifters;

· Special log-type intake manifold;

· 6 Rochester carburetors;

· Lightened and polished valves;

· Spaulding special flywheel and clutch;

· Fuel pump and over drive was installed under the dash inside the car;

· Stewart Warner tachometer installed;

· Manual spark control installed;

· Special clutch linkage;

· Special throttle linkage;

· Custom engine to transmission adapter plate;

· Fabrication of special headers with Lake pipes and plugs installed;

· Non-slip differential gears;

· Removed and replaced gas tank modified for special fuel system;

· Special under ride dual traction bars;

· Lowered the back end to raise the front end.

Mechanical:

The car is in running condition, owever it hasn't been driven for the past 15 years.Mechanically though, ery sound.

Undercarriage:

· Very clean and solid frame;

· ID Photos:

The T-Bird comes with documentation, housands of dollars in receipts, wner History and many great stories.Surely, one of a kind car that was modified by a famous legend (Bill Frick) who was well ahead of his time. This particular Thunderbird is the only one known to exist witha Pontiac engine. This is your chance to own a piece of the American race history. I highly recommend that serious buyers come themselves or send an agent to see this car in person.

I am an individual and do not claim to know everything there is to know about these cars. It is your responsibility to ensure that all of you questions or concerns are resolved prior to bidding and not after. That is why I highly recommend that serious buyers come themselves or send an agent to see this car in person.

WINNING BIDDER DOES NOT HAVE THE OPTION TO LOOK THIS CAR OVER AFTER THE AUCTION CLOSES TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO BUY. INSPECTIONS "MUST" BE DONE PRIOR TO THE CLOSE OF THE AUCTION WITH NO EXCEPTIONS.

Terms of Sale:

Please note that there will be a $100 Administrative fee added to the final sale price of this car.

This pre-owned vehicle is being sold "as-is, here is" with absolutely no warranties and/or guarantees either expressed or implied. Winning bidder must contact seller within (48) hours of auction close to confirm purchase by e-mail. A $1,000 non-refundable deposit is required within (2) business days of auction close. Remainder of selling price is due within (5) business days of auction end. All funds must be in the form of a cashier's check, ertified bank check, ire transfer or cash. If there is no confirmation, eller has the right to offer the vehicle to other bidders. Buyer is responsible for all transport costs. This auction and your bid/participation in this auction are binding contracts and will be dutifully, awfully enforced.

THANKS FOR READING THIS AD. GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY BIDDING.

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