The Classic Allure of the Early Thunderbirds

Some of the most surprising standouts are the early Thunderbirds, one of the truly invigorating cars of its day, with a design that underscored the ’50s. While less of a performer than the Corvette it was meant to confront, the T-bird was—and is—every bit as good looking, and there are many who actually prefer it to its fiberglass Chevrolet counterpart. The sharp, abbreviated lines offsetting the lengthy hood are classic, leaving little doubt about Ford’s decision to revive this theme. Then again, improving on the appeal of the original is no easy task, which says a lot about this swoopy ’Bird.

Kathy Lange’s Vision for a Unique Thunderbird

As inspiring as any example we’ve seen, Kathy Lange’s ’57 Thunderbird of Webster Grove, Missouri, is a great example of what’s possible when good ideas and talented people create a rarely seen favorite. This particular Thunderbird is what we’ve come to expect in today’s rodding movement, with profound changes and subtle details that represent the modern age. Both super rod and super subtle, this car makes a strong statement, even if it’s said in an easy-going style.

Building a Stronger Foundation: Art Morrison Chassis

Since this car was being rebuilt from the frame up, it was decided to replace the frame with one better suited to more horsepower and upgraded suspension. With hundreds of its products on the road already, the decision to use an Art Morrison chassis was easy. After all, these mandrel-bent frames are designed to provide an absolutely rigid platform, with various options in several configurations, allowing the utmost in versatility. Builder Bobby Alloway found this chassis to be everything that was promised, including the way it fit the contours of the modified ’57 body. In all, 6 inches were added to the wheelbase, and yet from the way the tires and wheels fit within the wells, even an expert would be hard-pressed to point out where these changes were made.

Suspension, Wheels, and Braking Upgrades

The front suspension is another area where Art Morrison has proven its capability. This combination of dropped spindles, tubular A-arms and a fat stabilizer bar, along with Strange coilovers, provides good control and an equally great stance. Rack-and-pinion steering was used to retain control of the 225/50R17 Goodyears on custom 17×8-inch Boyd Coddington rims built specifically for Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop. While the same wheel design repeats in back, larger 20x10s really stand out with 255/60R20 rubber stuffed in the wheel wells. They ride either end of a Currie axle assembly on Strange Engineering coilovers, with upgraded axles and gears keeping up that end. If you’re wondering how all the traction will be controlled, think about the sizable Wilwood brake rotors and the stout calipers that put them to task. With six pistons in front and four in back, these binders bring this ’Bird to a standstill as fast as the foot responds.

Powering the Modern Thunderbird

Of course, for all of these components to run their course, there has to be ample power to motivate them, and for that Alloway looked to Ford Racing and its capable 5.0-liter 302 V-8 set up with all the right hardware. First, this engine is fitted with a centrifugal supercharger and fuel injection, with a clever mix of components providing longevity and more than enough capability. This includes a 2.5-inch exhaust system with Flowmaster Hushpower mufflers and a Steve Long aluminum radiator with a Cooling Components electric fan to cool the other end. Add on a few more tricks, not to mention the Tremec T5 five-speed manual transmission, and little else is needed for this T-bird to fly other than a full Tanks gas tank and a little open road.

Body Modifications and Design Enhancements

To realize where and why the changes were made to the wheelbase, all you need to know is the differences between the ’55 and ’56 T-birds and those of 1957. To add trunk room in the ’57, Ford stretched the trunk 6 inches, and that’s before the addition of the optional Continental kit. To bring this car back into the proportion of the earlier models, the rear wheel wells were moved back 6 inches, while the fender openings were enlarged slightly to make room for the large-diameter rubber. This involved the addition of ’55 Chevy Nomad rear quarter panels to bring everything together, and the result looks great. Another enjoyable change comes in the front fenders, which taper down 1-1/2 inches; the headlight rings also have been smoothed off, while the grille was replaced with a billet version by Jim Rench at Hot Rod Stuff. The rear lighting has been retained, while the area between the lights has been smoothed. Beyond that, the body has been relieved of its various trim pieces but for the door handles, which remain a key element in this car’s overall style. The original bumpers have been replaced with ’55s, and they, too, were refined to suit the tight confines of this fantastic fowl.

Stunning Paint and Exterior Finish

Once all the external modifications were complete, the crew at Alloway’s laid DuPont’s basecoat/clearcoat over a silver mist that brings a rich appearance to this slick machine. And the result is awesome, which says a lot about the preparation that came before it, as well as the actual paint. The quality is equally impressive elsewhere, including the engine compartment, where slick polished-and-painted surroundings are accented by a cool Superbird logo.

A Custom Interior with Classic Style

More of the same quality can be found inside, where Paul Atkins laid out red leather over the wide bench seat and every other surface, including the dash, while matching carpet can be found below. Again, Atkins has applied his craft with the subtlest style, in keeping with this car’s appeal. Other details include Classic Instruments custom gauges displaying Alloway’s shop logo on the faces. Just below, you’ll find a LeCarra steering wheel wrapped in red leather topping off an ididit column and a set of custom pedals. Other extras can be heard in the high-quality audio system, felt in the Vintage Air A/C, and seen in smaller details that might go unnoticed except by those with an eye for such things.

A Rare and Refined Thunderbird

When you take into consideration just how nice this T-bird looks and the way it moves, it’s difficult to understand why more people don’t renovate T-birds. Then again, if there were more of these stylish cars, this one might seem mainstream, although we doubt it.

When Lange parks this beauty among her husband’s cars, she can feel proud that her new ’Bird is every bit the match to those around it, not to mention one of the rarest ones there.