ISO 1957 Advice needed

[rok]

Hello I am new to this forum
I am looking to purchase a 1955 56 or 57 thunderbird. I want to spend about 25K and have found some that looks really nice in that price range and some not however noticed a huge price variation .
What do I look for so not to make a mistake.

Ty Rok

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[Shawnski]

Not sure what to tell you since I have no ideas of your mechanical abilities and what you comfortable with tackling. In addition, what do you want? A full original or a modified daily driver?
We wanted a completely original ride with documentation. We paid $45,000 delivered from Wisconsin to Southern California.
Hagerty rated our car a #2 excellent condition (near mint) and cover it for $60,000.

 

[NTouchOne]

Must check items: Rust. Very close examination is necessary, especially if the car spent anytime in "winter" climates. Get underneath if you can. Use a magnet covered in a light cloth and check the rust prone areas. Rear quarters over the rear wheels and behind the rear wheels, rocker panels, front fenders, etc. Best if you can get it on a lift. Is the paint OK for a while. Paint jobs are a major expense these days. Look for a leaking main seal on the transmission. Almost always a problem om 312 equipped cars. Check all the fluids looking for contamination or metal shavings. Keep that magnet handy to look for metal in the fluids. Body, engine, transmission are your primary concerns. Repairs on those get expensive fast. Almost everything else can be replaced from multiple sources supporting the hobby. $25K sounds a little low if the car is in good to very good condition. But, there are reasons that people want to sell and sell quickly and the best way to make that happen is an attractive price.

 

[rok]

thank you for your input .. appreciate the reply.

 

[pltmgr]

I recently purchased a 56 in excellent condition for $26k. Hardtop only and it needed tires. I probably looked on line at over 400 55-57 and felt I got a good deal but I moved quickly. Body and paint are a top priority. You can easily spend twice on a paint job on what you would for a new engine. Plenty of good videos on internet to help you decide on your purchase. Keep in mind these cars are 70 years old and not all repairs/updates were done correctly.