| What's New?
In spite of there being much
that's new on the '57 Bird, no one can mistake the car's heritage.
Styling changes are evident: grille is completely new, and
being deeper, should provide better cooling; the dropcenter
bumper incorporates parking lights in the tips of the front
while in the rear the exhaust ports are integral but without
the former bulky bumper bombs. The rear deck is longer with
lots more room for luggage.
Now nearly four inches shorter
overall, the elongated rear deck and other improvements increase
rear brake effectiveness from last year's 38 to an immediately
noticed 45 per cent. The effective brake lining area is now
176 square inches and the car is much less vulnerable to fade.
New 14-inch wheels drop road clearance of the frame to a scant
5.3 inches.
Special Equipment
In this category is the convertible
top, since the standard lid is a plastic hardtop with or without
the portholes. The latter may look weird but they increase
the driver's rear quarter visibility when buttoned up. A new
transistor radio has a
brainy volume device that automatically
adjusts to the correct-level "in synch" with your
speed, and there are special antennas for the rear deck. The
adjustable steering ,wheel is standard but power steering
is extra as are power brakes and window lifts. There's also
an available thinker for the optional powered seat-dial the
position and the seat will return to place after it has dropped
back for your entry or exit.
T-Bird Power
Engines are numerous, beginning
with the 292-cubic-inch block with a two-throat carburetor
and 9.1 to I compression ratio, developing 212 bhp and 297
pounds-feet torque (at 4500 and 2700 rpm, respectively) to
a power-packed dual four-barrel carburetor job that scrounges
out 285 horses from its now moderate 312 inches. Most common
Bird power will be the 270-horse or 245-horse single four-throat
job with camshaft grinds between the aforementioned extremes
of go power. The 312-inch engines all have 9.7 to I compression
ratio. Dual exhaust systems are standard through '57 T-Birdland.
Threespeed stick shift gearboxes come with or without overdrive.
Fordomatic is optional.
T-Bird on the Road
Much improved would be a mild
statement. This husky fledgeling can be taken through corners
that would find the tail feathers of Cousin '56 curling around
toward the nose. MT's check Bird had the 245-horsepower plant,
automatic transmission, power brakes and steering. Using a
stop watch and allowing for a .10 per cent speedometer error,
we got readings ranging from 10.4 to 11.6 from dead stop to
an indicated 66 mph..
To 30 and 45 mph (indicated 33
and 49) best times were 3.9 and 7.4 seconds, good enough to
outdrag most cars but just enough to whet our appetite for
our full-scale test which we'll bring you later.
The new large-hooded instrument
group is well shielded; should not reflect in windshield.
This panel is much like big Fords' but has tachometer. The
wheel falls nicely to hand and the steering lock (3.5 turns
power or not) coupled with better footing makes new Bird handle
very well, with but a trace of understeer.
Why Buy?
For fun, naturally; also, it's
much improved. |
