The 1957 Ford Thunderbird is controversial because it returns from Forza Motorsport 4 as DLC and uses the common E-code instead of the rarer supercharged F-code. However, it has fresh in-game modeling and makes an entertaining, useful build car.
The 1957 Ford Thunderbird is one of this week’s Festival Playlist reward cars. Its return immediately drew two complaints: it previously appeared in Forza Motorsport 4, making the DLC feel recycled to some players, and Forza chose the common E-code rather than the rare supercharged F-code. Get past those choices and the car delivers: it drives well, has fresh modeling, and works brilliantly as a big, unruly cruiser.
What the 1957 Thunderbird is in this update
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | 1957 Ford Thunderbird (first generation) |
| Engine | 5.1L V8, E-code |
| Power | 270 horsepower |
| Body | Two-seat cruiser |
| Availability | Current Festival Playlist reward |
| Last Forza appearance | Forza Motorsport 4 |
This is the first-generation Thunderbird from 1957, powered by a 5.1L V8 producing 270 horsepower in E-code trim. It is a genuine boat: a heavy two-seat cruiser that fights corners on its stock 195-width tires. Earn it through the current Festival Playlist; it is not an outright purchase.
The original Ford included technology that was wildly ahead of 1957. Its radio became louder the faster you drove to overcome wind noise, while an early form of memory seats saved five positions and slid all the way back when you got out. The Thunderbird cost around $3,000 new, equivalent to roughly $35,000 today and about the same as a house down payment at the time.
Why players call it copy-pasted DLC
The main complaint is that this DLC brings back a car from an older game. The Thunderbird’s only other Forza appearance was in Forza Motorsport 4, and players who expect every DLC car or expansion to deliver an all-new experience see its return as recycled content. A decade-old model reappearing does not meet that expectation.
Key This Thunderbird is a fresh build, not a straight port. Older Forza games lacked ForzaVista, so their models did not let you open the hood or trunk. Here, the engine bay, trunk and interior are fully modeled, including the unusual vertically mounted spare tire. The Thunderbird has also been absent from Forza for more than ten years, making this a very different case from reselling a car that appeared three years ago.
The E-code versus F-code argument
Forza chose the E-code, known as the “E-bird,” which is the common carbureted version producing 270 horsepower. Forza usually scans the best and rarest version of a car, while the much rarer F-code left the factory with a supercharger and more power. With that rarer, faster model available, the everyday E-code is a missed chance to make the DLC more special.
Availability does not explain the choice, because Forza scanned a genuine one-of-one car only a week earlier. This is a car-selection debate, not developer wrongdoing: the E-code is a real Thunderbird, but it is not the exciting variant enthusiasts wanted.
How the Thunderbird performs across builds
| Build | Result |
|---|---|
| A-class RWD, semi-slicks | Strong and controllable — the standout road build |
| Off-road / cross-country monster | Inconsistent and slow despite chunky tires |
| 1,500 hp AWD drag | No timed run is established |
| AWD drift at River Run | Long, stable and competitive |
The Thunderbird’s best setup is a balanced road build. It accepts large engine swaps, including a 5.2L V8 and more powerful options, while the rear tires widen from the stock 195 to 305 and finally give the car enough grip to hold a line. An A-class, rear-wheel-drive build on semi-slicks with race suspension is the standout: old, heavy and properly fast when driven with commitment.
The extreme setups are less consistent. An off-road cross-country monster using a 1,500-horsepower swap and chunky tires looks unstoppable on paper but feels slow and unpredictable on dirt, where the car’s size and vintage behavior work against it. This route does not include a timed 1,500-horsepower AWD drag build or an 8.2-second run. The all-wheel-drive drift build at River Run is the surprise performer, holding long, stable and competitive slides. One shared build produced a one-wheel burnout out of every corner because it shipped without a differential. That was a tune mistake rather than a problem with the car, and the setup was patched quickly.
The best way to build and drive it
Keep the Thunderbird on tarmac or use it in a drift zone. Its weight and vintage handling make it twitchy and unpredictable on dirt regardless of how aggressive the tires look, but on paved roads it performs far above the expectations attached to “returning DLC.”
Build it as an A-class, rear-wheel-drive car on semi-slicks with a 5.2L V8 swap and race suspension — this setup makes the Thunderbird quick, planted and controllable without chasing a 1,500-horsepower monster build.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 1957 Ford Thunderbird the same model from Forza Motorsport 4?
Yes. It is the same car by name, and its only previous Forza appearance was in Forza Motorsport 4 more than ten years ago. The 1957 model was the last genuinely sporty first-generation Thunderbird before the nameplate became a larger four-seater. This version is a fresh scan with a fully modeled hood, trunk and interior rather than a direct port of the old asset.
Is the Ford Thunderbird meta in A-class?
No. It is not a leaderboard car and cannot match the fastest machines in the game. Its strength is rewarding a driver who commits to a proper build instead of chasing raw numbers. A dedicated power build offers more theoretical potential, but the balanced A-class setup is fast enough and much more enjoyable to drive.
Why did players want the F-code Thunderbird instead?
The F-code “F-bird” came from the factory with a supercharger and roughly 300 horsepower. Only around 200 were built worldwide, and these rare cars command $80,000 to $100,000 today. That combination of speed and rarity makes it the special variant enthusiasts expected Forza to scan.
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