Excellent Full Restoration/Strong Smooth Running V8/Beautiful Interior/Both Tops

1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible

Picture, if you will, a 1953 Ford Fordor sedan, sliced in half at the B-pillar and welded together minus its entire rear door and rear quarter area. The rearmost portion of the roof, including the window, is awkwardly moved forward about three feet, and the entire car finished in a rough fashion. This homely car was christened the "Burnetti" after its creator, Ford engineer Bill Burnett, and was designed to simulate the packaging of a European sports car for American tastes; it was a major step towards creating what would become one of America's most beloved and most collectible two-seaters of all time-the original 1955-'56-'57 Ford Thunderbird.

For consignment version 1 edition 1 of the Ford Thunderbird. This ragtop/hardtop sports car was innovative for its time, and this particular car has been restored about 15 years ago. It still maintains its shine and is looking sharp on all fronts. A beautiful interior is also retained, and engine runs on a 6-volt system with an 88-volt battery for extra starting power. Some spare extra parts are available, and we are in rarefied air with this year 1955 in such good condition.

Exterior
Starting upfront, we can see a beautiful original and mirror like bumper with mini "Dagmar" style bumperettes attached which take on a jet engine like appearance. Directly above is a well-preserved egg crate grille and flanking this on either side is a single headlight. A long-scooped hood rolls its way back to the passenger compartment, which is small, and is topped with a convertible top in black canvas and sporting a clear plastic rear window. On back small fins trip round taillights again, emulating jet age design, and another clean bumper, this time the "Dagmars" are now the exhaust tailpipes. 3 sets of wheel covers come with this car, and a hardtop goes along as well. Wide whites surround red steel wheels which just make a small appearance on the edges of the wheel covers. All metal is painted in white paint and has nicely preserved gaps with no rust seen on its exterior. One noteworthy tidbit are the crossed flags under the Ford emblem on the header panel, a one year only styling cue.

Interior
The curvaceous thick door panels are wrapped in red vinyl with some white vinyl accenting, and a strip of machined aluminum through the center. These are fairly clean, and look the part, as they melt into the curved dash keeping the machined metal line through the center. A fan style speedometer is above on the painted metal red dash top and bottom, and consigner states the original radio will come with the car. A near perfect bench seat complete with red smooth bolsters and white tuck and roll inserts stretches across the passenger compartment and is completed with seat belts, an early option for Ford. Nice condition red carpet floods the floors, and the red and chrome horn ring steering wheel fronts the pristine dash. Noted power seat adjustments are on the door. A red tonneau cover is in the rear storage area and awaits to cover the top when it is in the down position.

Drivetrain
A 292ci V8 engine is in a clean and shiny engine bay. It is topped with a 4-barrel carburetor, and a chromed air cleaner cover. Red is reserved for the block, and shiny Thunderbird badged horizontal ribbed valve covers add some more bling to the bay. A 3-speed manual transmission, and a 3.73 rear axle complete the drivetrain.

Undercarriage
Very light surface rust on just a few of the suspension parts, but the X frame, floor plans and rockers are really beautifully preserved. Independent coil springs for the front, and leaf springs for the rear make up the suspension and drum brakes are all around. Amazingly preserved for its ripe age.

Drive-Ability
Not a ton of room in these early birds, but once in they are comfy. This car fired right up and took off for the test track where it flew around in circles with ease. A strong accelerator, and good stopper are also good qualities to have in such an early car and they are there. Even the clock works!

All in all, a wonderful example that has been restored a bit ago but still retains its luster and charm. A convertible, and hardtop assures you motoring throughout the year, although with a classic as such I personally don/t know whether you would be doing too much winter driving. Either way you can soar through town, screech the tires, and turn some heads...all the way around!

VIN DECODE
P5FH140617
P-292V8 4bbl 193hp
5-1955
F-Dearborn, MI Assy Plant
H-Ford Thunderbird
140617-Sequential Unit Number

WARRANTY TAG
BODY 40A-Thunderbird
COLOR A-Raven Black
TRIM A-Black & White Vinyl
PROD CODE 19A-January 19th

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.