Ford USA - Thunderbird - 1955

Ford Thunderbird 1955

Desired manual transmission with three gears and overdrive.
Original color composition in turquoise.
Very original condition
Extensive American documentation available.
Well-known example thanks to appearances in multiple films and series, including Top Gear.
Hardtop

HISTORY/DOCUMENTATION
An iconic car: the first-generation Ford Thunderbird, produced from 1955 to 1957. This example was manufactured on March 21, 1955, and bears the body number P5FH197955, where the P stands for the engine code (312 4V V8), the 5 for the model year 1955, the F for the manufacturing location (Dearborn, Michigan), and the H for the model (Thunderbird). The remaining coding also corresponds to the specific version, namely: 40A (Roadster), T (Thunderbird blue). What makes this example special is that it was originally equipped with a manual 3-speed transmission with overdrive; rare and highly sought after! Another remarkable aspect is that extensive documentation accompanies the car, making its history well known. There is even an old photo from the United States of this particular car, with license plate 'USU 501.' A stunning photo shows two women leaning half over the car — quintessentially American. In the early 1970s, the then-owner, although the car was still in excellent condition, completely stripped and restored to concours standards, using as many original parts as possible. Afterwards, the car was frequently used as a show model at automotive events, where it was praised for its outstanding condition. Documentation of this is available.
In 1990, the 'T-Bird' was shipped to the United Kingdom, where its originality and condition attracted significant media attention. The car appeared in films and series such as Boon, Tomorrow's World, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, and Top Gear (1991). Additionally, it was used by K-Tell Records for promotional purposes and featured on the cover of a parts catalog. This parts catalog is present with the car! Also included are many other documents such as maintenance invoices and export documentation. In 2006, the car was imported to the Netherlands, where it has had only two owners. This is a unique opportunity to own a particularly beautiful and sought-after Thunderbird with a remarkable history!

Exterior
Original in the desired turquoise color and supplied with a hardtop in the same color. This creates a beautiful contrast with the striking white interior and the white softtop. This softtop is originally electrically operated, but the system has been disconnected so that the roof can be easily opened manually. The restoration carried out is now over 50 years old, so the car is no longer in concours condition, but it is still in good shape with a beautiful paintwork and fresh rubbers and lighting. The design of the car is iconic; for example, look at the exhausts integrated into the rear bumper. The car is in a very original condition.

Interior
An excessively luxurious interior, certainly unique and progressive for the 1950s. Think, for example, of an original electric adjustable bench in four directions, electrically operated windows, and power steering. Currently, the electric adjustable bench is not functioning. The leather interior is finished in a striking turquoise and white color scheme. The interior is further equipped with a horizontal speedometer, a clock, a tachometer, heating, and a radio. Naturally, it is delightfully comfortable to sit on the comfortable bench. The interior is in a very original condition.

technical
Although the Thunderbird shared some design features with other Fords of that era, such as round headlights and taillights and modest tail fins, it had a sleeker shape and featured a hood with an air intake and a speedometer up to 240 km/h, which was not available on other Fords. It used mechanical parts from mass-production Ford models. The frame with a 2591 mm wheelbase of the Thunderbird was a shortened version also used in other Ford models, and the standard 4.8-liter Y-block V8 engine came from Ford's Mercury division. It can be shifted via the manual 3-speed gearbox with overdrive. This overdrive is very rare and highly sought after. The car starts, drives, and shifts properly.

General
The Thunderbird, designed to challenge the Chevrolet Corvette, was one of the first Fords with the new overhead valve V8 engine. The Thunderbird was introduced as a two-seater 'personal car' and was aimed at image-conscious younger customers. Additionally, it was not a pure sports car but also focused on comfort. Thanks to its superior V8 engine and greater refinement, it easily outperformed the Corvette in the sales race. Despite this success, the original concept was quickly abandoned, and in 1958, a larger – and slower – four-seater version was introduced, making the early two-seaters almost collector's items overnight. The first-generation Thunderbird was built from 1955 to 1958. The Thunderbird sold exceptionally well in its first year, selling more than 23 times as many as the Corvette in 1955, with 16,155 Thunderbirds sold compared to 700 Corvettes. A total of 11 generations of the Thunderbird have been released over the years, up until 2005.