Ford USA - Thunderbird - 1955

Ford Thunderbird 1955

- Desired manual 3-speed gearbox with overdrive
- Original color scheme 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 produced on March 21, 1955 and carries 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 production location (Dearborn, Michigan) and the H for the model (Thunderbird). The remaining coding also corresponds to the specification, namely: 40A (Roadster), T (Thunderbird blue). The special thing about this example is that it was originally equipped with a manual 3-speed gearbox with overdrive; rare and highly sought after! Also notable is that there is extensive documentation with the car, so the history is known. There is even an old photo from the United States of this example, with license plate 'USU 501'. A stunning photo in which two women are half leaning over the car: all-American to the core. In the early 1970s, the then-owner, although the car was still in excellent condition, stripped the car completely and restored it to concours condition, reusing as many original components as possible. Afterward the car was often used as a showpiece at auto 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 led to a lot of media attention. The car appeared in films and series such as Boon, Tomorrow's World, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries and Top Gear (1991). In addition, it was used by K-Tell Records for promotional purposes and appeared on the cover of a parts catalog. This parts catalog is with the car! Also many other documents such as maintenance invoices and export documents are with the car. In 2006 the car was imported to the Netherlands, where it has had only 2 owners. This is a unique chance to become the owner of a particularly beautiful and coveted Thunderbird with a wonderful history!

EXTERIOR
Originally finished in the coveted turquoise color and delivered with a hardtop in the same color. This contrasts beautifully with the striking white interior and the white soft top. The soft top is originally electrically operable, but this system has been disconnected so that the roof can be opened manually with ease. The restoration performed is now more than 50 years old, and as a result the car is no longer in concours condition but is in good condition with still a beautiful paint finish and fresh rubbers and lighting. The car's design is iconic, for example look at the exhausts integrated into the rear bumper. The car is in a very original state.

INTERIOR
An indulgent luxury interior, certainly for the 1950s unique and forward-looking. Think of an original electrically adjustable bench seat in 4 directions, electrically operated windows, and power steering. Currently the electrically adjustable bench seat 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 wonderfully 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 its era, such as rounded headlamps and taillights and modest tail fins, it had a sleeker shape and featured a hood with a grille and a speedometer up to 240 km/h, not available on other Fords. It used mechanical parts from mass-production Ford models. The chassis with a wheelbase of 2591 mm 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. Shifting can be done via the manual 3-speed gearbox with overdrive. This overdrive is very rare and highly sought after. The car starts, runs, and shifts properly.

GENERAL
The Thunderbird, designed to rival the Chevrolet Corvette, was one of the first Fords with the new overhead-valve V8. The Thunderbird was introduced as a two-seater 'personal car' and was aimed at image-conscious younger buyers. It was also not a pure sports car, but primarily focused on comfort. Thanks to its superior V8 engine and greater refinement, it easily outperformed the Corvette in the sales war. Despite this success, the original concept was quickly abandoned and in 1958 a larger – and slower – four-seater version was introduced, causing the early two-seaters to become collectibles almost overnight. The first generation Thunderbird was built from 1955 through 1958. The Thunderbird sold exceptionally well in its first year and in 1955 sold more than 23 times as many as the Corvette, with 16,155 Thunderbirds sold versus 700 Corvettes. No fewer than 11 generations of the Thunderbird have been released over the years, up to 2005.