Vehicle Description
1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible
In March 2024, Hemmings penned an extensive article explaining the
various monikers Ford Thunderbirds have been labeled with through
eleven generations of the model. It starts with the class of Baby
Birds of 1955-1957, also referred to as Early Birds. Then came the
Square Birds of 1958-1960 followed by Bullet Birds of 1961-1963.
Angular sheet metal and added chrome made the 1964-1966 T-birds the
Flair Birds. We'll end with the finely styled cars that left sporty
behind with the Glamour Birds of 1967-1971.
For consignment, a 1955 Ford Thunderbird convertible showing 85,037
unverifiable miles, an early bird that comes with the revolutionary
porthole hardtop. For those who remember encyclopedias, chances are
if you looked up "classic car" in one, a 1955 Thunderbird with a
porthole hardtop would be depicted! This has had some restoration
in the past two years including paint in 2023.
Exterior
A coat of single stage acrylic urethane was applied last year in
Midnight Blue Metallic, a stunning shade of dark blue that helps
accentuate the brightwork that adorns the car. The gravel guards
and edge trim on the fender skirt becomes immediately apparent in
contrast, as does the faux fender vent, the Thunderbird script, and
the wrap-around bumpers when viewed in profile. The rear view, with
its round tail lights topped with reverse lenses in a cat ear
design, was utilized across the Ford line but perhaps best
associated with the sleek paneled Thunderbird. Baby Birds enjoy
unique exhaust portals each year and for 1955, jet plane-like
cylinders mounted on the rear fender housed the tailpipes, making
the car look like it could rocket down the street. These fender
additions are mirrored on the front where they represent,
appropriately, the front of a torpedo. 15-inch chrome wire wheels
with white walls complete the truly epic styling of the original
Thunderbird and the contrasting Colonial White top is fantastic.
Imperfections include quite a bit of orange peel in the paint, some
discoloration on the white top, some unevenness in the corner of a
door gap, and some paint runs.
Interior
Designers got it right with the exterior, and they didn't take a
nap on the interior either. Bold design and materials occupy the
black and white door panels with an angular and trimmed metal
insert that completes what can be regarded as a work of art. The
stacked materials make their way around the cabin in a coordinated
feast for the eyes. We note some looseness of material on the
swooping armrests, but the panels are in otherwise excellent
condition. The bench for two up front is cast in black and white as
well and shows some compression and usage on the driver's side in
particular. A 3 spoke steering wheel front a dashboard with sunlit
speedometer flanked by a round tachometer and round clock with
matching red needles. An AM/FM radio occupies the middle panel
along with the vent panel while the lower dash is painted to match
the exterior. Black loop carpet surrounds the floor mounted shift
and both show a bit of age and patina. Blue rubber Thunderbird mats
cover the footwells. The trunk wears a new trunk liner.
Drivetrain
Clean and presentable, we find a 292ci V8 under the hood, sporting
a 4-barrel Holley carburetor and rated at 198 horsepower, a
respectable number in 1955. A Ford-O-Matic 3-speed automatic
transmission is married to the engine and sends power to a Dana 44
rear with 3.31 gears. This sporty ride is equipped with power drum
brakes on all four wheels. Our consignor states that the car has
new wires, spark plugs, a K&N filter, cap, wiring, points, and
6 volt regulator.
Undercarriage
Surface rust and patina abound underneath where driver quality
conditions prevail. There's quite a bit of grease build up on the
knuckles and other steering components as well as some errant
fluids scattered around. Some flaking rust is found on the inner
rocker panels and body braces. The dual exhaust enters a pair of
Cherrybomb mufflers before making their epic exit. Suspension
consists of coil springs up front and leaf springs in the back.
Drive-Ability
Fortunately, the seat is at a good distance for us because we find
the power seat, controlled by some nifty switches on the door
panel, is not working. Meanwhile, the 292 is working and pulls us
onto the test loop with plenty of power, the 198 horses tempered
slightly by the 3,142 pound curb weight of the car. The car handles
fine, but we note a bit of extra sound coming from an exhaust leak
and a miss in the engine. There's also the distinct sound of
exhaust vibrating against the chassis. We would cover the sounds
with the radio, but it was not working during our drive. Beyond
that, all other functions including lights, instruments, and brakes
worked as they should. While Classic Auto Mall represents that
these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we
cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of
your purchase.
After initially only offering the Thunderbird in three colors in
1955, black, red, and a blue that was teal based, Ford introduced
five other colors. But none of those colors were a medium or dark
blue, so here's a uniquely colored 1955 Baby Bird with decent bones
and room for improvement. And don't worry about storing that
hardtop on sunny days, the car comes with the storage dolly!
P5FH257674
P-292ci 4bbl V8
5-1955
F-Dearborn, MI Assy Plant
H-Thunderbird
257674-Sequential Unit Number
WARRANTY PLATE
BODY 40H-Thunderbird
COLOR E-Colonial White
TRIM XA-Black & White Vinyl
PRODUCTION CODE 23H927-August 23rd
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
