Vehicle Description
Vehicle to be offered for Auction sale WITHOUT RESERVE and SOLD to
the highest bidder June 2nd - 4th, 2017 at Russo and Steele\'s 5th
Annual Newport Beach California Auction. \r\n\r\nPlease contact us
for more information. The two-seater Ford Thunderbird was based on
a February 1954 show car and was introduced on October 22nd of that
year. The Thunderbird was launched nearly two years after Chevrolet
introduced its fiberglass-bodied Corvette. For 1955,however, the
Thunderbird sales outpaced those for the Corvette by an astonishing
23 to 1. 16,155 Thunderbirds versus 700 Corvettes. The Thunderbird
was low-slug and of all-metal construction, powered by a 292
cubic-inch V-8 engine with roll-up windows, and a removable
hardtop. The 1956 Thunderbird remained mostly unchanged, though the
hard top received \'porthole\' quarter-windows, the spare became a
\'Continental\' kit to gain trunk space, and a 312 cubic-inch
\'Thunderbird Special\' V8 engine as optional equipment. Even with
these improvements, sales dipped slightly to 15,631. The early
Thunderbird\'s were rarely modified as the body style was viewed by
most as being timeless and when it was attempted the results were
usually not well received. This custom Thunderbird titled
Thundersnake is an exception. The striking body that was built by
Customs Unlimited is both elegant and bold. It has a handmade rear
panel and the rear peak is extended 1. It also has a handmade lower
roll pan and Frenched taillights. The door handles have been
removed and the gas filler lid filled. The front and rear bumpers
have been turned upside down and molded into the body. The driving
lights have been Frenched as has the grille surround. The grille
was also hand made. Thundersnake is powered by a 1998 4.6L Mustang
Cobra motor that is coupled to a T-56 5-speed transmission. It has
a 9 Ford differential and rides on an Art Morrison 2x4 tube
chassis. The wheels are E.T. Classic five. \r\n\r\nThe interior
features a hand built console with Dakota Digital gauges and
Flaming River steering wheel and column. The seating is by Glide
Engineering and there is a secret audio by Horizon Audio. It has
hand-machined engine turned dash, door and console inserts. The
result is a one-off custom Ford Thunderbird that retains the look
and feel of the original Thunderbird but carries it forward with
tasteful updates and modern power under the hood. It is truly a
stunning adaption of one of Americas favorite automobiles.
