1955 Ford Thunderbird

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE 

Out of a combination of a lifelong automotive passion and an unyielding desire to support the people of his Alabama community, the Generous Collection was born. Mr. Greg Rusk, a successful business leader in the cardboard industry, with a big heart for helping families and friends in times of need, would regularly pay overly generous fees to acquire an interesting vehicle. After decades of collecting and supporting local automotive enthusiasts, the Rusk family is ready for these vehicles, each with their own story, to write their next chapter back on the road, where they belong. 

The Generous Collection debuts with Part 1 offering over 200 cars in October, all offered without reserve, emerging from years of long-term silent storage. Many additional lots will be offered in the coming months. From the quiet shadows of the Generous Collection to the sunshine of backroads and highways, enthusiasts now have the opportunity to own a piece of a generous car-collecting legacy. 

* * * 

“Seventh heaven on wheels” is what Ford called the new 1955 Thunderbird. Although the T-Bird looked like a sports car, Ford never claimed it was one, instead calling it a “personal car of distinction.” The two-seater's striking body, paired with a V8 powerplant, helped the Thunderbird vastly outsell the sportier but less comfortable Corvette. Walt Woron, writing in the December 1954 issue of Motor Trend magazine, reported: “The Thunderbird has three basic points in its favor: a rakish, ground-hugging style; performance to match good sports cars; and a design that has built-in comfort for driver and passenger, with no penalty whatsoever to pay for fun.” 

Built on a modified Ford sedan chassis, the Thunderbird featured a sleek two-seat body, a removable fiberglass hardtop, and a 292-cubic-inch Y-block V8 engine producing 193 horsepower. Buyers could also opt for a soft convertible top. With its low-slung profile, hood scoop, and jet-inspired tail lamps, the car captured the spirit of 1950s American design. 

The Thunderbird was an immediate success, outselling the Corvette by a wide margin in its debut year. Ford produced 16,155 units in 1955, proving there was a strong market for stylish, well-equipped two-seaters. 

Highlights 

• Offered from The Generous Collection 

• Finished in Raven Black (A) paint over red leatherette upholstery (originally black and white) 

• Color-matched removable hardtop 

• Powered by a 292 cu-in V8 engine rated at 193 hp 

• Three-speed automatic transmission  

• The chassis number (P5FH133139) decodes as: 

  • P – 292 cu-in V8 engine with a 4-barrel carburetor producing 193 hp 

  • 5 – 1955 model year  

  • F – Dearborn (Michigan) assembly plant  

  • H – Thunderbird  

  • 356267 – Sequential production number 

Features 

• Dual horns  

• Heater  

• 150-mph speedometer/odometer and 5,000-rpm tachometer  

• AM radio 

• Analog clock  

• JEGS wheels 

• Nexen NPR12 AH5 205/75R15 tires 

Known Imperfections 

• While reasonable efforts were made during preparation for the sale, due to the volume of cars in this collection, it was not possible to diagnose or detect all imperfections present in the cars. 

• Paint chips 

• Paint is scraped where doors meet the body 

• Small tear on edge of passenger interior door trim 

Ownership History 

This 1955 Ford Thunderbird is offered from The Generous Collection of no reserve automobiles. 

Additional Notes

A Broad Arrow Auctions Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle. Broad Arrow Auctions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hagerty.  

Contact: Ramsey Potts Phone: 912.508.4096 email: rpotts@hagerty.com

Alabama Sales Tax Notice to Bidders: Because this car is located in Alabama, the selling dealer may be required to collect and remit Alabama state sales taxes of up to 2% of the purchase amount, even if the buyer plans to register the car outside of Alabama, if (a) the buyer is located in AZ, CA, FL, IN, MA, MI, or SC (capped at $500 in SC), and (b) the buyer does not transport the car out of Alabama using a common carrier (e.g., if the buyer drives the car or transports the car out of Alabama on a personal trailer). Additionally, the selling dealer may be required to collect and remit Alabama county or city taxes from buyers located outside of Alabama, if (a) the buyer does not transport the car out of Alabama using a common carrier (e.g., if the buyer drives or transports the car out of Alabama on a personal trailer), and (b) the buyer fails to provide an executed Drive-Out Certificate for Nonresidents. For additional information, please consult this publication and your own tax advisor regarding sales taxes applicable to cars located in Alabama that are sold to residents of another state.  

Please note that all lots in The Generous Collection are offered after many years of storage, without operation or service, in warehouse facilities. The seller endeavored to provide limited mechanical servicing to bring some cars back to running potential, however, not all cars will be running at time of sale. Because of the extended static display, it must be assumed that all cars will require additional mechanical attention before being driven safely and, in most cases, cleaning to both the interiors and exteriors. All the cars will have imperfections associated with long-term static storage and require extensive sorting to perform best and safely. The burden of determining a car’s status, both mechanical and cosmetic, rests fully on the bidder, prior to bidding and the close of the auction. All lots are sold as is, where is. 

Additionally, due to the location of the collection and limited access to the facility following the close of the auction, all lots must be retrieved while a Hagerty Marketplace representative is onsite beginning Monday, November 3 through Wednesday, November 19. No cars can be retrieved prior to November 3 and any lots remaining after November 19 will be re-located outside in the parking lot for retrieval by their buyers.