1955 Ford Thunderbird

Description

“Seventh heaven on wheels” is what Ford called the new 1955 Thunderbird. Ford never claimed the Thunderbird was a sports car, rather they called it a “personal car of distinction.” Franklin Q. Hershey’s striking two-seat body paired with V8 powerplants helped the Thunderbird vastly outsell the sportier but less comfortable Corvette. Walt Woron writing in the December 1954 issue of Motor Trend 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 April 1955, this Thunderbird was originally painted Torch Red, but repainted 1956 Ford Fiesta Red when restored in 2016. Modern upgrades like Vintage Air air conditioning and front disc brakes keep the Fifties vibe while making driving safer and more enjoyable today. Powered by the correct 292 cu-in four barrel V8 and Ford-O-Matic transmission, this 1955 Ford Thunderbird is fitted with a complement of options and a removable white hardtop with rare-for-1955 dealer installed portholes.

Highlights

• Restored in 2016 and finished in 1956 Ford Fiesta Red paint

• Rebuilt 292 cu-in 190 horsepower V8 and Ford-O-Matic transmission

• Red and White vinyl interior and white removable hardtop

• Upgraded to 12 volt electrics, front disc brakes and Griffin aluminum radiator

• Vintage Air air conditioning and Autosound stereo

• Astra Dial instrument cluster with 150 mph speedometer, tachometer, and fuel level and coolant temperature gauges

• Kelsey Hayes wire wheels and Broadway Classic whitewall tires

• The chassis number (P5FH198290) decodes as:

  • P – Engine code 292 cu-in 4bbl V8

  • 5 – Model Year 1955

  • F – Dearborn assembly plant

  • H – Thunderbird

  • 198290 – Sequential assembly number

• The body tag decodes as:

  • 40A – Body type Thunderbird

  • R – Torch Red paint

  • B – Red and White vinyl interior

  • 20 – Day of month

  • D – April

  • SK – San Jose sales zone

  • 532 – Production code

• Restored in 2016, this 1955 Ford Thunderbird is offered with the five-digit odometer currently showing 18,400 miles at the time of cataloging, however, the true mileage is unknown

Features

• Removable white hardtop with dealer installed portholes

• Ford Master Glide power steering

• Ford Swift Sure power brakes

• Power three-way bench seats

• Optional heater with defroster

• Two-spoke steering wheel

• Dual sun visors

• Seat belts

• Looped rayon carpets

• Locking glovebox

• Burtex trunk liner

• Centered trunk antenna

Known Imperfections

• Small blemish ding on the passenger side door

Included

• Hardtop carrier