Fantasy Junction

Description

1956 Ford Thunderbird
s/n P6FH135902
Peacock Blue with Two-Tone Peacock Blue and White Interior

Intended to compete with Chevrolet’s recently introduced Corvette, the Ford Thunderbird was a two seat convertible with V8 power and quintessentially American 1950s styling. Unlike the Corvette, however, the Thunderbird was billed as a personal luxury car rather than a sports car and this approach ultimately proved much more popular. While the first Corvette had a 6 cylinder engine, side curtains, and minimal chrome which limited its market appeal a kept sales low in its first two or three production years, the Thunderbird was much more closely aligned with contemporary American tastes and sold very well. The car sold so well in its first production year, 1955, that it received minimal changes for 1956 and fairly light changes for 1957 as well.

This particular car received a frame-on restoration about a dozen years ago and is a nice driver example. It has been retrofitted with two 4-barrel carburetors as was optionally available on 1957 Thunderbirds, and is equipped with power steering, wire wheels, and automatic transmission. During the restoration, the Continental kit for the spare tire was removed to give the car a more sporting appearance, which is heightened by the fitment of bumpers without overriders. The car is also equipped with headers.

The car is cosmetically excellent, with a very nice body wearing a high quality paint job. The paint is excellent overall with a few blemishes: an area on the left front fender by the headlight ring that has been touched up and some cracks by the antenna. The overall impression is strong and the car has nice straight panels with no rust noted in the exterior bodywork. The chrome is generally excellent with a small area of peeling on the front bumper, but not significant wear or aging on the remainder of the chrome. The badges and trim are excellent throughout and the car sits on nice wire wheels with whitewall tires.

The interior has also been nicely restored, with excellent upholstery, carpets, and dashboard. The turned metal is smart looking and in excellent condition, as are the gauges, switches, and instruments. The steering wheel and horn ring are also very nice and the interior is correctly presented other than the addition of a cassette player, which does bear the Thunderbird logo but is not period correct.

The engine compartment is quite clean and nicely dressed up with polished valve covers and headers, as well as the impressive carburetor setup. The car has a vintage FoMoCo windscreen washer fluid bag and Grant distributor, and is clean and nicely detailed throughout. The trunk was included in the restoration and the rubber trunk mat is fresh in appearance as is the paint inside the trunk. The jack and spare are both present. The undercarriage is generally solid other than a small area of rust near the fuel tank and on the inner left rear fender behind the rear wheel.

This is a great opportunity to acquire a very nice driver Thunderbird that is ready to enjoy. Thoroughly restored and ready to enjoy, this car has been subtly upgraded to improve its performance and driving experience. It accurately captures the unique essence of America’s chrome age of the 1950s and is a stylish and relatively inexpensive open air cruiser that attracts positive attention wherever it goes.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608