*Click
on the above thumbnails to view full screen
photographs of this automobile. More photos
available upon request.
Additional
Details:
(VIN: P6FH343660),
(K) fiesta red / (XB) red & white interior / red hardtop, auto
trans., 21,377 miles showing on the odometer, assembled
in Dearborn, MI on July 30th, longitudinally front mounted 312 cu.in.
Special 4V 90º V8, cast-iron block and head, 215 hp., 8.4
compression
ratio, body on ladder frame chassis, four-wheel power assisted drum
brakes, front suspension has wishbones, coil springs, telescopic
dampers and an anti-roll-bar, rear suspension has a live axle, leaf
springs and telescopic shock absorbers, worm and roller steering, this
was the second production year for the sport Thunderbird, Options on
this car include: original Town & Country radio, heat, hardtop and
chrome wire wheels which accent the cars white-wall tires. In
1956 cowl vents were put in the fenders, the continental kit was added
to the
rear, and the taillights were redesigned, portholes were added to the
detachable hardtop, and electrical system was changed to 12V. The
312 cubic inch engine was an option over the standard 292 cubic inch
V8. The total number of these automobiles produced in 1956 was
15,631 - the least of the three production years, the base MSRP was
$3,408.00. This vehicle was part of a display in a MO auto museum
for
10 years and recently has been in the private, 30+ car collection of a
local heart surgeon, when it was removed it was serviced and received
a new battery. Has Aerolon 4-ply polyester tires. This
vehicle is in good shape overall, with
good floors and trunk, no apparent rust anywhere.
It starts
easily, even cold, and drives well. While it is not in show
condition, it would make
a perfect driver and local show and shine entry.
General Thunderbird
specifications
Country of origin: United States
Numbers built: 1955: 16,155
1956: 15,631
1957: 21,380
Produced from: 1955 - 1957
Introduced at: 1954 NAIAS
Dimensions
Weight: 3,240.8 lbs
Length / Width / Height: 4450 mm (175.2 in) / 1780 mm (70.1 in) /
1325 mm (52.2 in)
Wheelbase / Track (fr/r): 2590 mm (102 in) / 1420 mm (55.9 in) /
1420 mm (55.9 in)
History
During the early 1950's, military men were returning from fighting in
World War II. In Europe, the style of vehicle was very different from
the Detroit American car. The graceful but sporty MG, Triumphs, and
Jaguar's, to name a few, had found their way into the hearts of many of
these serviceman. The American automobile manufacturers noticed this
trend and felt there was a strong market to support a small sportscar.
The Chevrolet was one of the first, if not the famous, of the Detroit
auto-manufacturers to test the market with the introduction of their
Corvette. Not wanting to be left behind, Ford entered with their
Thunderbird.
Lewis D. Crusoe, Frank Hershey, and George Walker are considered the
creators of the Thunderbird. Crusoe was a retired GM executive; Hershey
was a designer for Ford; and Walker was the chief stylist for Ford.
While Crusoe and Walker were in Paris, they saw a sports car and were
instantly inspired. They convinced Hershey to create designs and the
result was an open car with room for two passengers. As with all cars,
deciding upon a suitable name is difficult. There were well over 5000
suggestions, with the one submitted by Alden Giberson behind selected.
The name Whizzer had been seriously considered but was dropped for
Gibersons suggestion, the Thunderbird. The name 'Thunderbird' was
derived from the god of rain and prosperity worshipped by America's
South West Indians. They were versatile vehicles with European style
and American comfort and power.
The Thunderbird, though similar, was different in many ways to the
Corvette and the rest of the small sports cars being offered. The
Thunderbird was created as a 'personal luxury' car and even to the
current production version, has never been designed as a sports car.
Instead of fiberglass, the Thunderbird was constructed of metal.
Instead of six cylinder engines, Ford upped-the-ante with a V8. To keep
cost and development at a minimum, it used as many parts as possible
from the other Fords of that era. The result was a two-seater with many
creature comforts and impressive styling. Manual and automatic
transmissions were both available. The instrument panel was home to a
tachometer, clock and a 150 mph speedometer. The suspension was
comprised of a ball-join in the front, offering a plush ride.
The Thunderbird was first debuted to the public at the 1954 Detroit
Auto Show, though it was still in concept form. The production version
varied slightly. In September of that same year, the first production
Thunderbird was completed and ready for sale. It was only available as
a convertible. A popular option, the removable hardtop with circular
portholes was available. During its introductory year, over 16,000
examples were produced. A 292 cubic-inch V8, depending on the
configuration, ranged in horsepower from 193 through 212. A year later,
the horsepower rose to a base of 215 and a high of 340 from the 292 and
312 cubic-inch engines.
Its original sales triumphed over the Chevy Corvette with 24 to 1
sales. This was the result of clean styling, creature comforts, and V8
refinement. The '56 T-Bird was much like the '55, but a standard
"continental" spare tire kit opened up needed trunk space, front-fender
ventilator doors enhanced cockpit comfort, the exhaust pipes were moved
to the ends of the bumper, and the available lift-off hardtop gained
distinctive "porthole" windows that helped visibility. Typical of the
time, the '56 also offered more power, courtesy of a new 312-cubic-inch
V-8 packing 215 horsepower with optional stick-overdrive or 225 with
self-shift Fordomatic. The previous year's 292 continued with the
standard three-speed manual, but was upped to 202 bhp. Handling took a
step backward, as springs and shocks were softened, but buyers loved
the resulting smoother ride. The sales volume didn't impress Ford
conservative management and a four seater replacement was in the works
for 1958. The base engine was a 292 cubic-inch overhead valve V8 with a
bore x stroke of 3.75 x 3.30 and developed 193 horsepower. Price new
ranged from $2,944 to $3,408.
The Thunderbird received styling changes in 1957 with a reshaped bumper
and an enlarged grille. In the rear, the tail fins grew in size and
became more pointed. The round tail-lights also grew in size. The spare
tire was again housed inside the trunk. The big news was under the hood
with versions of the 292 and 312 cubic-inch engines being offered. The
base engine was the 292 offering just under 200 horsepower. The top of
the line configuration was the F-code 312 with the NASCAR racing kit
performance package, boosting horsepower to 340. The F-code, in
non-NASCAR racing kit form was popular; with the help of a single
four-barrel carburetor and supercharger it produced around 300
horsepower. The E-code 312 engine option, another popular engine
choice, was equipped with two four-barrel carburetors and produced 270
horsepower. In total, 1957 was a great year for the Thunderbird, both
in performance and in sales with over 21300 examples being produced.
The 1957 season actually had three extra months of production because
the 1958 models were not ready to be sold. On December 13, 1957, the
last of the first series of Thunderbirds was produced and marked the
end of two-seater Fords until the 1982 Ford EXP. A two-seater
Thunderbird would not reappear until 2002. In total, over 53,160
examples had been produced from 1954 through 1957.
The major complaint of many of the owners of the 'Classic' or 'Little
Bird' Thunderbirds had been due to its size, mainly because there was
no back seat and limited trunk space. The next version of the
Thunderbird addressed both of these issues.
Picks: Interior including
the hardtop headliner is excellent except for puffy sun visors, clock
not functioning, respray is shiny & decent quality but shows
light overspray on seals and some electrical components in the engine
compartment, body prep work leaves a lot to be desired with wavy doors,
sand
marks under paint, paint chips and cracks where body parts meet,
touched up scratches, knicks, dings and cracks, exterior and interior
chrome is good
with minor pitting in some areas,
rims have light surface rust around some spokes, tire sidewalls show
cracks and
yellowing from age, as most do this
has minor oil leaks, vehicle does not have a soft top or its framing.
Numerical
Condition
Evaluation:
(1
denotes Very Poor / Item needs replacement, 10 denotes Excellent /
Showroom New)
PAINT:
4
BODY:
4
CONV.
TOP: N/A
RIMS:
5
TIRES:
8
WINDSHIELD
/ GLASS: 7
LEATHER:
8.5
INT.
CARPETING: 8.5
SERVICE
RECORDS / OWNERSHIP HISTORY: n/a
*Vehicle is
located at BMI - more information or photographs are available upon on
request. While every reasonable effort has been made
to
ensure the accuracy of the above data, mistakes
regarding hp ratings, options, etc. can be made. I have also done my
best to be very
honest
and very critical about the cosmetic and
mechanical condition of this vehicle. Of course, it is not possible to
pick-up on every single
detail
or flaw. Please keep expectations realistic
as this is a pre-owned vehicle, and I have personally found blemishes
on brand new
undriven
vehicles. If you are an exceptionally
detailed oriented person, please contact me to verify any information
directly, and I will do my
best
to specifically photograph anything you
request and to answer any of your questions to the best of my ability.
|
