1955 Ford Thunderbird 3spd OD, 2 tops, A/C, Cont Kit (opt), Fully Restored, Mint

1955 Ford Thunderbird Description

1955 Ford Thunderbord: 2-Tops, 3 spd OD, A/C, PS, PB w/opt. Continental Kit

Almost every car enthusiast knows about the early “Baby Birds”, the two-seat sports car Ford introduced in 1955 that swept the industry, prompting GM to counter with the Corvette, and launching a host of collectors who cherish early T-Birds to this day.

This is the first of the early Birds, which were made for only 3 years (1955-57). To many people (myself included) the ‘55 represents the purest design. The next year, the ’56, cluttered up the design and added a non-removable continental kit that ruined the car’s handling. The ’57 added exaggerated fins, and while beautiful and popular, detracted from the timeless design of the original by becoming a decidedly “50’s” automobile.
So let’s focus on this car. It is ideally equipped, mating a manual 3-speed transmission with Overdrive to its strong-running 292 V8 engine. This makes this T-Bird a driver’s car, rather just than a boulevard cruiser. (Ford’s 1955 2 speed Ford-O-Matic was sloppy and imprecise, distancing the driving experience.) This car features power steering and power brakes, which makes it a joy to maneuver and bring to a stop safely. Then, it has period-correct Air Conditioning, which was dealer installed, as there was no factory AC option at the time. And, it has the contrasting factory hardtop, which turns the car into a year-round vehicle. Finally, this car has a removable Continental Kit that was restored along with the car but left off in the final assembly to see what the car looks like without it. (It’s a bolt-on affair, as all Continental Kits for the ‘55 model were dealer installed.)

This example was the recipient of a $26k restoration by Prestige Thunderbirds of California that included a brand new interior, new soft top, all chrome redone, engine and trunk detailed, new Coker radial whitewalls, etc. all done to show quality. However, the former owner did not have the car painted at that time, although the paint clearly did not stand up to the rest of the restoration.
I subsequently had the entire car professionally painted, completely disassembling and taking it down to bare metal. Any and all necessary repairs were done at that time, resulting in a rock solid, rust-free car with a show quality paint job throughout, including the floors, door jambs, engine compartment and trunk interior. No aspect of the car was left unattended, making this a true total restoration. The result is the best driving T-Bird I have encountered since the one I learned to drive on in '55.
If you’re looking for a magnificent early Bird, ideally equipped, professionally restored bumper to bumper, and don’t want to pay the $65k+ in costs that some T-Bird restorers charge, this may be the one for you.