Lot 332: 1956 Ford Thunderbird

The public got its first glimpse of the new Ford Thunderbird in February 1954 at the Detroit Auto Show, the mock-up displayed being close to what would eventually end up in production. It drew rave reviews from both the press and the public. On September 9 1954 the first production Thunderbird rolled off the assembly line in Dearborn. The 1955 model Ford was an instant success being priced around $3,500 for a nicely equipped example. Unlike the Corvette, it was powered by a V8 with either a manual or automatic transmission, had an adjustable steering wheel, roll-up windows, tachometer, clock, 150mph speedometer and ball-joint front suspension. It was marketed as a 'personal luxury' car and never was or ever meant to be a sports car. For 1956 the Thunderbird retained the same basic design but with the addition of a standard Continental Kit which allowed for increased trunk space. The now famous porthole-style window was added to the hardtop and side vents were added to improve ventilation. 1957 saw a marked change in styling with the addition of small fins and a completely different front end treatment. Ford also entered modified versions in races with excellent results, one car also setting a record speed in timed running-mile competitions. The last 'Little Bird' rolled off the assembly line on December 13 1957 with combined production for all three years totalling 53,166. All of these cars are highly collectable and command strong prices when in pristine condition. As indeed this example is. Originally delivered to Bill Meares of La Mesa in Texas in 1956, it went through four further keepers until Rupert Mock bought it in 1996 and orchestrated a full body-off restoration lasting more than two years. Specialists Stewart and Mary Right oversaw the process with Westec Customs taking care of the body and paintwork. David Lewis re-trimmed the car with all chrome restored by Concours Plating. The quality of the result is amply demonstrated by the number of trophies and awards achieved, including the 1998 Dallas Thunderbird Club Gold Medal, the 2002 New Jersey Concours Gold Award and the 2005 Washington State Concours Trophy, to name but a few. It was at the last concours event in 2005 that is was spotted by the vendor and purchased and the car now forms part of a significant collection of high quality motor cars. Presented complete with Continental Touring Pack, hard top and a MoT test certificate valid for a full 12 months, this extremely well put together example of Ford's T-Bird drives well with a smooth power delivery through the manual gearbox and a superb road presence.