1956 | Ford Thunderbird

The Ford Thunderbird was a sporty passenger car model offered by the American automobile manufacturer Ford in 1955. Known as the T-Bird for short, the car is considered one of the classics of American automobile construction. In the United States, it symbolizes the 1950s and 1960s. The name "Thunderbird" stands for one of the longest-standing brand names in automotive and industrial history, comparable to Corvette or Mustang.

Initially, the Thunderbird (1955–1957) was purely a sporty two-seater and was positioned as a competitor to the Chevrolet Corvette. At the time, the Thunderbird's distinguishing feature was the V8 engine, which the Corvette only received later.

In 1956, the Thunderbird was slightly redesigned. Characteristic features included the external spare tire at the rear, wind deflectors on the A-pillars, and air vents on the front fenders. The ends of the two exhaust pipes now flowed into the rear bumper. The 4.8-liter engine was rated at 200 SAE hp at 4,600 rpm for the manual transmission and 202 SAE hp for the Ford-O-Matic. A new 5.1-liter (312 in3) "Thunderbird Special" V8 produced 215 hp, or 225 SAE hp with the automatic transmission, like the convertible offered here.

The later models (1958–1969) had the characteristic, more angular shape of the mid-1960s. Engine power increased from around 150 to over 300 hp, and the four-seaters were significantly larger than the original model.

The 1956 Thunderbird Special offered here is equipped with the large 5.1-liter V-8 and a 3-speed automatic transmission. It was ordered in the original, beautiful Buckskin Tan paint with a Colonial White top. The interior was white and brown. An original purchase invoice for the vehicle is available. The following optional extras were ordered:

• Soft top instead of hardtop
• Oil filter
• Action wipers
• Fordomatic Drive automatic transmission
• Power steering
• Safety package
• Engine dress-up kit
• 6.70 x 15 whitewall tires
• Rear bumper with shields
• Rear wheel covers (full cover)
• Radio and antenna
• Heater and ventilation system
• Power-assisted brakes

This 1956 Ford T-Bird was completely restored in the USA in the 1990s by Thunderbird specialists. Great emphasis was placed on originality during the restoration. In 1995, it won the 1st National Prize and belonged to the president of the Chicago T-Bird Club, Steve Franco.

The vehicle was imported to Germany by the current owner in 2015 and has been used by him for classic car rallies. It's reliable and incredibly easy to drive thanks to the power steering, automatic transmission, and power brakes. A report gives the Thunderbird a condition rating of 2.2.

If you're looking for a vehicle that best reflects the American way of life of the 1950s, then this is your dream convertible!