For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a thing for cars and guitars, especially electric guitars. I guess it’s because both have styling, color, performance, and a full range of sound going for them. Plus, both cars and guitars can be left factory original and “bone stock” or modified to the owners content. Here’s a classic ’55 Thunderbird that has been modified inside, outside, and especially under the hood. It’s now powered by a legendary Chevy 350-cubic inch small block V8 (the original engine and transmission come with the sale). Nesting in the sun in Apple Valley, California, this ’55 Red ‘Bird is for sale here on eBay where the highest bid sits at $16,900 as of this writing.
Based on the photos, the ‘Bird’s exterior has a “stock/quirky” thing going on. In the stock department, the Torch Red paint is shiny and the seller claims there is “normal wear and tear on paint.” The front bumper and grill and the rear bumper with those distinctive rear exhaust donuts look good as does the glass. The trim and badging is all there, and the period-correct whitewall tires really dresses it up in classic ’50’s style. I’m not spotting any signs of the tin worm either. On the quirky list are several extra stainless trim pieces. Most noticeably on both doors as well as the trunk lid. The seller must have a thing for ’57 Thunderbirds too, since this ’55 is sporting a ’57 T-Bird white removable hardtop with “port windows” and ’57 T-Bird full wheel covers. I’m not sure if the hood or trunk were fully latched when these photos were taken. If so, there are some fitting and alignment gaps on both.
A new custom interior has been installed that carries a black-and-red theme. The seats look sharp in this color combination, but the new door panel treatment may not be everybody’s cup of tea. The black dash pad and instrument panel looks good and you can see where several gauges have been added into and underneath the instrument panel. The original telescoping steering wheel looks okay, but you can spot cracks in the hub and a piece of the horn bar is chipped off. The ‘Bird is equipped with power steering, power disc brakes, and an automatic transmission. There is also no soft top stored away behind the front seat.
Buh-bye Y-Block, hello 350 small block. The seller doesn’t say why or when the surgery was performed, but the ‘Bird’s original 292 V8 has been swapped out for a Chevy 350 small block V8 (which made its debut in the ’67 Camaro). I’m not a T-Bird engine swap out expert by any means, so hopefully our readers can shed some light on whether this is a popular engine choice for these Baby Birds. When the revolutionary Thunderbird was introduced, it cause a real stir, even in Hollywood. I read where Jack Lemmon was given a red ’55 Thunderbird by Ed Sullivan in lieu of payment for appearing on Ed’s Sunday night show. If this has been a California car all of its life, I wonder if this could’ve been it? Anywho, that’s another discussion for another day. So, what do you think of this “’55 Chevy-Bird?”
I think one or more of the “Ford in a Ford” fanatics are going to go hang themselves with a Ford v belt. Not sure what the Chevy fanatics are going to say about it. Nice car though. Good driver.
Only someone who really doesn’t get it would ruin a T Bird with the Briggs & Stratton of car engines. An engine change should make a car stand out from the crowd, not get lost in the crowd. Engine should complement the car, not insult it. My 56 Bird is getting a 427 sideoiler Ford. Now that’s an engine change that not only stands out from the crowd but enhances the cars value.
Won’t add to the front end weight, right?
Correct Bob, bring me some stout rope! Absolute sacrilege to do this to a FORD Thunderbird.
56 comments! Exceeded my guess by a whole bunch. BTW, I’d have probably put a Ford 289 in it…..
Fine choice…a K-code 289 would be even better.
Gosh, just decided to “restore” my 55 Chevy and upgrade it with my spare 47-48 Ford 59AB engine!
Too many strikes against it. Pass
I’ll post photos once I get done installing the Saab 3 cylinder 2 stroke in my 62 Coupe de Ville…
Built Ford tough with Chevy stuff…Couldn’t at least find a 289 or 302w to put in?I have seen the genetic crossbreeding before.A former coworker used to drive a 54′ F100 built with 78′ Camaro front end and drivetrain using a 700r4 trans from a Chevy Impala police car.
This is as absurd as a Corvette with a Mercury Marine engine.
That is sacrilegious, sticking a chevy motor in a t-bird, especially a 55. It’s one thing to swap motors around in a street rod but a classic like a 55 t-bird, really. I’m sure there are people who would disagree with me and that’s fine but not this guy.
I had a 55 with the numbers matching 292 Y block and transmission. The 292 performed very well and ran like a top I might add. For me, mostly a GM guy by the way, the 55 bird is an icon that shouldn’t be messed with.
Fine choice…a K-code 289 would be even better.
I never did like those hermaphrodite type cars.
I’m ok with a Chevy in a 48 or earlier Ford, they actually fit as well as the flathead they replace, but in a 55 TBird? NO! I’ve seen one that had a 351W swapped in, it looked factory. I’m not really into cross breeding post 48 stuff.
My 47 Lincoln had a 350 Chevy in it when I got it, now it’s sporting a 5.0 liter 302 Ford. Not as much aftermarket support to do the Ford in a Ford, so I had to build my own mounts and stuff. It’s nowhere near original, but I like it better keeping it all FOMOCO.
I, for one, respect your commitment to keeping a Ford a Ford. If you want a car powered by a Chev engine then buy a Chev!
Well said !!
Chevy powered T-Bird. That’s as sacrilegious as a Ford powered Corvette. Bowtie freaks would crap lead quarters, Why should Ford fans feel any different?
You guys act as if someone was going to drive this thing with the hood off.
99.9% of the world isn’t going to know or care what engine it has. And that’s the way it should be.
The chevy sound sucks,,,,,5.0 sound!!!!! Yeah Baby!!!
Indeed !!!
Thats right ! Very few people care, that was standard practice in the 1960,because parts cost less and were more plentiful for a SB Chevy.
No problems for me. I’d pick the SBC over that Y Block boat anchor.
Not very knowledgeable, are you ??
I totally agree with the judgement over the swap.
And I drive a Jag with a 350 SBC.
Thats because so many of the old Jags leaked oil everywhere.That was so common that there was 2-3 vendors that sold kits for the swap.
Richard: I imagine you have no car problems with the Chevy V/8, and I wish you would have added that, or much better reliability.
When the E-Jaguars came out I was on a missionary trip to Baja California with my father, and when we were getting to Cabason, which today has a huge native American casino, there on the side of the 10 Freeway was a brand new E-Jaguar off the road with the new owner with an angry facial expression. I imagine he was on his way to show off his new, beautiful E-Jaguar, to his family and friends to no avail. We continued in my fathers 1952, Dodge sedan to do the Lord Jesus’s work, but that E- Jaguar was just gorgeous.
Time to bring out the firing squad! Ha, ha.
Nothing I’d like to do better than put a big block Ford in an old Corvette
yeah baby that will mess with them chevy guys
Just needs to have a FORD air cleaner cap on the engine.
Then even fewer people will notice.
You cannot miss the distributor.
Gross.
It’s reassuring to see that almost every comment agrees. It’s amazing how much time and money people spend to ruin and decrease the value of a car.
Amen, brother !
Whiners gonna whine. And BF is full of them..
Not this again!!!!! This is a good looking car. This car doesnt care which engine is in it Nor did the person who did the swap. I think it is great, could tidy up the engine compartment. If you do not like it, do not gt your panties in a nought. Life is too short to waste time on your opinion. If it goes cheap enough, just buy it , rectify the situation and save the world. Morley
Rerun.
Any Chevy powered Ford is just a parts car.
Hahaha!
Exactly!
Chevy engine in a 55 TBird? That’s as crazy as GM putting a Chevy engine in an Oldsmobile.. Oh, wait. They did that. Never mind.
To all the ” no one will notice” folks? Obviously, you have no clue about classic Fords. Or any classic. At least the seller provides the correct engine, so the new owner can rid themselves of that grease stain 350.
Obviously we know nothing about any classics. So glad there’s an expert to point out the error of our ways!
You’ re absolutely cotrrect !!!
BTW the SBC hardly qualifies as classic..
you might want to research it a bit further before snarling !
I meant to say snarling.
Glad to help, anytime.
Well said, brother !!
If I were in the market I wouldn’t buy it until the engine swap had been completed!
You people that are whining about this swap should have bought it and installed whatever FOMOCO boat anchor you wanted, Facts are, the SBC is the most produced, most reliable, easiest to build and maintain, winningest V-8 engine EVER produced. I dare you to go to a car show anywhere and count how many Fords are powered by a SBC. WAY more than a Ford power plant. Why do you think that is…..Because it’s cheaper and more reliable . Period. Nuff said, Pitts off
It looks like the SBC peanut gallery has checked in..uninformed as usual !
Yeah, it was back in the 70’s, time to grow up. The SBF rules today…
amen !!
Cheaper. For sure. Period. Exclamation point!
Well said, brother !!
Sacrilege. Wouldn’t pay $1.69
Back in 1960s the guy that owned the local service station put a 475 Edsel into his 55 chevy.
I was there the day he pulled it out of the stall up beside the gas pumps.
When he lit it up, and pulled both front wheels off the ground !
He also had a Hillman that had a 413 Chrysler in it.
Have not heard anyone that can top those engine swaps!
Not sure why the author specifies that this is a 1957 top, although there are model year differences.
No 1955 T-Bird had portholes from the factory.
The portholes were added as an option for 1956, and this option carried on for 1957. The iconic feature was so popular that dealers added them to non-porthole tops. The number of bows supporting the headliner in factory vs dealer porthole tops.
The little windows actually do improve outward visibility when passing. Believe me. They are useful!
As for the Chevy engine, it may be reliable, my 312 Y block is too. Don’t see the point, and it has trashed the value of the collectible car
The reason e-jags got so many engine transplants was because they were an exotic import back in the day. Few knew how to work on them and finding parts wasn’t so easy.
Try to find a 3.4 jag 6 in any local junk yard!
I am not a Ford guy except for some trucks and prefer old Chevy’s. I wouldn’t do that to the 55-57 T birds and they’re the only ones I like. I thought they had a 312 or something?
To each their own but it’s worth more with the right engine.
Aside from the top, another reason Ron may view the Bird as stock / quirky is because the hubcaps are ’57 only. They do look out of place on the ’55.
As an Englishman I wouldn’t know the difference between the hubcaps of any Ford T Bird but I think the caps on this car look fine with the ones that it has.
I have both a newer T-Bird and newer Vette so I have a leg in each camp. No telling when that transplant happened but back in the day this would have been an old car. I’ve seen all kinds of transplants including things like Pontiac engine in a Bird, so it happened. Look at early Hot Rods with Cadillac and Lincoln engines to name just a few.
Back in the 60’s and 70’s many of these hybrid transplants happened, and people weren’t so into restoration, rather performance was the ultimate object for a large majority of these builders, so whatever it took to put some speed into the car was worth the consideration.
If you like it, you like it. If you don’t like it, that’s OK too. Objectives change over time and who knows what it will be in another decade or so.
You just want to buy it so you can rip that sack -of-steaming-crap SBC out of it and take a torch, bandsaw, and angle grinder with a cutoff wheel to it just to make sure it never again fouls another Ford with its presence.
Then put a Coyote in the T Bird…