For decades, many a car person longed for a two-seat “Baby Bird,” and I’m no exception. My phase was early on in my teens, as a high-school student in the mid 1990s, when I would have done almost anything to grab a 1956 model like the one shown here. I’d agonize over whether I liked the T-Bird better with or without the Continental kit before finally calling it a draw: either a ’55 or a ’56 model would have made me happy. While I moved on from Baby Birds over the years, they still bring those pangs of nostalgia when I see one, and don’t you know, Barn Finds reader PRA4SNW sent us this nicely restored example in Buckskin Tan, which he found here on Hemmings Marketplace in Mountainside, New Jersey. The asking price is $56,900.
The seller says that this T-Bird is a “concours winner,” and includes a picture of the trophies it’s won. Judging by the engine compartment, I’m not too surprised—I’d say this T-Bird doesn’t see too many road miles considering how clean and polished everything looks. The Fordomatic-equipped T-Birds such as this one got the 312-cubic-inch Y-Block, which was new for 1956. So equipped, it produced 225 horsepower, ten more than its manual-transmission counterparts thanks to a slight bump in compression ratio from 8.4:1 to 9:1. Sports Car Illustrated found that a Fordomatic T-Bird could accelerate from zero-to-sixty in 11.5 seconds, and on through the quarter-mile in 17.1 seconds at 79 miles per hour. Given enough room (a five-mile test loop in this case), it could reach 119 miles per hour. All of these figures were pretty good going in 1956, but engine technology was increasing at a rapid rate, and within a few years, the spry little ‘Bird would be left in the dust. Still, this is good enough performance for today’s traffic.
The T-Bird’s interior is cozy, and this was the last year for the neat “see-through” speedometer, which used natural light from behind the gauge face to make it easier to read. A little tachometer was positioned to the left of the speedometer, and a clock to the right. In 1956, Ford advertised new “Lifeguard” safety features, including a slightly dished steering wheel, which just happened to look a little sportier than the 1955 model’s.
The advertisement points out that the convertible top cost $8,000 and has a “hand-polished frame,” but the car will also come with its original Colonial White hardtop (with porthole), which was a factory-available color combination with the lower body’s Buckskin Tan.
All in all, this is a very nice Baby Bird, with beautiful chrome, wide whitewall tires, and a set of gleaming wire wheels. Ten years ago, I’d say the nearly $57,000 price tag was not bad for such a nice car, but I wonder if the two-seat T-Bird market can support such a price these days, as their popularity seems to be on the wane. As always, it’s something to discuss in the comments.
sweet bird done in traditional colors. i don’t see it selling on marketplace though but i could be wrong. can’t restore it for the ask price.
What is the color?
It’s Buckskin Tan.
hemmings always has nice cars at record high prices.
With “show condition” cars, you’re buying a porcelain doll.
So unless you are willing to make it a trailer queen, the next owner will acquire plenty of weathering, road rash, fluid stains, and all of those warts and age spots as they drive it around.
So whatever premium you are willing to pay to get a car in “show condition”, it’s going to evaporate like helium while you own it. Unless you garage it and trailer it.
My view is cars, even vintage cars, are made to be driven. Oh, I understand that some people like to buy them and stash them away in a climate controlled garage, only to be trailered to the next show. And more power to them. But I’m not into using them for my investment portfolio and just staring at them.
I agree. I think that 99% of old cars are NOT investments. It’s a hobby.
On the seller side, they want to apply big premiums to “show condition”. My point is that, if you pay their premium, then you are staring at some considerable depreciation if you decide to use it as intended.
You will not have a “show condition” car to sell to the next buyer. You’ll have weathering, and gravel chips, and fluid stains, and brake dust, and all the rest.
Buy a decent running, decent condition T-bird for $30k less than this and you won’t have to worry about that issue very much, and you still have a decent T-bird to cruise around in.
I fail to see the joy in owning a porcelain doll in the car hobby. You either baby it or take a huge hit in value. Neither choice is very attractive to me.
Pink?
The color may be Sunset Coral which was a mid-year orange-pink but not certain. My ‘56 is Fiesta Red which underwent a 2 year frame off restoration beginning in 1987. Would call it a 2-5 footer today. Living in Louisiana and where I live in Louisiana, there are few, if any, car shows locally or even close so I don’t show mine. I agree with others, I prefer maintaining my car by driving it and enjoying the socializing with curious onlookers. Also, mine is not original having a black top in lieu of the factory white (now closely matches my wife’s Race Red 2019 Mustang GT convertible), Vintage Air, aftermarket PS, electronic ignition, and radial tires. Car listed here is a beauty but I’m happy driving mine.
Nice car but I don’t think the seller is aware of the sinking market value of these cars.
These days, sellers look up some comp numbers and use the ones from 5 years ago, ignoring the recent trends and reserve not met numbers.
This “cars as investments” game has come to a screeching halt in the last couple of years. It was a giant ploy, ginned up by the auction and insurance houses.
They ran out of “greater fools”, in Wall Street parlance, while the inventory for sale has exploded and the pool of old car buyers has shrunk.
We are getting back to cars as a hobby, not an investment. Good.
Aaron, you write a good piece. Enjoyed your longing desire for a Thunderbird like this. These were never on my radar but I have found an appreciation for the car and the spare tire kit through your words.
The buckskin color has a rose tint like that ’78 Eldorado of a few days ago. What has always intrigued me is the two passenger bench seat. Nice touch for a couples cruise.
Thank you, Nelson!
My wife has always wanted a 56 Bird (she was born in 56), and a few years back, as prices were dropping (and I now had garage space after selling my 10k mile 89 SHO in 2021), I seriously looked for one. Prices for older restorations were getting into the high $20k-$30k range, with top-end cars maybe $60k. We decided against pulling the trigger, but I have to believe that prices have continued their downward trend since then. I couldn’t see spending much over mid 30s at this point.