While the seller of this T-Bird is short on words, they seem upfront about its issues. They state that they are the 3rd owners and have had it since 1997. The engine hasn’t been started in a few years but turns over and there’s some old Bondo work in the rear quarters. They claim the floors, trunk and rockers look solid though, so it might just be worth taking a closer look at this one! You can find it here on eBay in Lewisburg, West Virginia with a BIN of $19,500.
After seeing the success of the Corvette, Ford’s leadership decided they needed a personal luxury to compete. The Thunderbird ended up being a much different kind of car than the Corvette, which proved to be a good thing for Ford. As a matter of fact, in 1955, Ford sold 23 of these cars for each Corvette that was sold. While it might mean there are more of these around, it also means parts supply is healthy and there’s lots of information out there on restoring them.
Moving any luxury cruiser requires a decent amount of power, so Ford equipped these cars with their 202 horsepower 292 V8 or the optional 312 V8 in various performance levels. There’s no word on which engine this car is equipped with, but it’s most likely the 292. Perhaps one of you can identify the engine for us?
If this T-Bird really is solid, it could be a simple one to get back on the road. With a tune up and some fresh fuel, there’s a good chance the engine will run again. Clean up the interior, go through the brakes and polish up the paint and it wouldn’t look too bad. Of course, at this price, you will want to take a closer look at it to make sure there isn’t serious rust hiding under the paint. So, do you think this one will be worth taking on?
Looks like a lot of potential there. American Graffiti here we come.
Get it all fixed up and be sure to find a Suzanne Somers look-a-like for the passenger seat.
I looked at a nice, clean running one in better condition for about the same price. If you’re looking for a 55-57 ‘Bird, there seems to be a lot out there, take some time to look around.
Exactly what I was thinking. There are nice drivers out there for close to this price.
Love these, there was one on the backstreet from my house I grew up in, talked to the guy a couple times and he always said “not for sale, gonna fix it up” then one day it was gone. I later heard he passed. I always wonder what happened to it. I think it was a 55 though, white with red and the hard top.
@Angrymike – I have an equal story for the halcyon days. Some neighbors on my block were renters. They would come and they would go. I still hadn’t gotten my first car yet, but the partially disassembled, yellow, 1967 Corvette 427 435 horse coupe in their garage was surely on my wish list.
Periodically, I would ask about the availability, but always to no avail. One day, I was walking by and noticed an empty garage. Shocked, I knocked on the door and the owner answered. When I gurgled in a hurt voice my query, he just said in a laid back way, ‘Yeah, I sold it. I was never going to finish it.”
Partially out of morbid curiosity, I asked how much he let it go for. His words were calm, but they lit my hair on fire: “500 bucks”. With great self-restraint, I calmly asked why he didn’t offer it to me and he just casually said, it was a sort of spur-of-the-moment thing.
That same year, I paid $1300 for my first car, a 1968 Mustang FB 4-speed.
This was a huge life lesson for me. I am now far more focused when I want something, and never afraid to offer less. You just never know.
Fact check! In 1956, Ford built 15,631 1956 Thunderbirds and Chevrolet built 3,467 Corvettes. There will be variances between production and sales, but no way did Ford sell 23 Thunderbirds for every Corvette.
Thanks for info CCFisher! I meant to include that that was in 1955. Production for T-Birds in ’55 was 16,155 while Corvette production was just 700, which works out to 23 to 1. Sorry, I should have clarified that!
Love the 56-57 birds but this price is way off with the market in its condition.
Should be a 312 ci based on the VIN and assuming this motor is the original. Should also be 3 speed with overdrive which equates to 215 hp.
The 2 seat never really took off in Value, as the guys said for 20k you could have a decent turn key car.Had a 55 but had to sell. would like another.I’m thinking this one should be a 10 k car. These were real rust buckets and you have to look at every square inch. this one has some mud in it.
Good luck to the new owner
looks like a manual shift, 3pd on base model, 4 speed optional.no power steering or brakes, power windows,,kinda unique combo,no mention of soft top or mileage.without inspection I would appraise this $ 9500 -12,500 fair market price
The write up on eBay says he have both tops and there’s even a picture of the soft top hanging from the ceiling.
4. Speeds were never available on 55/57 Tbirds 3 speed with overdrive was the best you could get Ford didn’t offer 4 speeds in anything until late 1961 and those were Galaxies, just sayin
Took another look and this is a dirty bird. Pop rivet patches in trunk, inner rockers and support gussets GONE–they even shot some undercoating on the rotten parts, lots of work here but looks like most of the hard to get stuff is there. Those inner rockers are a bear of a job,trust me, way overpriced. Not for the faint of hear. Caveat Emptor…
I love the 57 more for its styling, but this would be a nice car to own. As a young car freak, I remember sitting in the driver’s seat of a 56 in the dealer’s show room back then and falling in love with the styling.
I would like to own one, but it is not going to happen. Too many other projects.
Bob
Says it’s a 312 on ebay.
I’ve seen top notch ( #1 ) restored ones bring $60k or more, but you’ll spend every bit of that bringing this one to #2 condition. No bargin here.
That’s an aftermarket hard top.
That’s an aftermarket hard top. Not original. It’d be nice if he unfolded the soft top to see if it’s the late style which commands more money.
No extra charge for the bird’s nest…..
I know nothing about them but its a lovely looking thing. I would like to own it.
I love these tri five Birds but this one is overpriced. There are is a lot of wisdom from Barn Finders about looking around for a better value. Do so. Or see if the Seller is flexible. If not, forget it.
Again, an example of someone undeserving of such a beautiful car. How could you have something like that and just let it rot? Shame.
I agree its a 312 Y block. Looks just like the engine in my ’57 Fairlane 500.
Floor and frame/structural rust are the worrisome things here.