The owner of this 1955 Ford Thunderbird received the vehicle as part of a deal when he purchased a deceased friend’s home. It is a project that stalled decades ago and now needs someone willing to return it to its former glory. It has some rust issues, but it does appear to be structurally sound. The Thunderbird is located in Arlington, Texas, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. You can tell when a car is a hot property by the interest that it generates when it is listed for sale. In this case, 45 bids have already been submitted. This has pushed the price along to $5,001 in this No Reserve auction.

The last owner of the Thunderbird purchased it in roughly the condition that it is in today. When it was new, this is a car that wore Thunderbird Blue paint. This is a striking color and must have made the vehicle stand out in a crowd. It has received a color change at some point, but the quality is pretty rough. The existing white paint is peeling off in numerous places. For this classic to be restored correctly, it will need to be dismantled and media-blasted to expose healthy steel and potential rust issues. There is rust in the Thunderbird’s floors. The driver’s side has been replaced, but the seller suggests that this should probably be redone. The floor pan braces require attention, so if the Ford is to be dismantled anyway, then doing the job properly should be worth the effort. The trunk drop-offs have been replaced, and the supplied photos show that the rest of the underside and frame are in a sound state. Exterior rust is not a problem, with the lower extremities in good order. The convertible frame is in good condition, but the top will need to be replaced. The Thunderbird also comes with a hardtop, and while it will need a repaint, its condition is quite respectable. The bumpers are both missing, but the rest of the trim is intact. Unfortunately, bumpers for the ’55 T-Bird are not cheap. The buyer will need to budget $1,000 for each of these if they are seeking high-quality reproductions. There are cheaper options available, but it is a case of getting what you pay for.

Under the Thunderbird’s hood, we find the 292ci V8, which is backed by a 3-speed automatic transmission. Ford had never envisaged the Thunderbird as a sports car, but as a “personal luxury car.” With 198hp on tap, performance figures were reasonable but not startling. A ¼ mile ET of 17.2 seconds was not bad for a car that tipped the scales at 3,280lbs. As you can guess by its appearance, this 292 doesn’t currently run. It is missing a few vital components, including the distributor, air cleaner, radiator, and shroud. Worse news is the fact that the owner has been unable to turn the motor by hand. If it is stuck, then it might not be a huge problem. There are plenty of people who swear by Mystery Oil as the ultimate product to help free a stuck engine. I have had quite decent success using diesel fuel. It is thinner than most available oils and other products, so it can tend to penetrate well into the tightest spots. The engine will almost certainly need a rebuild if it can be made to turn freely, so I’d probably treat the rest of the drivetrain to the same thing.

With an exterior in Thunderbird Blue, the interior was originally trimmed in Turquoise and White. The current upholstery was fitted at the same time that the color change was performed, and it has held up exceptionally well. There are no problems to report beyond a lack of carpet. This will leave the buyer with a decision to make. This looks too nice to scrap, but if the original paint color is applied, the combination with this trim would look pretty horrid. If a faithful restoration is going to be undertaken, then it might be a case of searching for someone who wants a Red Thunderbird interior that will buy this one. Trim kits aren’t cheap, and the price will depend on whether the buyer is seeking vinyl or leather. Vinyl kits sell for around $1,100 in the correct color combination. The same kit in leather will cost closer to $2,000. The vehicle does come nicely equipped. It features power windows, a power seat, and a telescopic steering column.

Any stalled project has the potential to be a sad sight. However, the story gets even sadder when it is declining health, and ultimately, the death of an owner that is the reason for this. The current owner acknowledges that he will never get to this classic to return it to its former glory. It is refreshing to hear that attitude because I think that we’ve all seen those cars where the owner has finally admitted defeat when the car has deteriorated beyond the point of no return. I hope that someone returns this Thunderbird to active duty, and I hope they do it soon. If you were to take this one on, would you undertake a faithful restoration, or would you apply a color that compliments the existing interior trim?