The Ford Thunderbird debuted in 1955 as a 2-seat personal luxury car. Because of its passenger configuration, it’s often lumped in with the Chevrolet Corvette of the same era as a sports car. But they really didn’t go after the same audience. After three years, Ford changed direction, added a back seat, and found more buyers. Located in a backyard in Aberdeen, Washington, this Ford is a project looking for a start. It’s available here on craigslist for $7,000. And it’s another tip brought to us by “Curvette”.
First-generation T-Birds were far more successful than the Corvette. 53,000 buyers took one home between 1955 and 1957, compared to less than 5,000 ‘Vettes in 1953 to 1955. The Thunderbird always had a V8 engine, and in 1956, the choices were a 292 or 312 cubic inch eight-cylinder, and you could get a manual transmission, unlike the first two years of the Corvette. 15,600 T-Birds found homes in ’56, the same year as the seller’s.
The seller provides little info on this car other than that his/her father bought it a couple of years ago. The plan was to do a restoration that never happened, but there is a new soft top (which doesn’t look very new in the few photos provided). The mileage listed is 18,000, but 118,000 would be more probable. And we don’t know which motor lies under the hood, but it’s paired with an automatic tranny.
We’re treated to no pics of the interior, just four angles of the body, which present some badly worn black paint. Rust is likely a problem, and the chrome pieces show more corrosion than shiny stuff. Since the car isn’t priced as cheap wheels, a better description and more complete photos would surely help the seller find a buyer. When they don’t, they’ll blame craigslist.
LAME seller. Craigslist doesn’t charge by the word, though I recall Pennysaver used to. Fog of War.
And I think that’s a hardtop on it now; might be worth something if just for the new soft and reconditioning the hard?
I agree. Makes me want to cry. Makes my frame-off restored ‘56 T-Bird want to cry over its “cousin’s” care. Sad. Hope someone can rescue it but it will now likely take a bunch-o-money.
BTW, it does appear that the hardtop is on it in the pics. Apparently doesn’t have the optional “opera” windows which most of them had for ‘56.
I maybe wrong, but that looks like an aftermarket hard top. It doesn’t appear to have correct contour.
Park it next to that clapped out Mustang and they won’t be so lonely. Must be junk week.
Aberdeen on the Washington coast salt air lots of rain this car is better suited for parts than restoration that underside is most likely to rusty to fix so price is $5,000 or more to high
“Partially restored” ..then left to sit outside for who knows how long? Mmm-kay. That car looks rusted inside and out, so much so it’s starting to turn into a planter. It’s ridiculous to let a classic grow into weed fodder and the price they are asking for this parts mule is equally ridiculous.
Looks like a “custom” vinyl covered hardtop. Probably upholstered over the porthole.
Sadly, market for these is softening as we age out and this example is way beyond anything remotely economic for restoration. Hard pass.
Always on the wrong side of the country.
How about a vin or better yet a picture of the data plate on the firewall.
Well at least ” Dad ” did not take it apart in a million pieces and then decide he had no time to fix it up . So you do get a fairly complete heap to start on . Maybe negotiate on it to get a price you want to pay. Dads getting older and junior defiantly not gonna lift a finger .
Look at the rusted out rear quarters. This car is way over priced. We sold a 55 just over a year ago for $15,000 and it had no rust and was drivable.
this has been stalled so long it has mold growing on it the w/w tires are running and weeds growing up through it. better adjust that price
It’s a turd-cutter – Hard Pass !
A ‘56 in much better condition recently sold for $4000 on this site.
Sure, if you’re gonna hire a restoration-pass. But think of the fun putting this back to rights! Keep ya off the streets n outa the bars. Make yr wife happy!
Good luck seller, this one is rare and in good enough shape to re-do. On the other hand it is an assembled bunch of parts for any restorer. The price is fair but not a deal. I’m a T-Bird owner/builder of the later bullet Birds w/4 seats and big engines. Those early Ford V8’s just didn’t have enough HP to keep up with their Vette competition. They are unique enough to have a class of their own.
Al. Yeah, 198hp out of the 292 wasn’t all that great. But then 195 out of a 265ci in the vette wasn’t all that great. Could it have been that the tri-5 Birds weighed close to two tons while the vettes were closer to ton and a half?
Wants 7k but probably will take less. With the lack of photos, I’m going to guess that the floor is probably rotted away. By the time you get through replacing floor pans and other sheet metal, plus all the mechanical and interior stuff. You’re probably better off buying one already done. This one might be better suited for parts.
You know the comments are overall negative when halfway through them I no longer even recall which car they are referring to.
got to call them like you see them. this had been left to decay, and the few pics show it. should have sold it before it got to this point. plain and simple. good for parts as other commentors have said.
Restoration stalled alright…When did it start?
funny, that’s my father’s era ‘looker’ (for merican).
Mine were the mid 60s (merican) and 50s – late 70s (european “sports” models esp Italian). I also like what I call the classics mid/late 30s – very early 50s merican. No matter.
This, if keeping: might ditch ‘continential’, smooth the rear bumper, swap 5 oh/AOD or T5 (up the exhaust w/motor change). The hrd/soft top is a real plus (here in NE usa) for me. Drive a few yrs: think abt suspension & breaks but really rather do that (a bit ofa SCCA-mod) w/a round body (’60 – 63) ranchero (as to a lill utility too, like the multi-purpose 1s like my ’69 bronk). The 4WD the most truck-like; the chero w/‘toper’ could carve canyons and haul a ill…