UPDATE – I wrote about this ravishing red ’55 Thunderbird back in August, but it’s back again and with the priced dropped $10,000. Nothing has changed in regards to the car’s description or photographs from the August ad. It’s still perched at Authentic Motorcars in Redmond, Washington, and this handsome 1955 Ford Thunderbird is listed for sale here on craigslist for a reduced price of $29,950. Given that Hagerty’s values a ’55 ‘Bird with both tops at $35,700 in #2 Excellent Condition and at $22,900 in #3 Good Condition, this T-Bird seems to be priced very fairly at $29,950 and will probably find a new home. Could it be yours? Thanks again to Curvette for sending this iconic 1955 Thunderbird our way.
FROM 08/05/2025: If you love beautifully-restored red ‘Birds with a known history, then this gorgeous 1955 Ford Thunderbird is for you. It was purchased by the current owner’s father way back in 1963 and has remained in the same family ever since. It received a full, frame-off restoration in 1988 that still shows very well today. One look at this ‘Bird and you know why it caused such a stir across America (as well as GM) when it went on sale October 24, 1954. For the first ten days of being offered, over 3,500 Thunderbird orders were placed. Ford had projected only building 10,000 units for model year 1955, but ended up building 16,155 of these iconic two-seater “personal cars.”
The exterior of this T-Bird looks fantastic with its shiny Torch Red paint, gleaming bumpers and grille, subdued chrome trim, and well-proportioned styling. It’s wearing aftermarket wire wheels and was ordered with the optional rear fender shields, backup lights, and, most importantly, the desirable soft top (that folds and stows away behind the front seat), which was a $290.00 option when ordered with the standard fiberglass removable hardtop. There are no photos, but the seller says the black convertible top is in excellent condition. You’ll notice this ’55 has a white hardtop with porthole windows. Although I’ve read that ’55 Thunderbirds only left the factory with color-matching removable hardtops, customers could have dealers paint them in contrasting colors. Also, porthole windows, added to the 1956 models due to customer visibility complaints, were never offered on ’55 models, but many owners of ’55 Thunderbirds had their non-porthole hardtops converted to the now-iconic porthole windows.
The Thunderbird’s black, white, and aluminum-and-chrome trimmed interior looks as great as its exterior. I read that due to the T-Bird’s compressed development time, the exterior and interior of the ’55 Thunderbird were designed in tandem as opposed to separately by separate departments which was the norm back then. I guess that’s why the Thunderbird’s interior has such a “harmonious” look and feel to the exterior. It’s one of the greatest interiors of the 1950s without a doubt. The ribbed vinyl bench seat looks practically new as do the door panels, instrument panel, dash, and carpet. Seat belts have been added and you can spot the optional Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission (which cost $178.20) as well as the radio and heater. This ‘Bird also has power steering, power brakes and a 4-way power seat.
Not surprisingly, this Thunderbird’s engine bay is as clean and tidy as the rest of the car. Only one engine was available on ’55 ‘Birds, the 292-cubic-inch Y-Block V8 engine that generated 198 horsepower when new. It was ordered with the optional $25 Engine Dress-Up Kit and the seller lists the mileage at 29,684. The seller also shares that the ‘Bird was converted to a 12 volt electrical system and in 2022 received a new fuel pump, a carburetor overall, had the brake fluid changed, the transmission serviced, differential fluid serviced, the coolant flushed with a new heater valve, and the power steering flushed. Recently the car has had the water pump replaced and received a new battery. I envy the next caretaker of this ravishing red ‘Bird!
For some reason the birds never became a top selling classic like the corvette Camaros Mopar etc
The first ‘Birds easily outsold the first ‘Vettes, their main competition. Of course that changed a few years later.
The early birds got the worm because they could be produced in greater numbers than the Vette, the first gen Vette was mostly GM testing the waters. The 1958-on four seaters always outsold the Vettes, but they were then in a different category then than “sportscar”. Thunderbird easily outsold Corvette through the 1960’s. They were even more in different categories after that. The 58-60 squarebirds outsold Corvettee 8 to 1.
Give Ford credit. They built a lower-slung body, raided the parts bin and the T-Bird was born. An ingenious, low-risk move to be sure, and a very nice car to boot!
I agree, Terry. The Ford stylists did a masterful job of creating a cool looking, low slung, well proportioned two-seater and making it look like it was part of the new-for-’55 full-size Ford family. They also showed fiscal responsibility by sharing some parts with the full-size Fords. A talented team of professionals for sure.
The 55-57 T-Birds seem to be losing value as the older generation of owners are dying off.
I’m not from that generation but I’m a car guy, this is a beautiful car and in my humble opinion it’s worth more than 35 grand, try restoring one and see what the cost is. When I was a young kid in the early nineteen seventies , the ‘55 Chevy was the car that I thought was the baddest looking car out there and I finally have one today, I wasn’t around in the fifties but some cars body styles are timeless. You don’t need to be from a certain generation to only appreciate this T-Bird