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Mario's Tribute to Ford T-Bird 1st Gen 1955 to 1957

1955 Ford Thunderbird

Our AT friend Rob asked me to do a Page on the 1st Generation T Bird. So here it is Rob, hope it’s all that you expected.

The first generation of the Ford Thunderbird was a two-seat convertible produced by Ford for the 1955 to 1957 model years. Designer Frank Hershey of Ford fathered the idea of the sports car program that became the Thunderbird.

Under rapid development, the Thunderbird went from idea to prototype in about a year as a response to Chevrolet's new sports car, the Corvette.

Unveiled to the public at the Detroit Auto Show on February 20, 1954, it was a two-seat design. The Thunderbird came with a removable fiberglass top as standard equipment and a fabric convertible top as an option.

The Thunderbird sold exceptionally well for those 3 years for a total of 53,166 cars. This is my Tribute to the 1st Generation Thunderbirds! Enjoy, Mario

1 1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE PRODUCTION #1 produced at the Michigan factory on September 9, 1954.

2 1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD. Credit for the development of the original Thunderbird is given to Lewis Crusoe, a former GM executive lured out of retirement by Henry Ford II.

3 1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD 292ci Y-block engine 198 hp. Original 6 Volt system. The initial list price was $2,695 and quickly rose to $2,944.

4 1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE PRODUCTION #1 Sold at Barrett Jackson auction in 2009 for $660,000.

5 1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD. The first generation of the Ford Thunderbird is a two-seat convertible produced by Ford for the 1955 to 1957 model years. Hardtop was standard and Porthole was optional in 1955.

6 1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD. The Thunderbird came with a removable fiberglass top as standard equipment, and a fabric convertible top as a commonly specified option.

7 1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD 4-barrel 312ci V8 210hp. The T-Bird sold exceptionally well in its first year outselling the Corvette with 16,155 T-birds sold to 700 Corvettes.

8 1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD with Hardtop. Ford targeted the two-seat Thunderbird as an upscale model. Introduced at the Detroit Auto Show on February 20, 1954.

9 1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE. Designer Frank Hershey fathered the idea of the sports car program that became the Thunderbird.

10 1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE. A rare domestic two-seater for the era, it was designed to be a brisk luxury tourer and not a sports car.

11 1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE 292ci V8 198hp 4-barrel carburetor.

12 1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE. The sales for the 1955 T Bird were 16,155 cars. Its length was 175 in and height 52 inches.

13 1956 FORD THUNDERBIRD. New 12 Volt Electrical System introduced. The list price was $3,163.

14 1956 FORD THUNDERBIRD. Std Continental Kit was added in 1956 for more trunk space. The spare wheel was mounted outside which helped free up trunk space.

15 1956 FORD THUNDERBIRD 312ci 245hp V8 engine, 4-barrel Holley carb.

16 1956 FORD THUNDERBIRD. Unique features were a telescoping steering wheel and a tachometer.

17 1956 FORD THUNDERBIRD. Addition of standard circular porthole windows in the fiberglass roof to improve rearward visibility.

18 1956 FORD THUNDERBIRD. The most notable change in 1956 was moving the spare tire to a Continental-style rear bumper to make more storage room in the trunk.

19 1956 FORD THUNDERBIRD. 312ci V8 engine 245hp 4 BBL Carb. A new 12-volt electrical system.

20 1956 FORD THUNDERBIRD. It was a two-seat design with a detachable fiberglass hardtop and a folding fabric top.

21 1956 Ford Thunderbird. The name picked was not among the thousands proposed in a Nationwide name contest.

22 1956 Ford Thunderbird. A Ford stylist who had lived in the southwest U.S. submitted the Thunderbird name which was approved by Ford.

23 1956 Ford Thunderbird. 292ci OHV V-8 198hp.

24 1956 Ford Thunderbird. A reference to the mythological Thunderbird, a supernatural bird of great power and strength of the North American indigenous people.

25 1956 T Bird. The Ford Thunderbird was introduced as a response to Chevrolet's new sports car, the Corvette.

26 1956 T Bird. Under rapid development the Thunderbird went from idea to prototype in about a year.

27 1956 T Bird 312ci V8 Engine 245hp.

28 1956 T Bird. The sales for the 1956 T Bird were 15,631 cars and the length was 185 in with the std Continental Kit.

29 1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD. Redesigned with a reshaped front bumper and a larger grille.

30 1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD. The T-Bird was revised with larger tail fins and larger tail lamps.

31 1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD 312cid V8 4 BBL 245hp.

32 1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD with hardtop. New designed Instrument Panel.

33 1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE. The original base price was $3,408.

34 1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD. The rear of the car was lengthened allowing the spare tire to be positioned back into the larger trunk.

35 1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE 312cid V8 4 BBL 245hp.

36 1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE Updated interior.

37 1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE. Sales of the 1957 Thunderbird rose to a record-breaking 21,380 units.

38 1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE. The new length was 181 inches.

39 1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE 312cid V8 4 BBL 245hp.

40 1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE. The new instrument panel was heavily restyled with round gauges in a single pod. 1957 was the Last 2-seater T Bird.

41 A row of 1957 T Birds at Car Show.

42 1957 T Bird at Car Show.

43 1957 T Bird at Car Show.

44 1957 T Bird at Car Show next to my 1967 Impala.

45 1957 T Bird at Car Show next to my 1967 Impala.

46 1956 T Bird at Car Show.

47 1956 T Bird at Car Show with standard continental wheel in 1956.

48 1957 T Bird at Car Show.

49 1955 T Bird at Car Show.

50 1955 T Bird Owned by Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys in Hollywood Star Cars Museum, CA.

51 1955 Ad.

52 1957 Ad.

53 1956 Ad.

54 1956 Ad.

55 1956 Ad.

56 1955 Ad.

57 1957 Ad.

58 1955 Ford T-Bird at Used Car Dealer.

59 1956 Ford T-Bird at Used Car Dealer.

60 1957 Ford T-Bird at New Car Dealer.


Video and audio clips

1955 T Bird Commercial


1956 T Bird Commercial


1957 T Bird Commercial


1955-1957 Ford Thunderbird


1956 T Bird in American Graffiti


1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD PRO MOD



Related

More Cars of the 1950s
More Ford Coverage

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Comments

Mario on Mar 30, 2025 said:

Our AT friend Rob asked me to do a Page on the 1st Generation T Bird. So here it is Rob, hope it’s all that you expected.

The first generation of the Ford Thunderbird was a two-seat convertible produced by Ford for the 1955 to 1957 model years.

This is my Tribute to the 1st Generation Ford Thunderbird 1955 to 1957. Enjoy, Mario.

[Reply to this comment]

azmuscle on Mar 30, 2025 said:

Well well well........a little birdie told me this thread was here. Get it? Little Birdie! The older I become the jokes get as old too.

Mario you sure did a bang up job on this one. I believe there's so many T-birds here of different colors.

I thought about buying a 56 that was driveable, as it was a four speed and with the 312. The more I found out about the car for sale, my thoughts grew cold.

I recall when I believe it was a TV Show called: 77 Sunset Strip and there was a T-bird featured on it.

TV Shows had a lot of influence on me as I watched Chevrolet being advertised on Bonanza and Bewitched and there was even a very short lived show called The Magician with Bill Bixby and he drove a C3 all white.

I've never driven or even rode in a T-bird. It was sad to see them behemoths in later years leaving the sports car market and going for the luxuary crowd.

The units sold of T-birds versus Corvettes is amazing. It is amazing the Corvette didn'tend up on the cutting room floor.

Didn't Thelma and Louise go off the edge of the Grand Canyon in a T-bird? Love the car, don't care for the movie...to each their own.

My deepest appreciation Mario for this thread answering my request for a T-bird menu. WELL DONE.

Rob

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Mar 30, 2025 said:

Ah yes 77 Sunset Strip was one of my favorite tv shows too. From 1958 to 1964 I was there watching Ed Kookie Burns and the rest of the private eyes. Lots of cool cars on the show too. Kookie used to park the cars and owned a hot rod.

Funny how we think of the old tv shows about the cars that were on the shows like you said Chevrolets on various comedy shows. One of my favorite shows was Route 66 1960 to 1964 with the great C1 and C2 Corvettes.

The First Gen T-Birds in my opinion are the best. I like the 2 seaters much like the Corvettes. I didn't like when the T-Bird became 4 seaters in 58 and beyond.

But the Corvette still lives today and the T-Bird is gone. So I guess we were right after all and Ford should have listened and kept the T-Bird a 2 seater. Best Regards, Mario.

[Reply to this comment]

Brandon on Apr 2, 2025 said:

This is an awesome tribute, Mario!

I love the Route 66 show too, I think I'll watch an episode tonight, and maybe chase it with 77 Sunset Strip!

The last car show I went to I looked at a couple Y-blocks but couldn't see how the block was shaped more like a Y than other engine blocks.

Thanks Mario!

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Apr 2, 2025 said:

Thank you for your insights Brandon. Route 66 and 77 Sunset Strip are awesome TV shows that I grew up with!

The first gen T-Birds are great and after that they went down hill. No competition with the Corvette which has a waiting list to buy new today. Incredible how Chevrolet kept this car alive since 1953.

Glad you liked my Page. Best Regards, Mario.

[Reply to this comment]


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