When the Thunderbird was introduced in 1955, some critics wondered if Ford’s first sports car was too soft and too luxurious. The debut of the Thunderbird lagged two years behind Chevrolet’s Corvette and while it did have striking good looks, it wasn’t as serious a sports car as some had hoped for. But Ford had read the market conditions carefully, and while Corvette sales lagged dangerously low, Ford’s so-called “Personal Car” turned out to be a smashing success – outselling the Corvette in 1955 by an astounding 23 to 1.

The pretty two-seat roadster had an optional removable hardtop, and power came from the 292 cubic inch Y-Block V-8 borrowed from the Mercury division. For 1956, the T-Bird carried on largely unchanged, but for the addition of the famous “porthole” windows in the hardtop and a Continental kit spare tire that freed up trunk space. A 312 cubic inch V-8 was added for ’56 that produced either 215 or 225 horsepower depending on the transmission. Either way, it was plenty of power to propel the Thunderbird along comfortably at highway speeds, or to simply roll along your local cruising strip. The classic two-seat T-bird only lasted three years in its original form before being completely reimagined for 1958, but in that short time it became an indelible symbol of 1950s popular culture.

Finished attractively in black with a two-tone black and white interior, this 1956 Thunderbird is a solid example of Ford’s original personal sports car. It is well-equipped with a Continental kit, rear wheel skirts, power steering, classic wide whitewall tires and both the soft-top and removable hardtop. A good deal of restoration work has been performed to ensure its integrity and it presents very well in driver-quality condition. The classic black and white interior is nicely presented, the body features very nice chrome trim, and it has a well-detailed engine bay. It runs and drives quite well and has been treated to a recent full professional detail. This icon of the 1950s is very tidy and ready for boulevard cruising.