After a hugely successful first season for its new “sports car,” Ford saw fit to change the Thunderbird only slightly for 1956. The optional removable hardtop was now fitted with round rear quarter windows, soon to be dubbed “portholes” by enthusiasts, which were intended to increase rearward visibility for the driver. Customer complaints about the spare taking up too much room in the trunk were answered with a rear-mounted one, which was a variation on the Continental kit that was popular as an accessory in the 1950s. The spare could be unlocked and swung away from the car to access the trunk. This would be a one-year-only feature, with the spare relocated back to the trunk for the “Little Bird’s” final season in 1957.

The Thunderbird offered here has undergone a frame-off restoration in the factory-correct color of Peacock Blue, and it features a white hardtop and soft-top and a complementary two-tone interior. During the course of the restoration, the undercarriage was highly detailed to show standards and the interior was nicely refinished. The carpets remain excellent, and the dashboard is very good, with only light wear to the driver’s side of the seat. Under the hood, the engine bay is equipped with the optional chrome “dress-up kit,” proper clamps and hoses are present throughout, and everything is nicely detailed. The body and paint are aptly described as flawless and with good panel gaps. All of the chrome and glass are excellent as well.

Options present on this lovely T-Bird include a Ford-O-Matic transmission, power brakes, power windows, a Town & Country radio, rear fender skirts, and stainless steel wire wheel covers. The car’s mileage is recorded at 880 miles, which can safely be presumed to be mileage covered since restoration.

A two-seat Thunderbird is a car without which no collection is complete. This is an excellent example that is in great colors, features the best equipment, and is from the only year of the factory “Continental kit.”