Introduced in 1955, the Ford Thunderbird was targeted at people looking for a roadster with more room and power, as well as a distinctly higher level of luxury, than could be offered by the typical imported two-seater. Henry Ford II decided to call it a “personal car,” and a new automotive niche was born. For 1956, the spare wheel was mounted on the rear bumper, Continental-style, a feature that would, as it turned out, be exclusive to that year’s Thunderbirds.

The Thunderbird offered here has been with the same owner since 1971, when he purchased the Thunderbird in East Palo Alto, California from Ms. Shirley Sternlieb. The current owner put down a $50.00 deposit and made the final payment on July 29, 1971 when Ms. Steinlieb received her new Mazda. She bought the Thunderbird from Tracy Motor Co. in Woodland, California, having been delivered to this dealership on January 30, 1956.

The Ford has been “well-restored,” and it is equipped with the 312-cid V-8 Thunderbird engine, in this case, presented with an engine dress-up kit – a factory accessory feature. The transmission is the Fordomatic automatic. This beautiful Bird is also equipped with stainless steel exhaust pipes. The restoration was executed in a body-off manner in the early 1990s on this rust-free California platform. This process included a new interior. The bumpers and respective guards are chromed in a show-quality fashion; certain brightwork elements have been replaced with authentic reproductions or N.O.S. items.

Other particulars show that this Thunderbird has both the soft-top and factory accessory removable hardtop, plus it has power windows, Town & Country signal-seeking radio, windshield washer, tinted glass, heater and defroster, Continental kit, turn indicator, oil filter, fender skirts, wheel covers and Firestone whitewall tires. The car has experienced a color change from Fiesta Red, and it is striking in what is described as “gun-metal gray,” The interior is presented in red and white, making for an uncommon, yet striking, visual appearance for this well-thought-of mid-‘50s standard bearer. The factory brochure for the 1956 Thunderbird depicts a similarly presented car; certainly a solid indication of how much the Ford hierarchy thought of this presentation.

The first-generation two-seat Thunderbird had an exclusivity all its own, produced for only three years before being replaced with a four-seat model. This is an opportunity to acquire a very fine example.