1955 Ford Thunderbird

*1955 Ford Thunderbird*Going on sale in 1955, the Thunderbird was Ford's answer to the recently released Chevrolet Corvette as a formidable rival in the two seat sports car class. Designed as a grand touring coupe, the Thunderbird was intended to shuttle its occupants down the road in comfort, at speed and in style - and it beat the contemporary Corvette in each of those areas. This first year, 1955 Thunderbird is the embodiment of what made them great - from the color choice to the options selected - and is the perfect companion for top down cruising. For the first model year of the Thunderbird, the P-Code package was the only engine option available- a punchy 292ci V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor sitting atop it. This engine provided 193 horsepower which was almost identical to the newly introduced V8 in the Corvette and could be paired to an automatic or 3-speed manual transmission. This car was outfitted with the Ford-O-Matic 2-Speed automatic transmission which is known for smooth shifting and reliability, along with power brakes to help stop the car more easily.The exterior is painted in the quintessential shade of Thunderbird Blue. A striking hue of turquoise, this is one of the signature Thunderbird colors and an absolute show stopper. A unique feature that this Thunderbird was fitted with is the Continental Kit in the rear - an extended bumper with a spare tire covered in a color matched casing on the back, this feature looks exceptionally cool and is known for being quite desirable to collectors. All of the wheels including the spare in the Continental Kit are fitted with Kelsey Hayes wire wheels and white wall tires which give the car an upscale, vintage look. Another Thunderbird signature that isn't seen on most cars is the rear wheel skirts that make the car look lower and sleeker and when paired with the chrome headlight eyebrows does wonders to complete the overall aesthetic. All T-birds of this generation were convertibles and the black top on this example looks fantastic, with tight fitting fabric and beautiful clear rear window. The car also comes with an unrestored removable hardtop.As the Thunderbird was intended as a grand touring vehicle, the interior is really where it shines, with this example being no exception. The two-tone turquoise and white interior presents fantastically and, when combined with the turned aluminum trim along the dashboards and door panels, provides an exciting cockpit to be in. In front of the driver is a full suite of gauges featuring a 150-mph speedometer, tachometer and clock, and the 2-spoke turquoise steering wheel looks and feels great. At the time, the Thunderbird was available with numerous luxury features that could only be found on much higher end cars, and this example features a number of them. Power adjustable seats and power windows were not a common feature at this time, and compared to the contemporary Corvette with its side curtains, was an exceptionally nice place to be. The steerin