Ford created the Personal Luxury Car segment in the United States when it launched the Thunderbird in 1955. This initially two-seat luxury car was actually modeled after the Grand Tourers of Europe and can be considered their Stateside equivalent. The Thunderbird would see production across eleven generations before bidding goodbye in 2005. This 1955 Ford Thunderbird is a fine example for a discerning collector, as it's a low-miler, showing just 22,600 miles on the odometer. Just 16,155 examples were produced in 1955, making this T-Bird something of a rare piece of American automotive history as well.

Exterior and Interior

Sporting a lovely period white paint job, this 1955 Ford Thunderbird is a stunner to behold. At 175 inches in length, it is about equivalent to a modern-day compact car, but with a thousand times more character. Note the details such as the chrome bumpers, chrome-ringed exhaust exits, tailfins, wrap-around windshield, and whitewall tires. It's all in excellent condition, showcasing this car's good life so far. There's a black convertible top that can be dropped for joyous motoring in fine weather. Inside, you'll find a black and white cabin with a single bench seat for two occupants. The second generation onwards added a rear seat, which makes the first generation that little bit more special, as it stays true to Ford's original design brief of a two-seater. The current owner reports that some extra gauges have been added to better monitor the powertrain, including battery voltage and oil pressure. We also observe the original push-button radio neatly nestling in the dashboard, and there's Vintage Air air conditioning, albeit reportedly not functional at this moment. Moving on, we find a delightful brown-rimmed three-spoke steering wheel, and the original gauges are still present, including the tachometer. There's little else to distract you, as you won't have to fiddle around with touchscreens or figure out smartphone integration. Digital detox, we say.

Engine

This 1955 Ford Thunderbird is propelled by a 292ci Y-block overhead-valve V8, coupled with a 3-speed Fordomatic automatic transmission and sending drive to the rear wheels. There's power steering to aid in maneuvering the car in tight spots as well.