The 1955-57 Ford Thunderbird two-seater is one of the automaker’s most revered models and has been rising significantly in value, although it’s still pretty affordable.
The 1955 Thunderbird was only America’s second mass-produced two-seater from a large automaker, behind the original 1953 Chevrolet Corvette.
The story goes that the Thunderbird two-seater was built because Ford division general manager Lewis Crusoe was admiring European sports cars at the 1951 Paris auto show with Ford designer George Walker.
Ford had been working on a two-seater but wasn’t serious about it because sports cars—virtually all British—accounted for a tiny percentage of the market. Most of the first Corvettes, which arrived in late 1953, were given to VIPs such as celebrities and dealers to reverse Chevrolet’s stodgy image. Most VIPs didn’t want them because they had a clumsy convertible top, no outside door handles and removable plastic side curtains instead of roll-up windows.
Ford designed the 1955 Thunderbird to appeal to a much wider audience than the Corvette or any sports car could attract. It thus called the “T-Bird” a “personal car” and gave it items including roll-up windows and a standard removable hard top or optional power soft top—or both. It never called the 1955-57 T-Bird a sports car. The 1955 Thunderbird cost $2,944, or virtually the same as a Corvette.
Ford used the first Thunderbird to promote regular Fords and to keep T-Bird costs down. The Thunderbird thus shared items such as headlights, taillights and instruments with regular models. While fast, the T-Bird had average handling because it was mainly a stylish boulevard cruiser. Men liked the T-Bird, but it also seemed perfect for women because they found it sporty and comfortable. With nifty styling, comfort and convenience, it was better for 99 percent of the U.S. market than the Corvette.
Many regard the 1957 T-Bird as the best 1950s T-Bird two-seater, although it lacked the clean lines of the first two models. It had a new combination front bumper/grille and longer rear end, which again enclosed the spare tire. Rear fenders had mild fins, as did conventional 1957 Fords, because Ford wanted to maintain the potent Thunderbird sales influence on regular models. The instrument panel was new, with gauges nestled under a cowl. A new Dial-O-Matic power seat automatically went to a preset position when the car was started, and radio volume rose as engine speed increased.
The 1950s Thunderbird two-seater never really has gone out of style. It probably will never cease being desirable.
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