Ford Thunderbird 1955-1956-1957
Development of the Ford Thunderbird began in
February of 1953, just one month after Chevrolet debuted their Corvette prototype at the GM Motorama in New York.
Ford would use parts off existing models for their new car, as did Chevy. Ford would also copy the long-nose/short-tail and 102-inch wheelbase of the Jaguar XK120 as did Chevy.
But similarities ended there - Ford's answer to the Corvette was not a bare-bones sports car, but rather a stylish and practical personal luxury car.
1955 Thunderbird
Production of the T-bird started in October of 1954. Offered as a convertible only, a removable fiberglass hardtop was a popular option. The Thunderbird's body was made of steel and featured roll-up windows, unlike the Corvette's fiberglass body and side curtains. A telescoping steering column, dual exhaust, and a 292-cid OHV V8 were all standard equipment. Base price was $2,695, lower than the Corvette's $2,934 sticker.
Ford had hoped to sell 10,000 T-birds the first year, but instead found itself unable to keep up with demand. Production ran into September, eventually selling over 16,000 examples during 1955. Meanwhile, over at GM, a mere 674 Vettes were sold, with previous year's sales at 3,640. The Corvette would likely have been discontinued, but the success of the Thunderbird prompted Chevrolet to continue production.
1956 Thunderbird
The T-bird saw only minor changes in its second year. Vent wing windows were new, as were circular porthole windows in the fiberglass roof. New paint colors were offered, with several two-tone paint schemes. An optional 312-cid V8 produced 215-horsepower with the overdrive 3-speed manual transmission,
or 225-horsepower when mated to the Ford-O-Matic 3-speed automatic transmission. Production output for 1956 was 15,631.
In the late Thirties, Edsel Ford had taken a trip to Europe. He noticed sports cars with external spare-tires mounted on their rear bumpers, done so to allow more trunk space. Upon returning to the States, he asked Lincoln's chief stylist to incorporate this design into the new Lincoln Continentals. Ford stylists designed a similar "Continental style" spare tire kit for the 1956 Thunderbird.
1957 Thunderbird
A restyle for 1957 included a larger, reshaped front bumper and grille, larger tail-lamps, and sharper-edged tail fins in the rear.
The 312-cid V8, now standard, produced 245-horsepower.
Engine options included an E-code 312 with two four-barrel carburetors, rated at 270-horsepower.
The F-code 312 motor had a single four-barrel carburetor with a Paxton-built McCulloch centrifugal supercharger, producing 300-horsepower.
Both of these performance options would be dropped after February 1957, as Ford and the A.M.A. (Automobile Manufacturers Association) agreed to end Detroit's horsepower war.
Complaints of the additional weight of the Continental spare causing steering issues led to a trunk lid redesign, allowing the spare to be moved back inside. Although no longer available from Ford, aftermarket companies continued to sell Continental kits for those who liked the appearance of the external spare.
Since its inception, Ford company executives felt that a two-seat car had restricted sales potential. The success of the 1957 Thunderbird, with 21,380 sold, encouraged Ford to market a four-seat replacement for 1958.
