1956 Ford Thunderbird

Convertible

8 - Cyl.

Automatic

Clear

Gasoline

This is the only known 1956 Thunderbird built by the factory in the color combination of Sage Green with a Brown interior. This shade of green was offered by Ford only in mid-1956 and only on the Thunderbird model. That made the "Sage Green" or "Thunderbird Green" color rare in itself. During the 60’s and onward, the color was considered ugly and too reminiscent of the 50’s that most were repainted a different color! Almost all green T-Birds were built with a Green and White interior, few are known to have been built with a Black and White interior, but NO Green T-Bird was EVER known to have been built with the Brown and White interior. This subject was discussed when Jim Beam marketed a Green Thunderbird Liquor Decanter that had a Brown interior in 1986 (see photo). It is my belief that this color combination was not known to have existed because of this car's special history. When the new 1955 Thunderbirds were introduced in March, 1954, a divorcee in Hampton, Virginia loved the two-seat convertible style and researched the car carefully. She did not like several things about it, yet by the time the 1956 models came out with the porthole windows and the continental kit, she felt the car was greatly improved and she special ordered this car in her favorite colors of Green and Brown sometime in February 1956 from A.T. Hill Motor Company in Mathews, Virginia. She remarried in 1959, and 30 years later, in 1989, she and her husband treated the car to a frame-off restoration that took over 1,000 hours over a period of nine months. This car was with the original owner for 46 years and, while a local celebrity and never hidden from public view, it remained in the Hampton Virginia area its entire life. Throughout the years, no Thunderbird Club ever knew of the car. A 1990 newspaper article in the Newport News Daily Press about the car mentions that "during this restoration, only authentic parts were purchased from as far away as California, Maine, and Florida to retain the car's value. The T-Bird has undergone two dramatic changes. It's pink instead of the original lime green, and a burglar alarm has been installed." The car was actually painted with 12 coats of pink lacquer to match their pink boat and the brown and white interior was left alone as it was still in great shape and looked great with the car's new color! This extreme change from the original "Thunderbird Green" didn't matter to them since they would never sell the car. As with life, the original owner died in late 2002 and, in 2003, her husband, then 88 years old, had to let it go. I purchased the car in January 2004 and had the wonderful opportunity to remain in touch with the original owner's husband until his death in July 2007 at age 92. The many letters I have from him tell wonderful stories about the car, fondly named "Mable" after the original owner. One-Owner 1955-1957 T-Birds are practically unheard of and the stories that these letters tell are priceless. We wrote back and forth about my potential re-restoration of the car and its return to "Thunderbird Green." After I learned of his death, I felt that the second restoration just should not wait any longer. This time, the car was restored back to its original, and very unique, "Thunderbird Green" (and the burglar system was removed). After great care to ensure an exact color match to the original shade of green, and with no expense spared (in excess of $17,000), all 12 coats of pink paint were removed and the car was back to the way Mable first envisioned it when she turned the order in to Ford. There is no question as to why Mable fell in love with this color combination, as it is absolutely stunning as can be seen in the photos. There are no scratches, dents, rust, or bondo and ALL body panels are original with the exception of the lower portion of the passenger door and only because it was slightly warped from heat used on it during the first restoration. Included in the sale of the car are the many handwritten letters from the original owner's husband, the original Ford factory Gate release showing the car as being sold to A.T. Hill Motor Co., an IBM data punch order tag given to Mable by A.T. Hill Motor Co., the original Owner's Manual, several insurance cards in the original owner's name, the January 17th, 1990 Newspaper Article about the car and it's owners, a copy of the 1960 title when Mable registered the car in her new name after she remarried, an original photo of the car taken prior to its color change to pink (probably from the mid-70's), several photos of Mable with the newly painted Pink T-Bird, several photos of the 1989 restoration, and many photos of the 2008 restoration, the original brown naugahyde tonneau cover dated 1955, original convertible top material (it was never replaced because they never used it), and several pieces of the original brown interior fabrics. Most of the interior has now been replaced with the exception of the dashboard vinyl. Original Equipment and Options include 312 V-8 Thunderbird Engine, Engine Dress Up Kit, White Port-hole Hardtop, White Soft Folding Top, extremely rare factory Tonneau Cover, fender shields, safety package "A," Automatic Transmission, Power Steering, Power Brakes, Power 4-Way Seat, Town & Country Signal Seeking AM Radio, Heater, Defroster, and Back Up Lights. The engine and transmission are original, as are most parts. Even the teapot carburetor is the original one that the factory installed and, according to PONY Carburetors, Las Cruces, NM, well known restorer of Ford carburetors, they couldn't believe it when they saw it, as the thought of someone keeping a carburetor that long without simply replacing it at some point throughout the years is just unheard of! Original style hubcaps and wire beauty rings have been added and all five of the perfect and original full wheel covers are also included. When I purchased the car in 2004 I personally spoke to Amos Minter about what it would do to the value of the car if I changed the color from the original "Thunderbird Green." He told me that it would ACTUALLY INCREASE the value if I would actually CHANGE THE COLOR because "Thunderbird Green is the UGLIEST COLOR Ford ever came out with!" He told me that whenever he gets one in, he changes the color because he couldn't sell one if he tried! Apparently, he changed his mind. Go to his site at http://www.amosminter.com/shows.html and view the Barrett-Jackson Sale Video of HIS Thunderbird Green. While his restorations have always been top quality and command top prices at the Barrett-Jackson Auctions, I'm sure that the sale of his "Thunderbird Green" car for over $128,000 even changed his mind about this striking color! People always wonder what an old car would say if it could talk, and the wonderful thing is that the previous owner's husband, while in his 90's was here to tell this car's story. I know the auction description is lengthy, but the history is extraordinary and needs to be shared. Here's the contents of one of the letters: "It brought tears to my eyes when you wrote that you would call the car Mable. She bought it new and no one had driven it except her and me. It was Thunderbird Green when she bought it and the upholstery was always beige and brown - When the Bird was gone over completely and the color was changed to pink, that's the only thing that was ever done to the car. When the "rejuvenation" was done, only original Ford T-Bird parts were used. Your "Mable" is as original a T-Bird as ever exists - and my wife kept the "baby" throughout its life. After she died, so many people wanted to buy it - many in the family. I could not pick one out so I gave it to a local charity, and that's how it got to where you bought it. I am so pleased, and she would be too, that the Bird ended up in such loving hands as yours. Thanks for continuing the loving care this T-Bird has always had - since its birth in 1956 - a good year since it was yours too." This is a very special 1956 Thunderbird that is very difficult to find with this level of originality and extensive documentation. This car was truly loved for a lifetime, and it shows. On Dec-12-10 at 08:33:04 PST, seller added the following information: A couple of people have asked if the reserve is near the amount of the Amos Minter car. NO IT IS NOT! The reserve on my car is NOW ALMOST MET with the current bid of $31,000+