1956 Ford Thunderbird

Clear

There’s no trace of rust anywhere on or under the body, and with the bright Colonial White paint, there’s really no place for it to hide. The restoration was done by a well-known T-Bird shop, and thanks to their careful ministrations, it still looks outstanding today. Fit and finish are quite good, with doors that open and close easily, a reverse-opening hood that fits flush, and that unique trunk lid with the fuel filler door in its face. The paint is modern two-stage urethane so it shines up beautifully, and while it shows a few signs of having been driven and enjoyed, the combination of immaculate factory sheetmetal and high-quality materials means that it’ll look this good for years to come. And since any ‘50s car will require a sizable investment in plating, you’ll be happy to learn that all the chrome on this ‘Bird is in excellent condition with no needs. It retains all the lovely styling, including the two-tone black and white power bench seat and stunning door panels, but functionally it’s a much more comfortable place to spend some time. Cowl vents were added to improve temperature control, along with added insulation on the firewall, although this car doesn’t need any of that thanks to an effective under-dash A/C system that looks period-correct. All the gauges were rebuilt during the restoration and all of them—including the clock—remain functional today. Options include power windows, a 3-speed Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission, and a Town And Country AM radio which should work, but has been disconnected in favor of a modern AM/FM/CD stereo installed under the dash. There are speakers stashed under the instrument panel, as well as a pair of box-type speakers behind the seat. Everything works, making this Thunderbird a true pleasure to drive. Stashed behind the seat is a newer black canvas convertible top, and to give you a good idea of how nice this car was to begin with, that’s an original porthole hardtop wearing 1957 Colonial White paint. There’s a new headliner and weatherstripping as well, so it seals up very well. The trunk carries an original style rubber mat, and with the spare tire moved to the rear bumper, storage capacity is useful enough for a long road trip with your favorite somebody. The 312 cubic inch “Thunderbird” V8 makes a robust 225 horsepower and great V8 sounds. It was never intended to be a sports car like the Corvette, but a grand tourer that makes for effortless driving under any circumstances. Wearing a correct Thunderbird dress-up kit with finned valve covers and a chrome air cleaner, it looks great under the hood and runs superbly. The modern A/C and alternator were neatly installed so they remain in the background without calling attention to the modifications, and the power steering was recently serviced by the experts at Capaldi Enterprises. Other new equipment includes a correct dual exhaust system and a completely new brake system with new wheel cylinders, stainless brake lines, and a fresh power brake booster. The original carburetor was also rebuilt and the gas tank was reconditioned so fuel issues, even with our lousy modern gas, are a thing of the past.