1956 Ford Thunderbird

Thunderbird Convertible

8 - Cyl.

Manual

M6FH343711

Gasoline

We are re-listing the car. It came close to the reserve last time, so we are lowering the reserve. This is a great driver, and still wins trophies at shows. Also a great candidate for restoration as it is a complete numbers matching car with all the original parts. A treasure from the past. This 1956 Thunderbird is an original unrestored unmolested survivor with 70,920 documented miles. This car has had 3 owners, each of which took painstaking care of this car. While the car is not "concours" it is in very good condition, better than most examples I've seen. Every nut and fastener, trim piece, interior, and mechanical parts are as they came from the factory. A few years ago I had plans to do a complete frame off restoration, and sell it in Phoenix at the B-J auction. Craig Jackson advised me to not touch it. "A car can only be un-restored once. This is an original template of what the factory built, not some restorer's version. Don't mess with it", he said. I took his sage advice. I acquired the car in 2003 as an anniversary gift for my wife. It was a difficult purchase due to the death of the 72 year old Michigan owner, the heirs, who were scattered accross the country, and of course probate. When picking up the car, and after the children's tears because "Dad's car" was leaving, an elderly man came up to me and said " I wanted that car". I inquired as to what he could tell me about it, and he said "I've been servicing this car for the past 30 years, no other mechanic has ever touched it. I would drive that car cross country today." This man shared lots of valuable information and history on the car. When purchased in 2003, the car had 68,328 documented miles. Since then it has only been driven on perfect summer days, mostly by my wife. This car is kept and stored in a climate controlled garage. The car attends many local car shows, and wins trophies frequently. As you can see on the sales invoice, the original purchaser selected almost no options. It has the 292 cu.in. 202 h.p. 4bbl motor. The motor runs quiet and smoothly, and pulls very strong. Maintenence has been limited to plugs, points, cap, rotor, oil & filter. Surprisingly, all these parts are stocked at the local parts store. The coolant has been flushed annually, and the chassis greased upon removal from winter storage each year. The engine has excellent oil pressure and compression. Even the choke works on the carburetor, having the original manifold heat tubes, that are not rotted away as is typical. The air filter is the original "oil bath" type. The distributor has no "dwell drift" which indicates good distributor shaft bearings. Vacuum advance works to factory specs. This is a good solid motor, with no oil leaks, and no smoke. Maintenence that I would suggest, and that I plan to do if the car doesn't sell, is to overhaul the carburetor. This is the original from the factory carburetor. The over haul kit is about $45. In 1988, the engine was pulled for checking a low oil pressure problem. The repair invoice indicates replacement of rod and main bearings, new piston rings, grind valves, surface plane heads, surface plane and blast manifold. Bill was $335.66. The mileage at the time of repair is not indicated, but I would guess it to be about 55k. No other major engine work was done, and all the other repair and parts invoices show just normal replacement items like battery, tires, starter, etc. In 1989 an invoice for " repair front fender rust and repaint front fender, replace heater blower motor, repair vent controls, replace rear springs and bushings" $2550.00 total. I cannot tell which fender was repainted, maybe both were. At some point in the cars past the convertible top was replaced, but I cannot find an invoice for it. The top is is very good condition, but it could use some new window and body seals. These rubber seals are available for fairly low cost from Larry's. When putting the top up initially, the vinyl is pretty wrinkled, but it smoothes out in a few hours. The backlight is clear. The convertible top should be put up when the car is stored. The top is stored behind the seat backrest when it is down. The hardtop is in great shape. The white headliner is off-white now due to its age. The hardtop has been in storage since '03, and hasn't been on the car since then. All the hardware is comeplete and in good shape and the hardtop fits well. In 1956 the factory offered porthole windows as an option for the hardtop. These became standard in 1957. In keeping with the "no options" view of the original purchaser, the hardtop has no porthole windows. This is rare for 1956. And no, its not a 1955 hardtop as it is documented on the sales order. The chrome and trim pieces are original and in very good condition, and the wheel covers(5 with the spare) are like new with no dings. Nothing has been re-chromed. Some of the smaller chrome pieces, like the clamps for the soft-top have some pitting and could use a re-chrome. I do not know the condition of the spare, as I haven't taken the continental kit apart. The trunk is dry and rust free, and the original jack and tools are stored correctly. I can provide any detailed photos upon request. The undercarriage is in great condition, and has undercoating. There are no patches or welding repairs to the frame or the undercarriage, it is solid. The exhaust in in very good condition, with surface rust only, and is complete with the "through the bumper" bronze exhaust tips. I have installed rear air shocks to supplement the rear springs to keep the car level. The rear springs are in good shape with no cracked leaves. The air shocks only need about 5 psi to level the car. The interior is all original. All the dash intruments are working and indicate properly. The clock does not work, but is easily repaired by specialty shops. The cable tach drive is quiet and properly lubricated. The original "radio delete" plate is intact, as are the heater controls(which are never used, so the control cables may be a bit sticky). The black carpet is a bit faded and could be re-dyed. The door panels and seat are very good, no rips or tears, the machined aluminum trim is excellent. The drivers seat could use some re-springing, not bad, minor depression,still comfortable, I just never got to it. This car has the original 3-speed manual transmission. It is is great shape, and shifts smoothly with no gear noise. While second gear has synchromesh, first gear does not. So you have to come to a comeplete stop before putting it in first gear. Fortunately, its not inconvient as the engine has plenty of torque to drive without needing to downshift to first gear unless stopped. The clutch is in great shape, engages smoothly with no chatter or grabbing. The brakes are manual, but will put you through the windshield with moderate pressure. The steering is manual, but is tight and drives straight and nimbly for a car this age. The steering column telescopes, which was a standard feature on these cars. Even the wiring harness is in great shape, with no evidence of splicing or repairs. I can see no evidence that an aftermarket radio was ever installed. The battery is a Restoration Battery Co. ter top style and is correct for the year and model. Inside the battery case is a gel cell battery, so no acid mess or corrosion. The tires are 4-ply bias reproduction by Cooper, and are period correct. They have about 80% life left. Because they are bias ply tires and not radials, don't expect sports car handling. In the day maybe it was great, but not by today's standards. When re-fillng the gas tank you must add lead substitute as the engine has not been upgraded for un-leaded gas. Car runs well on 89 octane and gets about 14 mpg in combined driving. As I said, the car is not "perfect", but after 54 years, it is in amazing condition. Up close you can see some body/paint blemishes and a few paint chips. It would be as Hemmings classifies a "3", or further described as a 20-footer. A show quality paint job would enchance its appearance and value without disturbing its "unrestored" status. Personally, I'd leave the paint alone and just have a real good detail job done. Old Car Reports price guide values this car in condition "3", with hardtop at $30600. The buy it now price is actually much lower and is closer to a condition "4" price. Ask all the questions you want. I have been providing all the maintenence on the car since we owned it, and as a former mechanic and current car collector and restorer, I know this car intimately. This is our first effort at selling this car. We hadn't planned to, but the wife has only driven it once this summer and she suggested we try to sell it. We have a reserve price that we feel is reasonable, and is less than equivelent examples of this car. If it doesn't sell this final time it goes into winter storage until next year.On Oct-31-10 at 07:07:49 PDT, seller added the following information:I have a trailer, and can deliver the car within a reasonable distance for a fee.