1956 Ford Thunderbird Roadster

The Thunderbird and the Corvette have a long and sorted history, with both initially competing for the same customer space. Eventually the Corvette went to racing, and the Thunderbird became the boulevard king. The ultimate getaway car from the kids with only 2 seats, as well as the option to have a hardtop traveler, or a convertible cruiser, it became the “it” car for mid-1950's suburbia.

If you're looking for a sweet 50s-era classic that's valuable, fun to drive and has the ability to turn Main Street into an instant classic car show then this is “it” for you. An all Colonial White exterior with white and black interior and a Colonial White factory hardtop you will think you are driving down the street in a crisp clean bridal dress! Oh, don't forget we will be bringing up the rear with that Continental rear bumper complete with covered rear tire.

Exterior
Starting upfront, we can see a beautiful original and mirror like bumper with mini “Dagmar” style bumper-ettes attached which take on a jet engine like appearance. Directly above is a well-preserved shiny egg crate grille complete with an AACA National First Senior award plaque and flanking this on either side is a single visored headlight. A long-scooped hood rolls its way back to the passenger compartment, which is small, and is topped with a hardtop in body matching Colonial White complete with the iconic Thunderbird portholes. On the back, small fins tip round taillights again, emulating jet age design, and another clean bumper, this time the bumper houses the exhaust tailpipes at both corners. These cutouts flank the Continental kit with its covered spare tire and add an air of class to this sporty roadster. Medium wide white sidewall tires wrap 15" Kelsey Hayes wire wheels and hubcaps. All of the metal is painted in Colonial White paint and has nicely preserved gaps with no rust seen on its exterior. From its fender skirts to the chromed venting on the front quarters to the tasteful fins and jet engine taillights, “Dagmars”, and all is super snazzy.

Interior
The curvaceous thick door panels are wrapped in white vinyl with some black vinyl covered swooping upward long armrests, and a black padded window sill attached at the top. There is a large panel of machined aluminum through the center which is the background for the door actuator and in the white vinyl are the toggles for the power windows. These are nice and clean, with the aluminum showing a few dimples. These panels look the part, as they melt into the curved dash keeping the machined metal line through the center. A fan style black background with white numbered speedometer is above on the painted metal black dash top and more black for below the machined strip of aluminum. Flanking on either side of the speedo are round gauges, one a factory tachometer, and the right a clock. Also noted, a modern AM/FM radio is neatly installed in the dash center. Fronting a near perfect bench seat is a chrome bezeled small shift lever well within reach of the driver on the hump. The power bench seat is complete with black smooth bolsters and surrounds and shows with white tuck and roll inserts and some piping at the seams, and it stretches from door to door. Lightly faded black carpeting floods the floors, and the black bakelite and chrome horn ring steering wheel fronts the pristine dash. A white tonneau cover is on the rear body/passenger sill and covers the area where a soft top would be stowed. Totally delicious in this presentation. And if the weather is bad, pop on the hardtop!

Drivetrain
A 312ci V8 engine is in a clean and shiny engine bay. It is topped with a 4-barrel carburetor and a chromed air cleaner cover. Red is reserved for the block, and shiny aluminum ribbed valve covers with turquoise Thunderbird badging add some more bling to the bay. A Ford-O-Matic 3-speed automatic transmission and 3.31 Dana 44 rear axle complete the drivetrain. Just a beautiful presentation under the hood.

Undercarriage
Just a hint of surface rust and some road dirt is noted but otherwise the X frame and floor pans are really beautifully preserved sporting a nice undercoating of rustproofing. Independent coil springs for the front, and leaf springs for the rear make up the suspension with drum brakes all around. We note power steering also as well as shiny like new dual exhaust.

Drive-Ability
Not a ton of room in these early birds, but once in, they are comfy. This car fired right up and took off for the test track where it flew around in circles with ease. A strong accelerator, and good stopper are also good qualities to have in such an early car and they are there. This bird handled our test track with ease on all fronts and provided a fully functional enjoyable drive.

All in all a wonderful example that has been restored a bit ago and still retains its luster and charm. Go topless or don the hardtop, and climate controls assure you happy motoring throughout the year, although with a classic as such I personally don't know whether you would be doing too much winter driving. Either way you can soar through town, screech the tires, and turn some heads…all the way around! Grab your poodle skirt honey we are going to get away from the kids for a while!

VIN DECODE
P6FH251311
P-312ci V8 4bbl 225hp
6-1956
F-Dearborn, MI Assy Plant
H-Thunderbird
251311-Sequential Unit Number

WARRANTY TAG
BODY 40A-Thunderbird
COLOR E-Colonial White
TRIM XA-Black & White Vinyl
PRODUCTION CODE 23CH555-March 23rd Build

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.