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Ford Thunderbird

Ford ThunderbirdFord ThunderbirdFord ThunderbirdFord ThunderbirdFord Thunderbird
Ford Thunderbird
Lot number 96
Hammer value N/S (est. £20,000 - 23,000)
Description Ford Thunderbird
Registration 445 UXE
Year 1955
Colour Red
Engine size 4,800 cc
Chassis No. P5FH132136

History

The Ford Thunderbird came about as a result of a visit to the 1951 Paris Salon by Lewis D Crusoe, Vice President of Ford, and his assistant, designer George Walker. Looking around at all the Ferrari, Porsche and Jaguar sports cars, Crusoe asked Walker: "Why can't we have a car like that?"

Within 18 months Ford's Dearborn studios had knocked up the basic design and, when Chevrolet launched the Corvette in 1953, getting the car into production was made a top priority. The brief was for a two-seater soft-top weighing around 2,500lb, powered by a big V8, capable of exceeding 100mph, with streamlined bodywork totally free of unnecessary ornament.

Crusoe offered a $250 suit to anyone who could come up with a suitable name for the car and stylist Alden Giberson spawned a legend with the sublime Thunderbird (a mythical Native American beast which lived between heaven and earth), thus sparing the world from the ridiculous runners up, Hep Cat, Beaver or Dude.

Launched at the end of 1954, the production cars boasted a massively stiff frame on a compact 102-inch wheelbase, Ford's biggest V8, the 200bhp 292ci (4.8-litre) with a four-barrel Holley carb, quick steering, excellent weight distribution and a three speed manual or Ford-O-Matic transmission. Lean, fast and outrageously cool, the car was an overnight sensation, outselling the sluggish Corvette by 20 to 1.

Despite its success, the original concept was soon abandoned and a larger - and slower - four-seat version introduced for 1958, a move that turned the early two-seater cars into collector's items almost overnight. Today the original 1955-57 "Little Birds" are among the most desirable and sought after of all post-war American automobiles.

This early 1955 car was imported from Tennessee in 2004. A Ford-O-Matic model, it was given a thorough going over on arrival which resulted in a full rewire, complete steering and suspension overhaul, new fuel tank and four new BF Goodrich tyres. Fitted with a Thunderbird radio cassette player, it also still has its original valve radio (not fitted). Said to drive beautifully and certainly firing up readily and sounding magnificent on the occasion of our visit, it is MOTd until October 2008 and is ready for many more years of cruising. Sensational!

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