From the Classifieds: 1955 Ford Thunderbird

Ford and General Motors fought it out at all levels of the car market in the mid-1950s, particularly in the budding personal luxury car segment.

Developed in double-quick time to compete with the (then) all-new, all-fibreglass Chevrolet Corvette, the cushier 1954 Ford Thunderbird was a beast of a slightly different colour.

While the Corvette was itself a response to the small sports cars from Britain and the continent selling so well in the US, Ford took a different position with the Thunderbird, aiming the car at a demographic besotted with luxury – and America’s nascent aerospace industry.

It was a breakout period for American stylists, let off the lead to explore themes such as rocket and jet afterburner design cues in the form of towering tail fins and circular tail-lights.

At the same time, American cars were getting progressively bigger, while power, power and more power was the mantra for engine developers.

In the middle of all this were smaller, sportier and more minimalist two-door cars such as the Chevy Corvette which debuted in 1953.

Ford’s riposte, the exotically-named Thunderbird, followed in 1954 after a hyper-fast development program.

A two-seater with either a removable fibreglass roof or a folding soft-top, the Thunderbird was driven by a 4.8-litre V8 which drove the rear wheels through a three-speed auto gearbox.

The chassis was a short-wheelbase set-up borrowed from mass-market Fords and the suspension comprised independent coil springs at the front and a live-axle/leaf-spring arrangement at the rear.

While the Ford Thunderbird may have been a tiny bit late to the party, it hit the mark with buyers and, in its first year, outsold the Corvette by a ratio of 23 to one.

There’s a thing about the Chevrolet Corvette, though – it’s still around today and is considered by many to be America’s definitive sports car.

The Ford Thunderbird, on the other hand, became extinct in 2005 after years of evolution which saw it move further from its roots.

It returned to the original, simple themes in 2002 with a retro-styled model and hung on for three years before eventually succumbing to slow sales.

For many, it’s the original Thunderbird that represents what the car that’s claimed to be America’s first personal luxury car was all about.

Before it became a four-seater in 1958, the Thunderbird wasn’t subject to significant changes. After a few experiments – including a boot lid-mounted external spare wheel – the final two-seat version from 1957 remained visibly connected to the 1954 original.

The interesting thing about Ford Thunderbirds today, even the first version, is that they don’t command crazy prices.

Looking through the carsales listings, this bright red, left-hand drive 1955 model, priced at the upper level of first-generation Thunderbirds at $98,990, stands out.

From Bowral in NSW, the privately-owned Thunderbird has been subjected to a full body-off-frame restoration, including a rebuilt 292 cubic-inch V8 and three-speed Fordomatic auto transmission, plus every power accessory that was available in 1954.

It is equipped with power steering, power brakes and electric seats and windows. The owner says it has been “beautifully restored to the highest possible standards”.

Era-defining name, market-defining outcome. The Ford Thunderbird made a big statement in 1954 and is an undisputed classic today.

Take a closer look at this 1954 Ford Thunderbird for sales on carsales