1955 Ford Thunderbird for sale - Morgantown, Pennsylvania

Description:
Interior Color:
Red

Exterior Color:
Flame Red

Description:
1955 Ford Thunderbird Roadster  Picture, if you will, a 1953 Ford Fordor sedan, sliced in half at the B-pillar and welded together minus its entire rear door and rear quarter area.  The rearmost portion of the roof, including the window, is awkwardly moved forward about three feet, and the entire car finished in a rough fashion.  This homely car was christened the Burnetti after its creator, Ford engineer Bill Burnett, and was designed to simulate the packaging of a European sports car for American tastes; it was a major step towards creating what would become one of America\'s most beloved and most collectible two-seaters of all time-the original 1955-\'56-\'57 Ford Thunderbird. For consignment, version 1 edition 1 of the Ford Thunderbird.  It was purchased by the consignor for his son\'s wedding in 2018.  It had a fresh respray, and our as consignor states a rebuilt engine, (no documentation).  It was not running at the time, which our consignor did accomplish making it run for the wedding.  Some TLC needed on some areas but all the basics are there and accounted for. 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 egg crate grille, and flanking this on either side is a single headlight.  A long scooped hood rolls its way back to the passenger compartment all bathed in Flame Red.  The passenger compartment is compact and a convertible soft top in white canvas however needs some work.  An accessory aftermarket reproduction hard top comes along with this car and the rubber gaskets need to be installed on it.   On the back small fins float above round taillights and point skyward with backup lights inserted within, again emulating jet age design.  Another clear bumper this time the Dagmars house the exhaust tailpipes.  Medium white bands surround rubber from the 46th week of 1990 and wrap steel wheels which just make a small appearance on the edges of the Ford flat dog dish wheel coverings.  All metal is straight and has good gaps. Interior The curvaceous thick door panels are wrapped in white vinyl with some red vinyl accenting, and a strip of machined aluminum through the center.  These are fairly clean, and look the part, as they melt into the curved dash keeping the machined metal line through the center.  Power seat toggles are in these door panels.  A fan style speedometer is above on the padded top red dash.  We also note a factory tachometer and a clock in circular form on either side.  An aftermarket IC AM/FM radio is within this dash along with various knobs and pulls.  A near perfect power adjustable bench seat is complete with red smooth bolsters and white tuck and roll inserts,  The bench stretches from door to door.  Nice condition red carpet floods the floors and the original red and chrome horn ring steering wheel fronts the pristine dash.  A red tonneau cover is in the rear storage area and awaits to cover the top when installed and in the down position. Drivetrain A 292ci 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 Thunderbird badged horizontal ribbed valve covers add some more bling to the bay.   A Ford-O-Matic  3-speed automatic transmission,  a Dana 44 rear, and a 3.31 rear axle  and we can complete the drivetrain.  The engine has rebuilt heads and as noted consignor states the engine has been rebuilt.   Undercarriage Very light surface rust on just a few of the suspension parts, but the X frame, floor plans and rockers are really beautifully preserved with patina undercoating.  Independent coil springs for the front, and leaf springs for the rear make up the suspension and drum brakes are all around.  Nicely preserved for its ripe age. Drive-Ability Not a ton of room in these early birds, but once in, they are