This 1956 Ford Thunderbird remained with a single owner in Illinois between 1977 and 2005, at which time the seller purchased it. The car received a mechanical overhaul in 2007 that included rebuilding the 312ci V8, three-speed Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission, and brakes. It has been repainted black and has a cabin retrimmed with black and white upholstery, and the car also has a removable hardtop with porthole windows, a black soft top, power steering, power-adjustable seats, a heater, an AM radio, an analog clock, chrome bumpers, and a Continental kit. This Thunderbird is now offered in with a car cover, spare parts, the owner’s manual, service records, and a clean South Dakota title in the seller’s name.
The car was ordered in Thuderbird Green, and it was repainted black during prior ownership. The seller states the chrome trim was re-plated in 2011.
The 14″ wire wheels are mounted with BFGoodrich Silvertown tires. The Continental kit is accented with chrome and mounted on the rear bumper. Stopping power is supplied by drum brakes at each corner. The brake system was overhauled in 2007, and the steering bushings and front brake components were replaced more recently.
The power-adjustable bench seat has been reupholstered in white and black vinyl and is accompanied by a color-coordinated dashboard and door panels. Equipment includes a heater, an AM radio, an analog clock, a floor-mounted shifter, manual windows, lap belts, and a locking glove box.
The three-spoke steering wheel features a chrome horn ring and frames an Astra Dial instrument cluster housing a sweeping 150-mph speedometer, a 5k-rpm tachometer, and auxiliary gauges for fuel level and coolant temperature. The five-digit odometer indicates 25k miles, approximately 1k of which were added under current ownership.
The P-code 312ci Y-block V8 is topped with a four-barrel carburetor and was factory rated at 225 horsepower. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a Ford-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission. The engine and transmission were overhauled in April 2007, and the neutral safety switch was replaced in 2022.
Additional underside photos are provided in the gallery below.
Decoding the data plate reveals the following production information:
- P – 312ci V8
- 6 – 1956 model year
- F – Dearborn, Michigan plant
- 40A – Thunderbird
- Z – Thunderbird Green Paint
- XF – Green and White Vinyl Upholstery