This 1955 Ford Thunderbird is said to have been refurbished in 2019 and remained in California’s Bay Area with the family of its original owner until 2021, when it was acquired by the current owner. Finished in red over red and white vinyl upholstery, the car is powered by a 292ci V8 paired with a three-speed Fordomatic automatic transmission. The red removable hardtop has porthole windows, and other equipment includes a white convertible top, front disc brakes, power steering, body-color steel wheels, hubcaps, power-adjustable seats, and a cassette player. This T-bird is now offered on dealer consignment with black California license plates, spare parts, a Partsam cable hoist for hardtop storage, a shop manual, and a clean California title.
Finished from the factory in Torch Red (R), the car is said to have been repainted during the aforementioned refurbishment. A matching removable hardtop with porthole windows is complemented by a “checkered flags” hood emblem, chrome bumpers, a driver-side mirror, fender skirts, auxiliary parking lights, a fixed antenna, and dual exhaust outlets that exit through the rear bumperettes. A white convertible top is included in the sale.
Body-color 15″ steel wheels with red-accent hubcaps are mounted with 205/75 Coker whitewall radial tires. A BFGoodrich space-saver spare is located in the trunk. The car has power steering, and braking is provided by power-assisted front discs and rear drums.
The power-adjustable bench seat is upholstered in red vinyl with white pleated inserts and is accompanied by a color-coordinated dashboard and door panels. Amenities include red carpeting, a Thunderbird-branded digital cassette player, a clock, a heater, a floor-mounted shifter, and a locking glovebox.
The two-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 67k miles, approximately 100 of which were added under current ownership. The needle for the tachometer is missing.
The P-code 292ci Y-block V8 is topped with a Holley 4000 four-barrel carburetor and was factory rated at 198 horsepower. The oil was changed most recently in September 2024.
Power is routed to the rear wheels via a Fordomatic three-speed automatic transmission.
Decoding the above data plate reveals the following production information:
- P – 292ci V8 w/four-barrel carburetor
- 5 – 1955 model year
- F – Dearborn, Michigan assembly plant
- H – Thunderbird body style
- 260358 – Consecutive unit number
- Body 40A – Thunderbird body type
- Color R – Torch Red paint
- Trim XB – Red and white vinyl upholstery
- Production Code 13J2364 – 13th day of September scheduled production date; scheduled production number