One-Owner 1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible

This 1955 Ford Thunderbird convertible was first sold February 14th of its model year from Sunset Auto Company in Sappington, Missouri and has been with the seller ever since. A body-off restoration was carried out in 1991 that incorporated a respray in Raven Black and the installation of fresh two-tone black and white vinyl upholstery. Powered by a 292ci Y-Block V8 paired with a 3-speed manual transmission with overdrive, this Thunderbird was one of 16,155 manufactured for the year according to Ford production data. Accompanied by a black cloth soft top and a tonneau cover, this first-year Thunderbird is now offered with a shop manual, the original purchase invoice, sales documentation, and a clear Missouri title in the seller’s name.

The Thunderbird launched for 1955 as a two-seat convertible and this example reportedly comes from one-family ownership, having been treated to a frame-off restoration and a Raven Black (A) repaint in 1991. Resulting condition throughout is described as being very good, with exterior design elements including fender skirts, optional turn signals, and exhausts exiting from the rear bumper. The soft top has reportedly been replaced and the car is said to have been garage kept long-term. Brightwork for the bumpers, grille, window surround and other trim is said to be in very good condition.

The 15” steel wheels wear full chrome covers and are wrapped in wide whitewall tires. Handling is assisted by power steering, which came at a cost of $135 according to accompanying sales paperwork.

The interior is trimmed with a power-operated, reupholstered two-tone black and white bench seat, color-matched to the door panels, dash, and carpeting. Additional equipment includes manually-operated windows, aluminum dash trim, a push-button 8-tube radio, tinted glass, a heater, and a telescoping steering wheel. The trunk floor is covered with a vinyl mat and contains a spare tire.

Instrumentation includes a 150-mph speedometer, a 5k-rpm tachometer, an analog clock, and additional gauges for fuel level and coolant temperature. The five-digit mechanical odometer shows approximately 93k miles.

The Y-Block 4.8-liter 292ci V8 was factory rated at 198 horsepower and 286 lb-ft of torque when new, and the engine bay has been dressed with Thunderbird-logo valve covers and a chrome-finished air cleaner. Power is fed to the rear wheels via a 3-speed manual transmission with overdrive operated by a floor-mounted shift lever.

Additional photos showing the condition of the underside are available for viewing in the carousel.

The original purchase document from February 14, 1955, which shows a sales price of $3,271.97, is included with the sale, as is a tonneau cover, a shop manual, and other literature. Decoding the trim tag yields the following data: Body 40A = Thunderbird Two-Door Hardtop Convertible; Color A = Raven Black; Trim A = Black and White; Production Code 5BH0361 = February 5, Indianapolis

A video is provided below.