Ford Thunderbird
Car-ID: XT0123
Vehicle Description
Ask a youngster in 2016 what “Thunderbird” was: “Why, an email client of course…”
Back in the mid-1950s, the answer would have been a very different one. Accompanied by a sparkling of the eyes, it may have burst out: “It’s that amazing new car by Ford, a sporty two-seater, oh how I wish I could have one of those….”
From 1958 onwards, the Thunderbird had grown and was no longer a two-seater, so it’s the early models that have become particularly iconic. But even from 1955 till 1957, each model year brought a set of changes, so the “Classic Birds” are easily distinguished.
This is an early model, built in 1955. The outside-mounted spare wheel, a 1956 specialty, was added by the previous owner. According to the consignor, the car was subjected to a frame-off restoration in the US before being imported to Switzerland. Engine and gearbox have likewise been overhauled, a total amount in excess of € 120,000 has reportedly been spent to fully recondition this rare Thunderbird. Since 2007 the car has been registered to its second Swiss owner. It comes with Swiss registration documents, import duties and taxes will have to be borne by the customer. A hardtop is included.
And in case you didn’t know: First generation Thunderbirds are qualified to participate in the Mille Miglia, so if you’ve been looking for a suitable car for this purpose…
Starting out as a sports car in direct competition with the Chevrolet Corvette or European rivals such as Jaguar and Porsche, later becoming a “Personal Luxury Car” for classy cruising – the Ford Thunderbird was always a product of the Zeitgeist of his era. The company’s market strategists really had their eyes fixed on the market, and their strategy proved highly successful for decades.
We distinguish a total of 11 generations, from the “Classic Bird” and “Square Bird” of the 50s, via “Bullet Bird”, “Flair Bird” and “Glamour Bird” of the 1960s, “Big Bird” and “Torino Bird” of the 1970s, and “Box Bird”, “Aero Bird”, “Super Bird” of the 80s / 90s all the way to the “Retro Bird”, which from 2002 to 2005 attempted a not-so successful revival.
In the models before 1980, you’d find the enormous, thirsty V8 engines with capacities up to 7.5 litres – typically American. After years of “longer, wider, heavier” the trend was reversed, with later model Thunderbirds being lighter and sportier again.
