Photo: Craigslist
It's hard to imagine an American open top cruiser as cool as the original T-Bird. So when a pristine '55 model is advertised on Craigslist for less money than a brand new Ford Fusion, you are faced with one of those rare "Eureka!" moments and a burning desire to start that restoration project you've always dreamt of.
In case you didn't know already, the Blue Oval created an all-new market niche with the original Thunderbird – the personal luxury car. Basically, it's a luxury vehicle with an emphasis on image and comfort over practicality. This one of only 16,165 T-Birds built in 1955 may not fit that mould by modern standards, but a bit of TLC could make it into a helluva nice ride to cruise down Ocean Blvd.
According to the seller, $20k will buy you a barn find example of the breed which has been in storage for a quarter of a century. Before that, the T-Bird has been driven on a daily basis by a madam that hasn't changed or modified anything on the car. It even has a generator, 6-volt battery pack and the original spare wheel.
Built on the 7th of February 1955, this Torch Red Ford Thunderbird is fitted with red and white interior trim and a 292 cubic inch Y-block V8 fed by a four-barrel carb. The 4.8-liter mill was rated 193 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque when it was new, and is coupled to an original three-speed manual transmission.
Even though the paint has lost its shine and the engine compartment is a little bit rough, everything is there and the resto-job won't set you back more than 20,000 bucks. Showing just 91,365 miles on the odometer, this 1955 T-Bird is sure to be a hot proposition for car enthusiasts nationwide, so think fast if you want to make it yours.
According to the seller, $20k will buy you a barn find example of the breed which has been in storage for a quarter of a century. Before that, the T-Bird has been driven on a daily basis by a madam that hasn't changed or modified anything on the car. It even has a generator, 6-volt battery pack and the original spare wheel.
Built on the 7th of February 1955, this Torch Red Ford Thunderbird is fitted with red and white interior trim and a 292 cubic inch Y-block V8 fed by a four-barrel carb. The 4.8-liter mill was rated 193 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque when it was new, and is coupled to an original three-speed manual transmission.
Even though the paint has lost its shine and the engine compartment is a little bit rough, everything is there and the resto-job won't set you back more than 20,000 bucks. Showing just 91,365 miles on the odometer, this 1955 T-Bird is sure to be a hot proposition for car enthusiasts nationwide, so think fast if you want to make it yours.
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