SORRY, SOLD IMMEDIATELY TO NORTH CENTRAL FLA.
1956 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE W/ HARDTOP
THIS IS AN OLDER FRAME-UP RESTORATION OF A VERY POPULAR COLLECTIBLE- THE 1956 THUNDERBIRD. IT IS FINISHED IN THE POPULAR "FIESTA RED"- ALMOST A SALMON RED- WITH MATCHING UPHOLSTERY IN RED & WHITE. IT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE EXTRA-COST 312 CUBIC INCH V8/ 4V CARB W/ DRESS KIT, POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, FORD-O-MATIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND A RADIO SYSTEM. IT CARRIES A PARTIALLY RESTORED ORIGINAL HARDTOP WITH WHITE SOFT TOP AS WELL. OPTIONS INCLUDE WHITE-WALL TIRES, VINTAGE 'HANG-DOWN' (COLD) AIR CONDITIONING, AFTER-MARKET 'THUNDERBIRD' RADIO, FENDER SKIRTS W/ GUARD, WINDSHIELD WASHERS AND ENGINE DRESS KIT. THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS QUITE GOOD FROM RESTO. YEARS AGO, THE TAILPIPES HAVE BEEN RE-ROUTED TO KEEP FROM RUINING THE BUMPER AND IT SHOWS VERY WELL. WE HAVE DONE AN 'UPDATE' ON THE RESTORATION TO INCLUDE NEW CARPETS/PAD, MINOR ENGINE BAY DETAIL, COLOR SANDING AND BUFF AND SOME PAINT & BODY. N.A.D.A CLASSIC BOOK VALUE IS $56,900 IN TOP CONDITION ( ADDING $3600 FOR HAVING BOTH HARD & SOFT TOPS). 'AVERAGE' BOOK IS $29,900. THIS CAR WOULD MAKE A WONDERFUL 'DRIVER" IN AVERAGE CONDITION AND IS PRICED BELOW NATIONAL AVERAGE. BUY THIS ONE @ THE NO HAGGLE PRICE/INTERNET PRICE OF $27,500.
THE STORY:
By 1956, Annette Funnicello probably lost her....'Mouse Ears' and most adult
American's were of the opinion that the Younger Generation
In 1956, the first thing you did when you got home from school was watch "Dick Clark's American Bandstand" on TV, while your favorite couples performed their best dance routines. Though Dick Clark apparently (?) banned Black Leather Jackets In the TV Studio.... 'Duck Tails', 'Poodle Skirts' and Cashmere Sweaters dominated the Black & White TV Screen Speaking of sweaters: Brunette, Bleach-Bottle-Blonde: Jayne Mansfield 'WOWed' the guys and landed a long-term contract May 3rd, that year with 20th Century-Fox Studios. She was "The Other Blonde Bombshell" but, at 5'8" she carried more... 'luggage', measuring-in at 40-21-35, (and, despite the 'dumb blonde' rouse, a surprising I.Q. of 163). Mansfield would make her mark in films starring in "The Girl Can't Help It", causing many male movie-goers to launch into sensory overload. By the time "Promises! Promises!" came to be released it was a winner in the "Top 10 Box Office Attractions for 1963". Men flocked to the movie theatres to get aroused...causing Cleveland, Ohio theatres to outright ban the movie. Career waffling, she would then appear naked in scenes from that movie as Hugh Hefner exploited her attributes in "Playboy" Magazine (Feb. 1955) sending men into a further frenzy. Here's a surprise! ; Jimi Hendrix actually played Bass and Lead Guitar for TWO songs released by Jayne in 1965.... "As The Clouds Drift By" and "Suey". Sadly, she would die, at only 34, in 1967 nearly beheaded, after her Buick Electra (not Lincoln) rear-ended a tractor trailer truck in a fog caused by a mosquito control truck. Something positive would come out of this tragedy: all tractor trailers would then, here-to-for, be required to have a 'Safety (Mansfield) Bar ' at the rear of the vehicle.
James Dean, on the other hand (no pun intended) would get 4,038 Fan Letters from his Fan base in January 1956 alone....more than any other actor in Warner Bros. history. The fact he had been dead for over 4 months didn't seem to register with his fan base! Marilyn Monroe would again be voted Top Actress, after her role in "Bus Stop" when, in effect, there was a new Bombshell In Town: Grace Kelly. Her exit from films that year to the Island of Monaco to marry Prince Rainier, would not hurt MM's ratings. Top LP Album sales depicted the conflict of 'The Times' and the division between Young & Old in their titles alone: "Elvis Presley" by Elvis Presley vs. "The Soundtrack from The King and I".
THE CAR:
This would be the Second Year for the Thunderbird and the 1956 model would offer vast improvements over the First Edition. Though Portholes were still an Option, the popular Continental Kit became Standard Equipment. It opened up the trunk to carrying something besides just a Jack.... like, Golf Clubs and a lot more luggage than the previous model. The 1956 T-Bird also gained badly need Cowl Vents for better ventilation, and a different rear bumper configuration.... which allowed the exhaust to vent through both sides. Though the 3-Speed Manual Transmission was Standard, many folks opted for the "Ford-A-Matic" Automatic. Engine Options started with the base 292/202hp and were upgraded by Overdrive to 215hp. If you ordered the Automatic Gearbox you automatically got the 312/225 h.p.. You could even order a 312/260 h.p. with 2-4 barrel carbs but, that required you go back to the 3-speed and/or Overdrive. Colors! You could choose from Raven Black, Peacock (Bright) Blue, Goldenglow (Bright) Yellow, Navajo (Light) Gray, Sunset Coral (Bright Pink), Colonial (Off-) White, Buckskin (almost Pink)Tan, Thunderbird (Dark) Gray, T-Bird (Sage) Green or Fiesta (Salmon) Red.
The 1956 Thunderbird's are best remembered for not only their role in American Pop Culture but, their appearance in the Movies. Just a few of them are: "Dirty Dancing", "Great Balls Of Fire", "Hot Shots", "Pleasantville", "Bad Boys", "Who Killed The Electric Car", "I Was A Teenage Werewolf" and, even Low Budget Films like: "Invasion Of The Star Creatures", and "Mondo Bizarro". Who could forget Suzanne Somers as 'the Girl in the White T-Bird' with her small but memorable role in "American Graffiti" ?? You might also recall that "Debbie Reynolds", actress, model and TV personality, was the TV Spokesperson for Ford and the Thunderbird in 1956.
The body design was penned by Bill Boyer and supervised by Frank Hershey. Advertised as "The Simple, but Youthful Car"... it was a huge hit. It was easy to like, unlike it's competitor the Chevrolet Corvette, the Thunderbird was Optioned in Luxury. 'Power Steering' may seem 'ho-hum' today but, in 1956 it was a Big Deal. You could order your 'Bird' with Power Steering (a must), Power Brakes, Automatic Transmission, and even Power Seats. Knowing a Radio would be a Must have: Ford @ $100 smartly priced their push-button radio at a cost level even higher than Power Steering. And, since you were more than likely to be lifting the hood repeatedly (to show off your "Big 312"), they added a "Engine Dress Kit" for only $25. Scoops were ' in' and the Power Bulge Hood was not only Standard but, functional. It was designed to clear the Air Cleaner but, 'scoops' appealed to the Masses, as well.
The T-Bird has now become a Fiercely Prized Symbol of the American 50's....known now as "The Baby Bird" it became a distant memory for years after Ford implemented the Swollen Version-4-Seater body style in 1958. It took FORD 44 years to realize the American Public wanted their BabyBird back. In 2002, they re-issued the Old War Horse.... only to drop it again, just before offering a Supercharger Option, in 2005. In closing, we should say: The Thunderbird nomenclature was derived from an American Indian God gifted with bringing Rain and Prosperity to it's Worshippers. In the last 54 years, this little car has certainly passed on it's share of good fortune to it's owners.