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1956 Ford Thunderbird

$71,940

Vehicle Details

Make

Ford

Model

Thunderbird

Year

1956

Body Type

Other

Transmission

Automatic

Description

When GI’s who fought in the European Theater of World War II returned home, they brought with them fond memories of the British two-seaters that were a common sight over there. Some even managed to buy some and have them shipped home. It was clear to Detroit that there just might be a market for an American made version of the famed two-seater open car.

The two most famous of these were the MG-TC (and the later TD) and the incredibly handsome Jaguar XK-120. Kaiser introduced the famed Kaiser-Darrin in the early 50’s and Chevrolet would follow next with the legendary Corvette. Ford was not blind to Chevrolet’s new car, but chose to develop a car along a different path.

It was decided their car would be made of metal instead of fiberglass; that it would be powered by a V-8 engine unlike the Corvette’s Blue Flame Six”; and that it would feature roll-down windows and an optional hardtop unlike the Corvette’s snap on curtains. They further decided that it would, as much as possible, utilize the same tooling and parts interchangeability with the big Fords of that era. This Magnificent Classic is finished in Prized Thunderbird Peacock Blue (Turquoise) with Contrasting Turquoise and White Interior, and White Port Hole Hardtop and White Soft Top.

Restoration included Exterior, Interior Top, Brightwork, and Mechanics. It comes with a comprehensive complement of amenities including: Ford Automatic Transmission Floor mounted Locking Button Shift Selector Low and Drive Range Master Guide Power Steering Telescopic Lifeguard Steering Wheel Fully Adjustable Full instrumentation including Domed Speedometer Factory Tachometer Directional Signals Magicaire Heating and Defrost System Thunderbird AM-FM-Cassette Sound System Original radio in trunk Electric Clock Cigar Lighter (Unused) White Port Hole Hardtop New White Soft Top and Rear Window Chrome Side View Mirror Wing Windows Rear Fender Skirts with Fender Shields Wide Whitewall Radial Tires Windshield Washers Beautiful Ford Scripted Hubcaps (5) “THUNDERBIRD” V-8 Engine Chrome Engine Dress Up Kitt 312 Cubic Inch Displacement 225 Horsepower 9:1 Compression Ratio 3.80 X 3.44 Inch Bore & Stroke Four Barrel Carburetion Dual Stainless Steel Exhaust System with Through Rear Bumper Ports Optima Battery Battery Cut off Switch Show Quality Engine Compartment Electric Fuel Pump Improved Starting and Vapor Lock Protection 12 Volt Electrical System Significant Improved Reliability & Improved Lighting for Evening Tours Aluminium Radiator, 6 Blade Fan Significantly Improved Cooling Full – Flow Oil Filter Beautiful Rear Continental Kit Trunk Jack Side Opening Fresh Air Vents 102 Inch Wheelbase 185 Inch Length Highly Detailed Engine Compartment Numbers Matching Owner’s Manual Shop Manual Hardtop Stand Car Cover This Magnificent Thunderbird in Prized Thunderbird Peacock Blue with Stunning Turquoise and White Interior is an Absolute Pleasure to Drive and garners all the “oohs and aahs” anytime out. In 1955, T’Bird owners voiced concerns re: inadequate trunk space to accommodate golf clubs.

In ‘56, Ford decided to move the spare tire to the exterior Continental Kit allowing for Golf Clubs! Many ‘Baby Bird’ aficionados consider the “56” with the Rear Continental Kit to be the “Most Beautiful and Most Desirable of the Series. The 56’s were the Only Car in America that came with the Rear Continental Wheel as standard fare. It is Excellent Throughout.

Classic Ford Thunderbird Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Mike Sullivan

Muscle Cars

1955–1979

~5 min read

Updated Apr 2026

Definitive buyer's guide for classic Ford Thunderbird 1955-1979. Two-seat Baby Bird era, Square Bird, Bullet Bird, and personal luxury generations, rust hotspots, current market pricing.

This guide covers

✓ 10-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 5 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Thunderbird Buyer's Guide

Ford Thunderbird Market Overview

Based on 140 Ford Thunderbird listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

140

Listed Now

$31,937

Avg. Asking Price

1955–1994

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site - Above Average

This car: $71,940

Low: $2,200 High: $164,995

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 64% ◄

Manual 9%

Condition Distribution

Excellent 17%

Good 11%

Fair 4%

Poor 1%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 140 listings →

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Classic Ford Thunderbird Buyer's Guide

The Ford Thunderbird launched in 1955 as Ford's answer to the Chevrolet Corvette, a two-seat personal luxury convertible meant to position Ford as a maker of stylish, sporting cars. By 1958, Ford had pivoted the entire concept toward four-seat personal luxury, and the Thunderbird became the template for an entire genre of American automobiles. Across eight platform generations and 25 years of classic-era production (1955-1979), the Thunderbird represents one of the most varied collector markets in the American hobby, from the iconic two-seat "Baby Birds" to the personal-luxury "Square Birds," "Bullet Birds," and beyond. This guide covers what every buyer should verify before purchase across each major era.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Order Marti Report for any 1967+ car over $25K , Marti Auto Works $25. Confirms original engine, transmission, axle, paint, options.

✓

Verify original removable hardtop on Baby Birds , 1955-1957 cars without original hardtop = 15-25% value reduction. Porthole hardtops add premium.

✓

Cross-reference VIN engine code with block casting , Y-block 292/312, FE-series 352/390/406/427/428, 351C, 460. Each has specific casting numbers.

✓

Inspect body-on-frame structure (Baby Birds) , X-member and body mount points. Probe with flashlight and screwdriver. Frame rust = $8,000-$15,000 repair.

✓

Examine unibody (1958+) at rocker panels , Rocker panels, floor pans, firewall, rear bulkhead. Universal rust points on personal-luxury era cars.

✓

For convertibles, inspect rear corners , Top mechanism mounts here. Structural rust compromises top operation and convertible value.

✓

Test all power options (1967+) , Power windows, locks, seats, climate control, AM/FM stereo. Failed systems = $2,000-$6,000 repair.

✓

For F-Code claims, demand specialist authentication , McCulloch supercharger setup commonly forged. Y-block specialist verification mandatory.

✓

Verify Sports Roadster tonneau cover (1962-1963) , Original fiberglass tonneau cover adds significant value. Reproductions reduce value vs original.

✓

Compression test all eight cylinders , Should read 145-180 PSI uniformly. Variance >15% = head gasket or worn rings.

Common Issues

Thunderbird rust patterns vary significantly by generation. Two-seat Baby Birds (1955-1957) rust at the rear quarter panels, the rocker panels, the floor pans, the trunk pan, the rear bumper supports, and at the cowl seam. The body-on-frame construction means frame rust at the front X-member and the rear cross-member is also a structural concern. Square Birds (1958-1960) and Bullet Birds (1961-1963) use unibody construction. Critical rust zones include the rocker panels, the lower quarters, the floor pans, the front and rear bulkheads, and the firewall. Convertible bodies on these generations add structural concerns at the rear corners where the top mechanism mounts. Mechanically, the Y-block 292/312 V8 (1955-1957) is bulletproof when maintained. The FE-series 352, 390, 406, 427, and 428 V8s (1958-1976) are similarly durable. Common issues include worn timing chain on Y-blocks, leaky valve covers and oil pan gaskets across all engines, and tired Holley or Autolite carburetors. The Ford-O-Matic and Cruise-O-Matic automatics are robust; the C6 (1966+) is essentially indestructible. Personal luxury era cars (1972-1979) shift to Ford 351 Cleveland and Cleveland-Modified V8s, plus the 460 big-block on selected models. Common issues from this era include vacuum-actuated headlight failures, climate control system failures, and worn door hinges on the heavy doors.

What to Look For

Marti Auto Works build sheets are mandatory for any 1967-and-later Thunderbird priced over $25,000. The build sheet ($25 basic, more for elite reports) confirms original engine, transmission, axle ratio, paint, options, and dealer destination. For 1955-1957 Baby Birds, verify the data plate on the firewall. Cross-reference the body color, trim color, axle ratio, and accessory codes against the original equipment. The original removable hardtop is critical to Baby Bird value, cars missing the hardtop are 15-25% less desirable. Original porthole hardtops (1956-1957) carry premium pricing. Body and unibody inspection is the second non-negotiable. For 1955-1957 cars, inspect the body-on-frame structure at the body mount points and the X-member. For 1958-1976 cars, inspect the unibody at the rocker panels, the firewall, and the rear bulkhead. Convertible bodies require additional attention at the rear corners. Engine verification by casting numbers is essential across all generations. The Y-block 292/312 (1955-1957), FE-series 352/390/406/427/428 (1958-1976), and 351C/460 V8s all have specific casting numbers that verify originality. Cross-reference the VIN engine code against the actual block casting. Interior inspection on personal-luxury era cars (1967-1979) requires close attention. Power options were extensive, power windows, power locks, power seats, climate control, and AM/FM stereo were common. Verify all functions work; failed systems on these heavily-optioned cars are expensive to repair properly.

Price Guide

1955-1957 Baby Bird Thunderbirds remain the most collectible Thunderbird generation. Driver-quality 1955 cars run $32,000-$55,000. 1956 cars (with the optional Continental kit and porthole hardtop): $40,000-$70,000. 1957 cars (the most desirable, with the larger 312 V8 and refined trim): $45,000-$85,000. Documented original-paint, low-mileage Baby Birds: $75,000-$140,000+. 1958-1960 Square Birds: driver-quality cars run $25,000-$45,000. Convertibles add $10,000-$15,000 to equivalent hardtop pricing. 1961-1963 Bullet Birds: driver-quality cars run $22,000-$42,000. Convertibles: $32,000-$55,000. The rare 1962-1963 Sports Roadster (with tonneau cover): $40,000-$75,000+ for documented originals. 1964-1966 Flair Birds: driver-quality cars run $18,000-$35,000. Convertibles: $28,000-$48,000. 1967-1971 Glamour Birds: $15,000-$32,000 for driver-quality coupes. 1972-1976 Big Birds (the largest Thunderbirds ever): $12,000-$28,000 for driver-quality cars. 1977-1979 Personal Luxury era Thunderbirds (downsized) are the bargain entry: $8,000-$22,000 for clean drivers. The 1977-1979 cars share platform with the LTD II and represent the end of the classic Thunderbird era, the 1980+ Fox-platform cars are different vehicles entirely. Project Baby Birds: $15,000-$28,000. Project later cars: $5,000-$15,000. Rust restoration on a Baby Bird typically runs $30,000-$70,000 in body and frame work alone.

Did You Know?

The 1955 Thunderbird was developed in just 18 months as Ford's response to the 1953 Chevrolet Corvette launch. Ford's product planners deliberately positioned the Thunderbird as a "personal car" rather than a sports car, with creature comforts the spartan Corvette lacked: roll-up windows, a comfortable bench seat, and an optional removable hardtop. The strategy worked, the Thunderbird outsold the Corvette by more than 20-to-1 in 1955 (16,155 Thunderbirds versus roughly 700 Corvettes). The 1958 redesign (the "Square Bird") added rear seats and pivoted the Thunderbird from two-seat sports car to four-seat personal luxury. Ford's product planners had data showing many Thunderbird buyers wanted to bring family along, the four-seat configuration sold three times as many units in 1958 as the two-seat car had in 1957. The strategy created the entire "personal luxury" automotive segment that came to dominate American premium car sales through the 1970s. The rare 1962-1963 Sports Roadster featured a removable fiberglass tonneau cover that converted the four-seat convertible into a two-seat roadster appearance. Only 1,427 Sports Roadsters were built in 1962 and 455 in 1963. Documented examples now command significant premium pricing, $50,000-$95,000+ for 1962 cars and $60,000-$120,000+ for the rarer 1963 cars.

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$71,940

1956 Ford Thunderbird

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Original Factory Colors

Official paint codes for the Ford Thunderbird (1956).

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Model History