Cars Of Particular Interest

First Generation Thunderbirds – What’re They Worth?
by Eric Lawrence

The Thunderbird is often referred to as Ford’s response to the Chevrolet Corvette. I guess you could make that argument, since the Corvette was introduced in 1953, and the Thunderbird emerged in 1955. But from a production standpoint, the Thunderbird blew the Corvette away, selling more than 50,000 two-seaters between 1955 and 1957, compared to only 4,640 first-generation (1953-55) Corvettes. Even if you add in the single headlight 1956-57 Corvettes, the Corvette’s total only rises to 14,466, which still doesn’t equal any single year of first generation T-Bird production.

First generation cars bear a close resemblance to their full sized Ford siblings, and 1955 models are considered by many collectors to be the purest of the breed, having a very clean design as compared to the later years. Nice convertibles are currently trading hands for around $30,000. Well restored examples, or excellent originals, are up around $50,000, with “rough around the edges” cars currently clocking in around $17,000.

1956 models were restyled to “correct” many of the teething problems that were discovered on the initial cars. They looked essentially the same as the 1955 models, with the biggest visual change being the spare tire mounted externally to free up trunk space, which was basically non-existent in the 1955s. The Continental Kit added about 10 inches to the car’s overall length, and had a negative impact on handling. Wind wings were added to cut down on cockpit buffering at speed, vents were added to the front fenders to help cool the foot wells, and the electrical systems were upgraded to 12 volts. From a pricing standpoint, 1956 models are very similar to the 1955s, typically worth about a thousand more across the board, with most pricing differences coming down to a matter of personal taste.

1957 marked the first, and only, major restyle of the two-seat T-Bird. Ford decided the Thunderbird should update its look with redesigned chrome bumpers and the addition of subtle tailfins. The rear deck/trunk area was enlarged, giving the car a longer, lower appearance, and allowing the spare tire to return to the trunk. 1957s are the most popular of the first generation cars, and generally trade hands for $7,500 - $10,000 more than the earlier models.

Data provided courtesy of the Black Book CPI Collectible Vehicle Guide. More information on the CPI Value Guide is available at www.BlackBookUSA.com or at 800-554-1026.