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LOT 144

1955 Ford Thunderbird Chassis no. P5FH126546

Sold for US$35,840 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 144

1955 Ford Thunderbird

1955 Ford Thunderbird
Chassis no. P5FH126546


292ci OHV Water-cooled V8 Engine
Single Holley Carburetor
195bhp at 4,400rpm
3-Speed Ford-o-Matic Transmission
Independent Front Wishbone Suspension, Live Rear Axle with Leaf Springs
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes

*Highly collectible 'Baby Bird' first generation Thunderbird
*Acquired by Vic Edelbrock Jr. to honor his father who purchased the same model new in 1955
*Restored by Jim Lerch, engine builder for sports car racer Joe Huffaker
*Beautifully maintained by Edelbrock family since 1990s



THE CAR OFFERED

By 1955, with the war in the rear-view mirror, America was refining its taste for a more refined and stylized lifestyle. Modernism was in vogue and new designs with sleek contemporary profiles were depicted in architecture, fashion and...automobiles.

Enter the Ford Thunderbird. The svelte two-seater became an instant icon in the pop culture of the day. Its sporty luxury with the appearance of subtle fins and an elongated rocket ship elegance suggested high performance and futuristic technology, and while the features evolved over the three-year production run, the first-generation Thunderbird, known as the 'Baby Bird', remains a highly valued, ultimately collectible classic.

Not surprisingly Vic Edelbrock Sr. purchased a new Thunderbird in 1955 for his own personal use. Remembered as one of his father's favorites, Vic Edelbrock Jr. acquired the same model in the 1990s from Jim Lerch, the engine builder to Joe Huffaker - sports car racer and engineer in the 1950s and 1960s.

The first-generation Thunderbird was produced from 1955 through 1958, and the standard offering was the 292ci Y-Block V8 engine producing 193bhp at 4400rpm, coupled with the Ford-O-Matic 3-speed transmission.

The 1955 model was unique as the only production year to feature the 6-volt electrical system, Ford crest and crossed flag insignias, a flat two-spoke steering wheel, wedge shaped heater knobs, and notably without the front fender vents and vent windows.

This Edelbrock owned example is red with a red interior and white contrasts on the seat cushions and inner door facias. The white wall tires have red accents with central red crests, hidden under smart wheel skirts. It was restored by Jim Lerch sometime prior to the 1990s and comes complete with its original unrestored red hard top, and its 1955 manual.

Stunning in red livery this 'Baby Bird' is a prestigious collectible in its own right. Adding to its many attributes, the condition of this car and its ownership by Vic Edelbrock Jr. in honor of his father, mark this first-generation Thunderbird as especially unique and noteworthy.

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