1955 Ford Thunderbird - Roadster

Whenever Detective Dan Tanna drove his red 1957 Ford Thunderbird through the garage door and straight into his living room, he was sure to win people over, even in the 1970s when the TV series “Vegas” was broadcast. Whenever Detective Dan Tanna drove his red 1957 Ford Thunderbird straight through the garage door and into his living room, he was sure to win people over, even back in the 1970s when the TV series “Vegas” was broadcast. The Ford Thunderbird was unveiled a year after General Motors had caused a sensation with the launch of the Corvette. On 9 February 1953, the Ford team had begun developing a two-seater sports car which, according to the specifications, was to have a folding roof, a V8 engine, a wheelbase of 2.55 meters and a kerb weight of just over 1'100 kg. In a record time of just under twelve months, a car was created that looked breathtaking and did not compromise on comfort for the occupants. The enthusiasm at the launch exceeded all expectations, but the car originally shown could not go into production exactly as it had been displayed in Detroit. This was because the prototype still had a plastic body, and Ford did not wish to retain this feature. Moreover, the short development time had necessitated many compromises, meaning that intensive reworking was still required before series production began in September 1954. The fact that the car – 4.7 meters long and almost 1.8 meters wide – ultimately weighed around 1,500 kg and was far less suited to racing than to typical American cruising did not prove to be an obstacle to sales figures. The Thunderbird sold significantly better than the Corvette; with 16'155 units sold in its first year of production, it exceeded all forecasts.This beautiful Thunderbird – one of 16‘155 vehicles from the 1955 model year – was delivered in the USA and first registered in Switzerland in 1999. Around 2012, the convertible was acquired by a family and subsequently restored – largely by the owners themselves. During this process, the bodywork was restored and repainted from its former red color back to the original ‘Raven Black’. The interior was also brought in line with the original color scheme, featuring new black and white seat covers and new carpets. The 4.8-litre V8 was serviced and fitted with, amongst other things, a new radiator and a stainless-steel exhaust system. The steering box was replaced and the differential overhauled. In 2023, this cool American car was taken over from the actual owner, who, due to time constraints, had since driven it for just 300 miles. The T-Bird is now in good condition and features an automatic gearbox, power steering and electric windows. The most recent veteran MOT took place in October 2026.