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The naming of the Ford Thunderbird was a difficult process, since over 5,000 entries were entertained. A $250 price was offered to anyone who could come up with a name. The name 'Thunderbird' was submitted by Alden Gibberson, the stylist. The name became official on February 15, 1954. Gibberson never claimed his prize, though he did settle for a new suit and an extra pair of trousers from Saks Fifth Avenue.
At the Detroit Auto Show held on February 20th of 1954, the Thunderbird was shown to the public. The first production vehicle came off the line on September 9th of that year. Delivery of the vehicles began on October 22nd with over 4,000 orders taken on its first day of sale.
The fiberglass removable top was standard. Offered as optional equipment was the fabric convertible top. Under the hood was a 292 cubic-inch Y-Block V8 that produced just under 200 horsepower. This was the only engine available for the Thunderbird when first introduced.
The 1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible with a white exterior was offered for sale at the 2006 Worldwide Group Auction held on Hilton Head Island. It was estimated to sell between $50,000-$60,000. Its original owner had ordered the vehicle with multiple options including air conditioning, power seats, power windows, power steering, and power brakes. It was sold with both a hard top and soft top. The wheels are Kelsey Hayes wire units. At the conclusion of the auction it was left unsold.By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2006
At the Detroit Auto Show held on February 20th of 1954, the Thunderbird was shown to the public. The first production vehicle came off the line on September 9th of that year. Delivery of the vehicles began on October 22nd with over 4,000 orders taken on its first day of sale.
The fiberglass removable top was standard. Offered as optional equipment was the fabric convertible top. Under the hood was a 292 cubic-inch Y-Block V8 that produced just under 200 horsepower. This was the only engine available for the Thunderbird when first introduced.
The 1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible with a white exterior was offered for sale at the 2006 Worldwide Group Auction held on Hilton Head Island. It was estimated to sell between $50,000-$60,000. Its original owner had ordered the vehicle with multiple options including air conditioning, power seats, power windows, power steering, and power brakes. It was sold with both a hard top and soft top. The wheels are Kelsey Hayes wire units. At the conclusion of the auction it was left unsold.By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2006
2006 Worldwide Group Auction at Hilton Head Island
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $50,000-USD $60,000
Lot was not sold
1955 Ford Thunderbird Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Ford Thunderbird
(Data based on Model Year 1955 sales)
1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible Chassis#: p5fh218715 Sold for USD$30,800 2024 Mecum : Houston | |
1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible Chassis#: p5fh194423 Sold for USD$55,000 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: P5FH171103 Sold for USD$44,000 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible Chassis#: p5fh114063 Sold for USD$44,000 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible Chassis#: p5fh137091 Sold for USD$30,800 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible Chassis#: p5fh132858 Sold for USD$16,500 2023 Mecum : Kansas City | |
1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible Chassis#: p5fh101263 Sold for USD$15,400 2023 Mecum : Chattanooga | |
1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible Chassis#: p5fh183876 Sold for USD$29,700 2023 Mecum : Dallas | |
1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible Chassis#: p5fh114519 Sold for USD$15,950 2023 Mecum : Dallas | |
1955 Ford Thunderbird Chassis#: p5fh220772 Sold for USD$82,500 2023 Mecum : Monterey | |
1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible Chassis#: p5fh239903 Sold for USD$33,000 2023 Mecum : Harrisburg | |
1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible Chassis#: p5fh101263 Sold for USD$20,900 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee Summer Special 2023 | |
1955 Ford Thunderbird Chassis#: p5fh253114 Sold for USD$44,000 2023 Mecum : Indy | |
1955 Ford Thunderbird Chassis#: P5FH233187 Sold for USD$22,500 2023 Spring Carlisle | |
1955 Ford Thunderbird Chassis#: p5fh189195 Sold for USD$40,700 2023 Mecum : Houston | |
1955 Ford Thunderbird Chassis#: p5fh217773 Sold for USD$33,000 2023 Mecum : Houston | |
1955 Ford Thunderbird Sold for USD$36,300 2023 Mecum : Glendale | |
1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD Chassis#: P5FH162552 Sold for USD$56,000 2023 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island Auction | |
1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: P5FH178354 Sold for USD$44,000 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Az. | |
1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: P5FH158946 Sold for USD$170,500 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Az. |
Ford Thunderbirds That Failed To Sell At Auction
1955 Ford Thunderbird's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible | P5FH129465 | 2024 Worldwide Auctioneers : Enthusiast Auction | |||
1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible | P5FH108197 | 2024 Worldwide Auctioneers : Enthusiast Auction | |||
1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible | p5fh112493 | 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | $35,000 | ||
1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible | p5fh240625 | 2023 Mecum : Dallas | $20,000 | ||
1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible | p5fh189468 | 2023 Mecum : Harrisburg | $20,000 | ||
1955 Ford Thunderbird | p5fh179762 | 2023 Mecum : Indy | $28,000 | ||
1955 Ford Thunderbird | p5fh144594 | 2023 Mecum : Indy | $19,000 | ||
1955 Ford Thunderbird Custom | 2023 Mecum : Indy | $90,000 | $150,000 | $175,000 | |
1955 Ford Thunderbird Custom | 2023 Mecum : Glendale | $90,000 | |||
1955 Ford Thunderbird | 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee | $33,000 | |||
1955 Ford Thunderbird | 2022 Mecum : Las Vegas | $60,000 | |||
1955 Ford Thunderbird | P5FH159388 | 2022 GAA : November 2022 | $25,000 | ||
1955 Ford Thunderbird | 2022 Mecum : Chattanooga | $40,000 | |||
1955 Ford Thunderbird | 2022 Mecum : Orlando | $28,000 | |||
1955 Ford Thunderbird | 2022 Mecum : Orlando | $37,000 | |||
1955 Ford Thunderbird | 2022 Mecum Indy | $32,000 | |||
1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE | P5FH214898 | 2022 BarrettJackson : Scottsdale, Arizona | |||
1955 Ford Thunderbird | 2021 Mecum : Kansas City | $28,000 | |||
1955 Ford Thunderbird | 2021 Mecum : Chicago | $30,000 | |||
1955 Ford Thunderbird | 2021 Mecum : Orlando | $30,000 | |||
1955 Ford Thunderbird | 2021 Mecum : Glendale | $28,000 | |||
1955 Ford Thunderbird | 2020 Mecum : Las Vegas | $25,000 | |||
1955 Ford Thunderbird | 2020 GAA : November 2020 | $21,000 | |||
1955 Ford Thunderbird | 2020 Mecum : Dallas | ||||
1955 Ford Thunderbird | 2020 GAA : July 2020 | $17,000 | |||
1955 Ford Thunderbird | 2020 Mecum : Glendale | $47,000 | |||
1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD CVTBLE | 2020 McCormick's Auction # 68 | $32,500 | |||
1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD ROADSTER | 2020 McCormick's Auction # 68 | $30,000 | |||
1955 Ford Thunderbird | 2020 GAA : February 2020 | $42,000 | |||
1955 Ford Thunderbird | 2020 Mecum Auctions : Kissimmee | $28,000 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $36,195 range.
1969 PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA MOD TOP Chassis#:BH23F9B189216 Sold for $36,300 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
2013 MASERATI GRANTURISMO CONVERTIBLE Chassis#:ZAM45VMAXD0071338 Sold for $36,300 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1967 CHEVROLET CAMARO CUSTOM COUPE Chassis#:124377L105209 Sold for $36,300 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1997 VOLKSWAGEN KOMBI CUSTOM MICROBUS Chassis#:9BWZZZ237VP028733 Sold for $36,300 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1961 RENAULT 4CV RESORT SPECIAL Chassis#:3607757 Sold for $36,300 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1972 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO CUSTOM PICKUP Chassis#:1D80J2B599313 Sold for $36,300 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 Chassis#:1G1YY12S625122618 Sold for $36,300 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1970 Ford Mustang Fastback Chassis#:0f02f161131 Sold for $36,300 2024 Mecum : Houston | |
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1972 Chevrolet Chevelle SS Chassis#:1d37j2b579241 Sold for $36,300 2024 Mecum : Houston | |
1934 Chevrolet Custom Sedan Chassis#:4334202 Sold for $36,300 2024 Mecum : Houston | |
1971 Dodge Charger 500 Chassis#:wp23g1g189320 Sold for $36,300 2024 Mecum : Houston | |
2007 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Chassis#:1g1yy36ux75100443 Sold for $36,300 2024 Mecum : Houston | |
1965 Ford Mustang Convertible Chassis#:5f08a306108 Sold for $36,300 2024 Mecum : Houston | |
1988 Pontiac Trans Am GTA Chassis#:1g2fw2184jl225535 Sold for $36,300 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
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2008 Dodge Magnum SRT-8 Wagon Chassis#:2d8gv77328h203473 Sold for $36,300 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
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1955 Ford Thunderbird
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