Basic Information & Background

With graceful, sweeping lines that are admired the world over, this Thunderbird is a fine and desirable luxury car. One of the great benefits of owning a first generation Thunderbird is that many people admit that they are simply proud to be seen in this American classic. 1957 was the last year of the original two-passenger generation Thunderbird. In 1958 it was supposed to accommodate four passengers. This '56 is a beautiful example of the Ford Thunderbird.

This car was sold new in 1956 by Wray Brothers Ford in California to John and Muriel Dow who took good care of the car and there is much documentation preserved. The car was driven sparingly but was used to drive the son, who was an actor to recordings of the series "Leave it to Beaver". The car was then imported to Sweden in 2005 and has had 4 owners since then and is now being sold by the owner's estate.

The car was in good condition when it arrived from the USA but sun-bleached, it was taken home and left to a reputable paint company who sanded the sheet metal clean and painted it in original color and the interior was reupholstered in 2019. Equipped with, among other things, original hardtop, largest engine and automatic.

 
Condition

Exterior: This Thunderbird is incredibly eye-catching with its beautiful exterior and is in generally good used condition with a proper hardtop and beautiful original rims. Repainted about 20 years ago in original Buckskin Tan and the paint has held up well and has never needed any rust repair. All the chrome on the Thunderbird is well preserved despite its age but has some patina, as does the paint. The cabriolet roof was changed in the USA before delivery to Sweden. For more info on exact condition, see our detailed photos in the album and feel free to ask questions in the comments!


Interior: Reupholstered interior in 2019 in original design, a really beautiful two-tone brown and white leather upholstery that makes a good first impression and matches the exterior well. The rest of the interior is in better used condition with a little more wear on the original steering wheel. For more info on exact condition, see our detailed photos in the album and feel free to ask questions in the comments!


Engine and Drivetrain: 5.1L V8 engine that runs well but needs some carburetor/fuel system tuning/overhaul. 3-speed automatic transmission that shifts as it should. Everything works except the clock and the original radio. Well maintained with lots of documentation. Inspected 2017/04 and is now both tax and inspection exempt. Mileage read 48764 miles which according to documentation appears to be correct but cannot be guaranteed by the seller. For more info on exact condition, see our detailed photos in the album and feel free to ask questions in the comments!


Summation

An incredibly charming classic in the right color combination with great potential for those who want to glide in absolute luxury and win attention at American car meets. Cars like this will not be recreated in either design or its high level of comfort, so take the initiative and invest in this American gem!