Ford Thunderbird Convertible 1955 (4116) 
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan - U.S.A.
Type: Thunderbird Series 40A Model 40B Convertible
Production time: October 1954 - September 1955
Production outlet: 16,155
Engine: 4778cc Ford Y-block OHV V-8 292
Power: 193 bhp / 4.400 rpm
Torque: 380 Nm / 2.600 rpm
Drivetrain: rear wheels
Speed: 165 km/h
Curb weight: 1510 kg
Wheelbase: 102 inch
Chassis: box frame with 4 cross braces , 1 cross beam and an all-steel unibody
Steering: worm & double rollers
Gearbox: three-speed manual / II and III synchronized / floor shifter
Clutch: 11.1 inch single dry plate disc
Carburettor: Holley 4-barrel downdraft
Fuel tank: 66 liter
Electric system: 6 Volts 90 Ah
Ignition system: distributor and coil
Brakes front: 11 inch hydraulic duo-servo drums
Brakes rear: 11 inch hydraulic duo-servo drums
Suspension front: independent single wheel ball joint, sway bar, trapezoidal wishbones, trapezoidal triangle cross-bars,sway bar, coil springs + hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers
Suspension rear: beam axle, longitudinal semi-elliptic leaf springs + hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers
Rear axle: live
Differential: hypoid 3.73:1
Wheels: 15 inch steel discs
Tires: 6.7 x 15 4-ply
Options: Ford-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission (by Borg Warner), four-speed/overdrive manual gearbox, power steering, power windows, power seats, Kelsey Hayes wire wheels, a removable hardtop with circular portholes (from 1957), soft top,two-tone colouring
Special:
- The “Classic Bird” or “Little Bird” Series (1955-1957: 53.166 units built), designed by Lewis D. Crusoe, William P. Boyer, Frank Hershey and George Walker, was Ford's successful answer to the Chevrolet Corvette (1953).
- It was named after a bird from Native American mythology representing power and strength, devised by Alden “Gib” Biberson, for which he received a $95 suit and an extra pair of pants from Saks Fifth Avenue.
- The T-bird was at first shown on February 20th, 1954 at the Detroit Auto Show as concept car and at first introduced in 1955 as a real luxury sports car with a standard fiberglass removable top, with over 4,000 orders taken on its first day of sale.
- Only for three years the Ford Thunderbird was built as a two-seater, in the base identical to differ only in the details. Like only the ’56 model had the spare tire mounted on the rear bumper (Continental Kit) and the first model with a 12 Volts electric system and a 76 liter fuel tank while the ’57 model (spare tire again in the trunk) became little tail fins, a restyled grill, fresh bumper designs, larger brakes, stiffer chassis crossmembers and new 14-inch wheels.
- Top of the line was the rare, only 205 units built (by Pete DePaolo in California, under factory sponsorship) Thunderbird Convertible 312 Supercharged V-8 overdrive or “F-Bird”: CID 312 (5113cc) V-8 engine - 304 bhp / 4.800 rpm - 595 Nm / 2.600 rpm - Holley 4-barrel carburettor with McCulloh/Plaxton centrifugal VR-57 supercharger - four-speed manual gearbox - 203 km/h (with a Ford-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission 199 km/h).
Le Photiste on 2017-01-17 22:35:28
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