1955 Ford Thunderbird

(Classic)

THIS THUNDERBIRD WAS A FRAME-ON RESTORATION, IN WHICH ONLY NOS (NEW OLD STOCK) PARTS WERE USED IN THE RESTORATION, MAKING THIS CAR AN ORIGINAL RESTORED VEHICLE

BODY WORK

THE BODY WORK AND PAINT JOB WAS COMPLETED BY: DOUGS BODY SHOP LOCATED OUT OF UNION MICHIGAN. DOUG IS A PROFFESSIONAL BODY WORKER WHO CHARGES, BECAUSE OF HIS EXPERTISE AND EXCELLENT WORK OF $48.00 PER HOUR. ON THE TOP END OF AN AUTO BODY SHOP THE AVERAGE WAGE IS $21.10 DOLLARS AN HOUR. THIS THUNDERBIRD ONLY DESEVED THE BEST BODY WORKER THAT IS WHY WE CHOSE DOUG. WE HAVE COLLECTED PICTURES FROM WHEN WE STARTED THE JOB TO WHEN WE FINISHED THE JOB. IT IS A WHOLE ALBUM THAT COVERS FROM WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR TO WHEN WE PULLED THE ENGINE TO WHEN WE FINISHED. WE KNEW AS OWNERS THAT DOUG’S BODY SHOP DID ONLY THE BEST JOB WITH THIS CLASSIC CAR BECAUSE WE HAVE WON APPROXIMATELY 50 TROPHIES AND AWARDS OF ALL KINDS. DOUG ATTENED COLLEGE AND STUDIED THE ART OF AUTO BODY WORKER. DOUG FIRST TOOK THE THUNDERBIRD DOWN TO THE FIRST COAT OF FACTORY PAINT. ONCE DOUG COLLECTED THE SAMPLE OF THE ORIGINAL COLOR OF THE CAR HE COMPUTER MATCHED IT AND CAME UP WITH THUNDERBIRD BLUE IN BASE COAT AND CLEAR. ALL DENTS AND IMPERFECTIONS WERE HAND POUNDED AND SMOOTHED. ALL BAD OR RUSTED PARTS WERE REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH NEW PARTS. THE DOG LEGS (PIECE IN FRONT OF REAR WHEEL WELLS) AND THE INNER AND OUTER ROCKER PANELS WERE DAMAGED AND RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR. DOUG RESEARCHED THE PARTS AND FOUND THE ORIGINAL ONES TO MATCH STORED AWAY IN A WAREHOUSE IN DETROIT MICHIGAN. THE PARTS WERE &1200 DOLLARS PER SIDE. THESE PARTS WERE STAMPED SO YES THEY WERE THE ORIGINAL ONES. THE THUNDERBIRD WAS THEN TAKEN DOWN TO BARE METAL AND SPRAYED WITH ETCHING PRIMER WHICH WILL PREVENT FUTURE RUST ALSO IT IS TOUGH AGAINST VIBRATIONS. THE CAR WAS THEN BLOCK SANDED BY HAND, SPRAYED WITH SANDABLE PRIMER AND BLOCK SANDED AGAIN BY HAND. THE CAR WAS THEN SPRAYED WITH BLACK PAINTAND BLOCKED BY HAND FOR A THIRD TIME, THEN SPRAYED WITH TWO COATS OF THUNDERBIRD BLUE. AFTER THAT IT WAS THEN SPRAYED WITH CLEAR COAT, WET SANDED BY HAND, AND AGAIN SPRAYED WITH ANOTHER COAT OF CLEAR COAT AND WET SANDEDAGAIN. THEN FINALLY THE FINAL COAT OF CLEAR COAT WAS APPLIED THEN BUFFED TO A BRILLIANT SHINE. BEFORE THE CAR WAS DELIVED TO THE BODY SHOP THE WHOLE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WAS BEAD BLASTED AND SPRAYED WITH RUST INHIBITOR, PRIMMER AND UNDERCOATED.

ORIGINAL MOTOR!!

MOTOR WAS SENT OUT TO GET REBUILT THOUGH A COMPANY THAT WORKED ALONGSIDE WITH AUTO ZONE AND PROFESSIONAL REBUILT USING HARDENED VALVE GLIDES TO BURN UNLEADED GASOLINE. THE MOTOR IS A TRUE 292 C.I. THAT I AM SURE CAME WITH THE CAR ORIGINALLY. THE MOTOR HAS A 1957 INTAKE MANIFOLD. I CHOSE THE 1957 INTAKE BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE A HOLLEY 600 CARBURETOR. ORIGINALLY FORD HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE OLD STYLE T-PORT CARBS AND I WANTED TO ELIMINATE THAT PROBLEM.

OTHER GREAT ADDITIONS!!

ALL BRAKE LINES, WHEEL CYLINDERS, AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED. ALL CHROME WAS SENT OUT AND RE-CHROMED AND ALL CHROME WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE TWO PIECES OF CHROME ON THE FENDER SKIRTS AND WINGS IN FRONT ARE ORIGINAL CHROME. THE REASON THOSE WERE REPLACED IS BECAUSE THEY WERE IN VERY BAD CONDITION AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. I DID REPLACE THEM WITH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT PARTS FROM CASCO OUT OF OHIO. JUST THOSE FOUR PIECES OF CHROME COST ME $1,100 DOLLARS. ALL WIRING UNDER DASH, MOTOR COMPARTMENT, HEADLIGHTS AND TAILIGHTS ARE ALL NEW HARNESSES. THE GENERATOR AND STARTER WERE SENT OUT AND REBUILT. ALSO THE CAR IS STILL ALL ORIGINAL 6 VOLT SYSTEM WITH NEW WIRING FOR SPARK PLUGS, VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND STARTER SOLENOID.

TIRES AND WHEELS!!

I PURCHASED A SET OF COCKER RADIAL TIRES SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE A BETTER RIDE AND LOOK GREAT. I BOUGHT A NEW SET OF WHEELS BECAUSE THE OLD ONES WERE DENTED AND RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR. MY WIFE HAD ME PURCHASE A SET OF WIRE BASKET WHEEL COVERS WITH ORIGINAL FORD HUB CAP INSERTS. I SENT THE TRANSMISSION OUT TO BE REBUILT AND HAVE NEW SEALS THROUGHOUT, AT THIS TIME THE TRANSMISSION HAS A VERY SMALL LEAD (MOST LIKELY BECAUSE IT IS HARDLY EVER DRIVEN) IN IT. WE ONLY DROVE IT TWICE LAST YEAR AND DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO SELL IT AND LET SOMEONE ELSE ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS WE HAVE.

STORAGE!!

CAR HAS BEEN STORED IN A HEATED GARAGE AND COVERED AT ALL TIMES. ALSO I HAVE A JACKET THAT THE CAR CAN BE STORED IN, INSIDE OR OUT DOESN’T MATTER HOW LONG, AND THE CAR IS GUARANTEED TO COME OUT AND LOOK THE SAME AS IT DID WHEN IT WENT IN.

CONVERTIBLE TOP!!

MOST ADDS THAT PEOPLE READ NEVER EVER TELL YOU WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE WITH THE CAR. WELL I WONT SELL YOU SHORT SO I WILL TELL YOU. THE CAR HAS A NEW BLACK VINYL TOP AND SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY A SMALL 1-1.5 INCH TEAR HAPPENED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. WE NEVER PUT IT UP SO WE ARE UNSURE AS TO WHERE IT CAME FROM. THIS SPOT CAN BE EASILY FIXED BUT JUST BE SURE TO TAKE IT TO A QUALITY CONVERTIBLE TOP SHOP. ALSO A 1956 HARDTOP THAT HAS NOT BEEN RESTORED BUT THE CAR HAS THE PORTHOLES FOR IT.

EXTRAS!!

CAR HAS BRAND NEW EXHAUST AND ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MUFFLERS.

I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I COULD GET IN THIS CAR AND WOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME. IT RIDES AND DRIVES LIKE A CADILLAC. THE ONLY RESON WE ARE SELLING IT IS WE DO NOT HAVE THE TIME TO ENJOY IT ANYMORE. AND IT NEEDS AN OWNER TO DRIVE IT AND ENJOY IT MORE THEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO.

WE HAVE INVESTED WELL OVER $38,000 NOT INCLUDING LABOR THAT WE PUT IN IT. THE THUNDERBIRD IS PRICE TO SELL WITH A BUY IT NOW PRICE OF $30,000 BUY IT NOW

That was the Original Price but now I have no Buy it Now and the Reserve is set to sell at $22,000.  We Have to sell this car and this is more then a steal!!

QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS CONTACT

DAVID NEWBURRY

ANYTIME

(269)641-7336