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SATURDAY – MARCH 27 – 2021

LOT #1355.1 - 1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE VIN 005
- FIRST RETAIL PRODUCTION
$_________________

The first retail Thunderbird ever Ford headquarters in Dearborn, MI. It
sold, VIN 005 was produced at the has been pictured with generations of
Michigan factory on September 9, Ford executives and celebrities such as
1954. This car came equipped with Carroll Shelby, Barbara Streisand and
the 292ci Y-block engine, Ford-O- Jay Leno, to name a few. The history
Matic automatic transmission, and of the Thunderbird dates back to the
power steering, windows and seats. early 1950s, when a few individuals
It has a wheelbase is 102 inches, at the top of Ford's organizational
BHP rating of 193 and weighs 3,250 chart conceived the idea of a sports
pounds. One of the first performance car. Designer Frank Hershey fathered
road tests of the newly created the idea of the sports car program that
Thunderbird car done by a national became the Thunderbird. The real
magazine was tested on this same history of this car dates back to 1965,
car. Sports Illustrated did an article when a well-admired gentleman and
October 4, 1954, entitled "Testing car buff by the name George Watts
the Thunderbird," and this T-Bird came across what he called "a needle
was used as the test vehicle. This in a haystack." After Ford officially
car has been featured in magazines, verified the status of his car as the first
books, promotions, blogs and retail production Thunderbird, he
television shows. It has also made meticulously restored the "original"
many special appearances at various to original. After documenting every
museums, car shows and special step with photos, it appeared three
events, like the 1984 Olympics. The years later — as if it just rolled off the
Ford Motor Company commissioned assembly line. The rest is history.
the car, usually in its private trailer, to A SELECT OFFERING FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION.
various events such as their national NO RESERVE.
conferences and car shows including

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