1955 Ford Thunderbird
First generation · Two-seat 'Little Bird' 1955–1957
The original two-seat convertible — a stylish boulevard cruiser positioned against the Corvette rather than as an outright sports car. The most collectible classic Thunderbird.
Photo: “1955 Ford Thunderbird (53581225903)” by Mustang Joe / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
The 1955 model year
Overview
The Thunderbird launched for 1955 as a two-seat convertible — a stylish, well-appointed boulevard cruiser rather than a hard-edged sports car. Ford positioned it against the Chevrolet Corvette but pitched it as a 'personal' car, and it outsold the Corvette substantially in its first year.
Specifications
- Body styles
- Convertible
Year over year
What changed
- Launch year of the Thunderbird as a two-seat convertible.
- Marketed as a 'personal' luxury car rather than a sports car.
Living with it
Reliability & ownership notes
- 1950s body-on-frame construction; rust and originality of trim are the chief concerns on survivors.
Worth knowing
Notable
- The original 'Little Bird' — the most collectible classic Thunderbird.
Famous variants this year
Sources
Other First generation years
Explore the Two-seat 'Little Bird' generation → All First generation · Two-seat 'Little Bird' years →