Car Model History

Soft Top (40A) · 292 cu in (4.8-liter) V8

1955 Ford Thunderbird Soft Top (40A), 292 V8, Fordomatic automatic

The factory's revised AMA specification identifies the Soft Top (40A) model with the 292-cu-in V8 and Fordomatic automatic.

1955 Ford Thunderbird, white convertible, front three-quarter view
Model-year reference photograph; roof and transmission details may differ from this exact configuration. ·

Photo: “1955 Ford Thunderbird (53581225903)” by Mustang Joe / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Cropped to 16:9.

Factory configuration

What this model is

Trim
Thunderbird
Body style
Soft Top (40A)
Engine
292 cu in (4.8-liter) V8
Transmission
Fordomatic automatic

Ford identified the soft-top and hard-top cars separately as body-model symbols 40A and 40B. The standard manual, optional overdrive, and optional automatic were available across the listed Thunderbird range.

Configuration-specific ownership

Maintenance for this exact configuration

These items are filtered to the engine, transmission, trim, and model-year applicability recorded for this configuration. Broad Amazon category searches are suppressed here; shopping links appear only beside catalog-backed part numbers.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1955 Ford Thunderbird Soft Top (40A), 292 V8, Fordomatic automatic. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
1
Factory intervals
0
Fitment-scoped
1
Exact references
1

Before orderingIdentify your engine, options and build date.Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Engine oil-filter cartridge

    Exact reference available

    Baldwin P80

    Baldwin P80

    Applies to: 1955 · 292 cu in (4.8-liter) V8, 312 cu in (5.1-liter) V8 · United States · Cataloged cartridge-type lubricating-oil filter element. Confirm the installed engine and filter housing before ordering.

    Source: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog (2017) · Ford 1955 — Thunderbird application, printed catalog page 677, Lube column · checked

    Verified ordering references

    • Validated equivalentBaldwin P80

      Qty. 1 · Replaceable lubricating-oil filter element · catalog-listed

      Cataloged for the 1955 Ford Thunderbird. Cataloged cartridge-type lubricating-oil filter element. Confirm VIN, installed engine, and filter housing before ordering.

      Catalog: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog (2017) · Ford 1955 — Thunderbird application, printed catalog page 677, Lube column · checked

      Search this part on Amazon

Sources

  1. Ford — 1955 Thunderbird AMA consolidated specification questionnaire (revised November 30, 1954)

Other 1955 configurations

Filter all 1955 configurations →