133105 / 1955 Ford Thunderbird

For more information on this vehicle visit Thunderbird fans, save your angry E-mails—no real 1955 Thunderbirds were harmed in the construction of this killer, take-no-prisoners Pro-Touring T-Bird. Built from Regal Roadsters components, it features a tubular space frame, a steel reinforced fiberglass body, and accessories like A/C and power windows, this is the T-Bird you want to own if your other car is, say, a Top Fuel dragster. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the early T-Bird shape, and all that is gorgeous about that Ford sheet-metal was recaptured in composite for this red roadster. Regal Roadsters has laid up a gorgeous and well-finished product that rivals any of the original steel in terms of straightness and fit, and then someone spent a ton of time making it extra nice. There are no waves, no ripples, no signs of the fiberglass substrate visible anywhere. Gaps are excellent and everything lines up extremely well, from the original-looking scooped hood to the flush-fitting deck lid. And once it was all smooth and straight, 2-stage urethane in flaming Regal Red was laid down over every square inch, including the bumpers and wrap-around windshield frame, leaving you with an eye-popping roadster that is anything but subtle. When you pop the hood on this one, you’ll find a 514 cubic inch Ford big block V8, fresh out of the Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog. But they weren’t content to just drop it in as it came out of the crate. First off, you’ll notice those Hilborn-style velocity stacks on top of the engine, part of a modern EFI system that gives vintage looks with modern-day performance. Right below the intake, you’ll find a pair of gorgeous valve covers, custom built for this application with a vintage Thunderbird logo airbrushed on the faces. A compact polished billet aluminum accessory drive system includes power steering and air conditioning, and features a single serpentine belt just like a modern car, and it’s all polished to a show finish. Look underneath and you’ll find a full tube frame chassis, finished in more Regal Red with polished accents. Front suspension consists of upper and lower A-arms with adjustable coil-over shocks and a modern rack-and-pinion system. Out back, there’s a beefy 4-link, again with polished and chrome plated links and coil-over shocks, and a beautifully finished Ford 9-inch rear. There’s a vented and cross-drilled brake rotor at each corner, clamped by Wilwood calipers. And dig the gorgeous hand-made exhaust system, which has been fully polished so it matches the rest of the eye candy under the car. Wheels are perfectly-sized polished aluminum Budnik 5-spoke units wearing Yokohama Advan radials. The wow factor doesn’t end there. Inside you’ll find a completely custom-built interior that is a modern interpretation of the already gorgeous 1955 Thunderbird’s cockpit. Done in gray leather, the seats are deep buckets that are every bit as comfortable as the originals. The door panels are recreations of the originals, including the cool engine-turned inserts that stretch into the dashboard and frame the instrument panel. A custom console has been constructed to house the shifter for the 6-speed, while HVAC controls are in the dash in the usual location. The trunk is beautifully finished as well, with matching carpets and side panels. If you’re looking for something a little different with a lot of horsepower and enough eyeball appeal to bring home a trophy at virtually any show you attend, I can’t think of many cars that do it better than this one. Fully sorted, beautifully finished, and an absolute blast to drive, this red roadster truly does deserve to wear the Thunderbird name. Just wait ’till you hear it, then you’ll understand. Call, click or visit for more information on this awesome car!