The 1955 Ford Thunderbird was a "personal car" designed to be sporty but not a true sports car, featuring a V-8 engine, a removable fiberglass hardtop, and luxury features like power seats and steering. 

Here's a deeper dive into fun facts and information about this iconic vehicle:

Design and Features:

• "Personal Car" Concept:
  The Thunderbird was marketed as a "personal car," a sporty yet comfortable two-seater, rather than a traditional sports car. 

• V-8 Engine:
  It came standard with a Ford Y-block V-8 engine, offering a good balance of power and performance for its era. 

• Removable Hardtop:
  The car featured a removable fiberglass hardtop as standard equipment, with a folding convertible top available as an option. 

• Luxury Features:
  In contrast to the early Corvette, the Thunderbird offered luxury features like power steering, power brakes, power seats, and power windows. 

• Unique Design Elements:
  It had a fashionable wrap-around windshield, a telescoping steering wheel, a tachometer, and pushbutton interior door handles. 

• Body-on-Frame Construction:
  The Thunderbird was constructed using a body-on-frame technique, using a version of the standard Ford design cut-down to a 102-inch wheelbase, identical to the Corvette's. 

• Exhaust:
  The exhaust pipes exited through twin bumper guards bolted to the rear bumper. 

• Size:
  The Thunderbird was roughly the size of a modern Honda Civic sedan, and it was one of the lowest cars in America at only 52.4 inches high. 

Production and Sales:

• Name Origin:
  Ford considered over 5,000 names before settling on "Thunderbird," inspired by the thunder and lightning mythical bird of Native Americans of the southwest. 

• First Production:
  The first production Thunderbirds drove off the assembly line on September 9, 1954, and went on sale in October of 1954. 

• Sales Success:
  The 1955 and 1956 Thunderbird models were a huge success, outselling its rival, the Corvette. 

• Planned vs. Actual Sales:
  While only 10,000 were planned, 16,155 cars were sold in 1955. 

• Manufacturing Location:
  The 1955 Thunderbird was manufactured exclusively at Ford's Dearborn Assembly Plant. 

• Henry Ford II:
  Henry Ford II introduced and demonstrated the model to the American Press during the 1954 Detroit Auto Show. 

• Early Pricing:
  The 1955 Thunderbird was priced at $2,944, which is equivalent to around $35,000 in 2024 dollars. 

• Trim Codes:
  For 1955, trim codes included XA (black/white), XB (red/white), XC (turquoise/yellow), and XD (black/yellow).

• Interior:
  The original bench seat was sent to Vos Upholstery in Lansing, Illinois, for a clean, vintage look. 

The 1956 Ford Thunderbird, a sporty two-seater, was known for its unique features like "porthole" windows on the hardtop for better rear visibility, a spare tire mounted on the rear bumper, and exhaust tips positioned on the ends of the bumper. Production of the 1956 Thunderbird was 15,631 units, the lowest of the first three 2-seater models. It also featured a new 312 cu in (5.1 L) Y-block V8 engine as an option. 

Here's a more detailed look at some fun facts about the 1956 Ford Thunderbird:

Design & Features:

• "Porthole" Windows:
  For the 1956 model year, optional "porthole" windows were available in the removable hardtop to improve rear-quarter visibility, according to Wikipedia. 

• Continental Spare Tire Mount:
  The spare tire was mounted externally on the trunk, a "Continental" style, to free up trunk space, according to Wikipedia. 

• Exhaust Tips:
  The exhaust tips were moved to the ends of the bumper for a more modern look, according to Wikipedia. 

• Air Vents:
  Air vents were added behind the front wheels to improve cabin ventilation, according to Wikipedia. 

• 12-Volt Electrical System:
  The 1956 Thunderbird transitioned to a 12-volt electrical system, replacing the previous 6-volt system, says Hagerty. 

Performance & Engine:

• Y-Block V8: A new 312 cu in (5.1 L) Y-block V8 engine was added as an option, according to Wikipedia. 

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Other Notable Features:

• Limited Production: The 1956 model had the lowest production volume of the first three 2-seater Thunderbird years, with 15,631 units produced, according to Wikipedia. 

The 1957 Ford Thunderbird was a sporty, stylish car that was known for its performance and luxury features. It was also a popular choice for racing, with some models boasting impressive speed records. One fun fact is that the 1957 model was the last two-seater Ford until the 1982 Ford EXP. 

Here are some more fun facts about the 1957 Ford Thunderbird:

• Iconic Styling:
  The 1957 Thunderbird featured the iconic "port" style side windows, only available in this year. 

• Powerful Engines:
  Several engine options were available, including a high-performance 312 cubic inch V8 with twin 4-barrel carburetors, and even a supercharged version. 

• Racing Success:
  The Thunderbird had a strong racing pedigree, with a model hitting 160.356 mph in a flying mile event. 

• Unique Features:
  The 1957 model also introduced the "Dial-o-Matic" 4-way power seats, which would move back when the ignition was turned off. 

• Production Numbers:
  A total of 21,380 Thunderbirds were produced in 1957, with the "F" models being the most rare and powerful.