Phone Number 440-350-1480

Its Thunderbird month at Best of Show Automotive. In addition to the two gorgeous 55s we featured last week, were proud to have this black-on-black 56 in our showroom today. It has been driven just 574 miles since a complete restoration by Classic Auto, and presents in outstanding condition today, thanks to proper storage and maintenance throughout its life. It has all the desirable Thunderbird features too, from the 225-horsepower 312 Thunderbird Special engine to the porthole hardtop.
Originally Thunderbird Green (code Z) with a green and white vinyl interior, the car was refinished in a much more striking and desirable Raven Black (code A) over a black and white vinyl interior, with a white convertible top and black porthole hardtop. Combined with the wide whitewall tires, spectacular chrome work, and the great Thunderbird shape, this is one gorgeous Bird! As it sits, the body panels show great alignment, and as far as we can tell, theyre all original. There were a few patches during the restoration, but no wholesale replacement of complete panels anywhere on the car. The paint is 2-stage base/clear urethane, and our detail manager, Marlon Jones, has managed to put one hell of a shine on the Raven Black finish. He was so pleased with the results that he called me into his shop to have a look before we rolled it into the photo booth. You know how hard it is to make black look good under the harsh lights in the studio, but this one is dazzling.
If youre a Thunderbird aficionado, you know that Ford moved the spare from the trunk to a standard bumper-mounted continental kit setup to increase storage space. It also serves to lengthen the Birds lines and give it a sleeker profile. The trim on this car, including that continental kit, is decent, with fresh chrome work done at the time of the restoration. The glass is clean, and the wire hubcaps are straight and undamaged. In 1956, Ford moved the exhaust outlets from the bumper guards to oblong outlets in the outside corners of the bumper, a look I prefer just because its so clean and subtle, and almost custom-looking. Also of note, 1956 was the first year for larger safety taillights and fresh-air intakes for the passenger compartment.
Powering this beautiful roadster is the new-for-1956 312 cubic inch Y-block V8 engine that boasted more than 20 additional horses compared to 1955s 292 cubic inch motor. Now at 225 horsepower when paired with the Ford-O-Matic transmission, it moves this Thunderbird with real authority as well as with a great engine note from the dual exhaust. Fully rebuilt and detailed when the car was restored, it runs as well as it looks. Youll also notice that this car has the Master-Guide power steering and Swift-Sure power brake systems, making it easy to drive (just as Ford intended). The engine is correctly detailed, and given the slight amount of driving it has seen, remains in outstanding condition. The bright red engine paint looks spectacular in that black engine bay, the chrome bits like the air cleaner glitter like jewelry, and everything is fully functional. 1956 brought a new 12-volt electrical system as well, and it makes for quick and easy starting, and the engine settles into a comfortable, easy idle almost immediately. It purrs down the road, and if you cant imagine yourself tooling down the road in this roadster with the top down and the V8 singing its happy song, well, maybe youve picked the wrong hobbycars like this are what the old car hobby is all about.
Behind the 312 is the ever-reliable Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission. Rebuilt with the engine, it works properly and clicks through the gears smoothly. The chassis was well detailed at the time of the restoration, and by looking through the restoration photos we have, I can see that nothing was left untouched. The bare frame was sandblasted and repainted in the correct satin black, and all the components were refinished to factory specs before being reinstalled. And not just a paint it all black and put it together job either, but each component got a proper finish. That gives the entire chassis a very authentic look that isnt over-restored, but looks great when anyone peeks underneath. The exhaust system looks like the exhaust system of a car that has been in storage, but otherwise it is all fairly fresh. Shocks and bushings are new, the power brakes have been rebuilt, and the floors are solid (restoration photos show the car upside down while being thoroughly media blasted). As I said before, correct wire wheel covers are on the original steel wheels with reproduction 6.70-15 Coker Classic whitewall tires.
Inside, the interior is more fabulous fifties glamour, which is completely fitting for the very stylish Thunderbird. The black and white upholstery is correct in every way, and was expertly installed for a better-than-factory fit and finish. The white inserts on the seats are a great way to break up all that black and brighten the cockpit. Everything was new when the car was restored, and the current condition tells you all you need to know about how the car was stored and preserved ever since. Youve probably also noticed the power windows, 4-way power seat, Magic-Aire heater and the pushbutton AM radio in the dash, all fully functional. The clock was disconnected to prevent it from draining the battery while in storage, but our techs will have it running again shortly. The engine-turned panels that extend across the dash and onto the door panels are in good condition, and I might even believe they are original based on their condition, which is very nice. The steering wheel was restored and is crack-free, although the center horn button is starting to show some age. The gauges were rebuilt at the time of restoration and the mileage indicated is since then, not original. Overhead, theres a white vinyl convertible top that stows neatly behind the seat, and a correct porthole hardtop that is painted to match the body.
We have a great deal of documentation on the restoration, ranging from receipts in an envelope two inches thick, to a stack of photos showing the entire process from start to finish. Theres also an original 1956 Ford Thunderbird owners manual.
They were a runaway sales hit when they were introduced, and for the 55 years since then, their popularity has continued unabated. There are endless debates over which of the early Birds is the best looking, but nobody can deny the appeal of a 2-seater with a burbling V8 and a ton of luxury and comfort options. Their popularity means that there is great aftermarket support, both in terms of knowledge and parts, and well-done professional restorations often leave no surprises for future owners. This is such a carrestored to a very high standard and well preserved ever since. Today it is a turn-key car that you can enjoy immediately, and it would not take much work at all to make it into a show field contender once again ...For more information please call the seller.