The launch of the Thunderbird era

THE LAUNCH OF THE THE LAUNCH OF THE THUNDERBIRD ERA THUNDERBIRD ERA

• By Richard Greene

Photos: Richard Greene

Photos: Richard Greene

Bill Haley’s “Rock Around the Clock” becomes the frst rock and roll single to reach Number One on the charts, Disneyland opens in California, “Gunsmoke” debuts on CBS, the Brooklyn Dodgers defeat the Yankees to win the World Series, Rosa Parks is arrested for refusing to surrender her seat on a bus, and the Ford Motor Company launches the Thunderbird.

It was 1955 and Ford’s plans to compete with Chevrolet’s Corvette, introduced two years earlier, was an instant hit, outselling the Vette with 3,500 orders placed in the frst 10 days of sales. Ford planned a total of 10,000 of the sporty twoseaters but wound up selling 16,155 of them before the year ended.

Estimates are that less than half of them remain today, fewer still in original condition, and Dawn Stacy has one of them.

While asking her to describe her experience with the classic T-Bird during our interview in the Kennedale High School parking lot, an excited passerby pulled up with her youngster, delightedly looked it over, asked a bunch of questions, and had her picture taken with it.

“That happens all the time,” Dawn explains. “People are always taking notice when we have it out and about. The very frst car show we took it to, it won frst place even before we had done any work to it.

“We acquired it about 10 years ago, and my husband called it a “10-footer” – the paint had crazed, but you didn’t see that until you got up close. It drove great so we decided not to do anything for a while, and then all we did a few years later was have it repainted, and we redid the seats.

“Friends have asked us about adding air conditioning,

Bob Sherwood’s ‘55 Chevy Bel Air convertible was, is, and always will be a classic Dawn Stacy stands with her 1955 Ford Thunderbird, which she

and her husband Howard purchased some 10 years ago. They repainted it and replaced the seats, but, otherwise, this head turner looks as it did when it came off the assembly line.

It is easy to see why this classic automobile was such a popular model when it was introduced more than six decades ago. The Ford Thunderbird was created to become a rival to Chevrolet’s popular Corvette, and, almost instantly, it surpassed the previous forerunner in sales. Dawn Stacy’s model still attracts big crowds wherever she takes it.

switching the electronics from six to 12 volts – stuf like that. I problems. Dawn and Howard described how the original key said ‘no’ because I wanted it in as close to original condition as once got stuck in the ignition, and they couldn’t get the car it should be.” stopped from running. A whole new key assembly had to be

I wanted to know about her preference for a Thunderbird. acquired, making it one of the few parts to be replaced. Her instant response: “My dad. The Thunderbird came He loved old cars, especially the with fender skirts and Ford’s Thunderbird, but he never got 292 Y-block V8 engine paired to own one, but I acquired my with Ford-O-Matic automatic interest in cars from him. transmission. As a departure

“He had three girls. I was from Corvette’s designation the tomboy, I was the one who as a sports car, the T-Bird was played ball and the one who designed to be a luxury tourer liked cars. When Howard and I capable of speeds of 100 to 115 were dating, we would see them, mph. and I said I wanted one someday. Spanning 11 generations, Sure enough, we’ve got it now. and appearing in a variety of

“We looked at a couple of confgurations, Thunderbird others before we found this one production ended in 2005. in such good shape. My deal However, a few months ago Ford was I wanted to drive it instead fled for the name “Thunderbird” of just sitting around, and this with the United States Patent and one drove great. I’m a huge fan Trademark Ofce, signaling a of convertibles, and the canvas modern comeback for the iconic top of ours is hardly ever up. The top photo shows this classic 1955 Thunnderbird as it looked “pre-paint job.” model.

“It also came with a The bottom photo is a drawing done by Howard Stacy, Dawn’s husband, which illustrates how the “after” look would evolve. Whatever the future may hold, removable fberglass hard top as Dawn has one of the frst, and standard equipment, but it’s heavy and hard to see around, Thunderbird enthusiasts everywhere mark its 1955 beginning so it stays of.” as the time in automotive history when a classic was born –

A frst occurred when I asked about any mechanical and it’s still living well 65 years later.