Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Ford Rouge Factory Tour and Giant Screen Experience will be closed Monday, March 16, for a day of staff learning and development. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Ford Rouge Factory Tour and Giant Screen Experience will be closed Monday, March 16, for a day of staff learning and development. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

1956 Ford Thunderbird Convertible

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Artifact Overview

To customers, Thunderbird was a "personal car" that combined a sporty feel with the comfortable appointments of a prestige model. To Ford, Thunderbird was a "halo car" that attracted customers to showrooms. It sold well with buyers who enjoyed the pure fun of driving. Some of that fun was traded for practicality when Thunderbird grew to four seats for 1958.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Automobile

Date Made

1956

Creators

Place of Creation

Location

at Ford Rouge Factory Tour in Legacy Gallery

Object ID

2003.36.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Steel (Alloy)
Metal
Glass (Material)
Rubber (Material)

Color

Blue

Dimensions

Diameter: 3.8 in (Bore)
Length: 3.44 in (Stroke)
Horsepower: 215 hp (160.33 kW)

Specifications

Make & Model: 1956 Ford Thunderbird convertible
Maker: Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan
Engine: V-8, overhead valves, 312 cubic inches
Transmission: 3-speed automatic
Height: 52 inches
Wheelbase: 102 inches
Width: 70.5 inches
Overall length: 175.5 inches
Weight: 3088 pounds
Horsepower: 215 at 4600 revolutions per minute
Pounds per horsepower: 14.4
Price: $3,151
Average 1956 wage: $4,342 per year
Time you'd work to buy this car: about 8-1/2 months
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