What is the difference between the 55 and 56 Thunderbird?
The 1956 Thunderbird is a lightly updated successor to the 1955 Thunderbird, featuring a bigger V8 and styling tweaks while keeping the same two-seat personal-luxury concept. The two cars share a core design, but differ in engine size, appearance, and standard features. The article below explains the differences in detail.
What defined the 1955 Thunderbird
To understand the baseline, the 1955 Thunderbird launched Ford’s two-seat personal-luxury roadster concept. It established the Thunderbird as a compact, stylish drive with performance that emphasized feel and style as much as raw numbers. Key characteristics included a small, two-seat layout, a V8 powerplant, and a focus on driver experience with sporty handling and distinctive styling cues.
- Two-seat personal-luxury roadster layout, designed for a stylish, driver-focused experience
- Engine: 292 cubic inch V8 delivering roughly 193–200 horsepower, depending on configuration
- Drivetrain options included a 3-speed manual or Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission
- Body and chassis were based on a shortened Ford full-size platform with a lightweight, streamlined silhouette
- Top configurations offered roof options, including a removable hardtop and a soft-top convertible arrangement
- Distinctive exterior styling and chrome detailing that defined the early Thunderbird look
In short, the 1955 model established the Thunderbird’s identity as Ford’s first mass-produced two-seat roadster, balancing performance with luxury styling.
What changed in 1956
The 1956 Thunderbird retained the two-seat concept but introduced notable updates aimed at increased power, refinement, and visual polish. These changes built on the 1955 foundation while making the car more capable and better appointed for customers who wanted a more polished driving experience.
- Engine upgrade: an increase in displacement to 312 cubic inches with a corresponding uptick in horsepower
- Styling updates: revised front grille and bumper treatment, along with subtle reshaping of rear panels and trim for a refreshed look
- Interior refinements: updated dashboard instrumentation and improved comfort/features to enhance the driver and passenger experience
- Powertrain options remained available with manual and automatic transmissions, preserving the Thunderbird’s performance-versus-amenity balance
- Other refinements: minor improvements in ride quality, braking, and overall packaging to enhance daily usability
Overall, the 1956 model can be seen as a refined, slightly more muscular version of the original, maintaining the two-seat philosophy while offering improved performance and a more contemporary look.
Key mechanical and design differences at a glance
For readers seeking a quick comparison, here are the main differentiators between the two years, focusing on what enthusiasts typically verify when dating or authenticating a Thunderbird from these years.
- Engine: 1955 uses a 292 cu in V8; 1956 shifts to a larger 312 cu in V8 with higher output
- Styling: 1956 features a refreshed front end and restrained but noticeable exterior updates
- Interior/comfort: 1956 brings interior refinements for improved usability and perceived quality
- Equipment: both years offer similar two-seat configurations and top options, with 1956 adding refinements rather than a wholesale change in layout
For collectors and restorers, the engine code, grille treatment, and badge styling are common indicators used to distinguish 1955 from 1956 models on authentic examples.
Why these differences matter to collectors and owners
The differences between the 1955 and 1956 Thunderbirds influence value, authenticity checks, and restoration priorities. The 1956’s larger displacement and upgraded styling often make it a slightly more desirable and powerful iteration, while the 1955 remains celebrated as the original expression of Ford’s two-seat personal-luxury idea. Accurate dating, correct engine code, and matching trim details are typically emphasized by collectors when evaluating cars from these years.
Summary
In conclusion, the 1955 Thunderbird introduced Ford’s two-seat personal-luxury roadster concept, powered by a 292 cu in V8, with removable top options and a distinctive early styling language. The 1956 Thunderbird preserved the same two-seat formula but upgraded the engine to 312 cu in, refined the styling, and improved interior features, resulting in a more polished, more powerful version of the original. Both remain iconic early Thunderbirds, with similarities in silhouette and purpose but clear differences in power, appearance, and refinement that enthusiasts use to distinguish them today.
What made the 1956 Thunderbird special?
1956. For the 1956 model year, more trunk space was added, the spare wheel was mounted outside (which helped free up trunk space), the exhaust tips were moved to the ends of the bumper, and air vents were added behind the front wheels to improve cabin ventilation.
What is the difference between a 1955 and a 1956 Ford?
The easiest way to differentiate the '55 and '56 Fords is by their turn/parking lamps—on the '55 they're round (but elliptical in '56, as we shall see). Note the complete lack of side chrome on this Mainline, the stripper trim level in 1955.
What's the difference between a 55 and a 56 Thunderbird?
If you're looking to spot a '56 over a '55, you'll note details such as added cowl vents (meant to combat engine heat under-hood), an external spare mounted “Continental”-style on the trunk (because of complaints about low cargo space from the in-trunk spare of '55), and exhaust tips that poked through the bumper.
How much is a 1956 T bird worth today?
Typically, you can expect to pay around $19,250 for a 1956 Ford Thunderbird in good condition with average spec. The highest selling price of a 1956 Ford Thunderbird at auction over the last three years was $385,000.
