1955-57 FORD THUNDERBIRD MUSCLE PORTFOLIO THIS IS A MUST HAVE BOOK FOR ALL THE THUNDERBIRD FANS. IT IS BRAND NEW BOOK WITH 140 PAGES AND OVER 200 PHOTOS & ILLUSTRATIONS. THE 1955-57 THUNDERBIRDS WERE ARGUABLY THE MOST INTERESTING OF A LONG LINE OF FORDS BEARING THAT NAME WHICH STRETCHES RIGHT DOWN TO THE PRESENT DAY. THEY WERE DESIGNED AT THE OUTSET TO RIVAL CHEVY'S CORVETTE, WHICH IN TURN WAS A US DOMESTIC ANSWER TO IMPORTED ROADSTERS, AND SO THEY HAD JUST 2 SEATS. YET FORD TOOK THE IDEA A STAGE FURTHER THAN CHEVROLET, AND ADDED LUXURY AND CONVENIENCE FEATURES TO THE BASIC IDEA OF A TW0-SEATER ROADSTER TO MAKE SSOMETHING WHICH WAS NOT REALLY A SPORTS CAR BUT WHAT THE COMANY CALLED A "PERSONAL CAR". THE RECIPE WAS A HUGE SUCCESS. IN ITS FIRST YEAR (1955) THE THUNDERBIRD OUT-SOLD THE CORVETTE BY A FACTOR OF 24 TO 1. SO FOR THE 1956 SEASON, FORD DECIDED AGAINST RADICAL CHANGES. THE ORIGINAL 292CI V8 WAS RETAINED FOR THE BASE MODELS, BUT TO ANSWER CUSTOMER PLEAS FOR MORE PERFORMANCE THERE WAS AN OPTIONAL 312CI MOTOR, OFFERING 215BHP WITH OVERDRIVE TRANSMISSION, 225BHP WITH AUTOMATIC, AND 245BHP FROM TWIN FOUR-BARREL CARBS AS THE TOP OPTION. 56 THUNDERBIRDS HAD A NEW HARDTOP OPTION WITH PORTHOLE WINDOWS, WHICH VASTLY OUT-SOLD THE PLAIN TYPE CARRIED OVER FROM 1955. EVEN THE THUNDERBIRD COULDN'T AVOID TAIL-FINS IN 1957, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE LESS PROMINENT THAN ON MANY OTHER MODELS. THERE WERE 2 ENGINES FOR 1957. THE 292CI MOTOR OFFERED 212BHP ON THE ENTRY-LEVEL CARS, BUT THE 312CI V8 BROUGHT 245BHP, 270BHP, OR 285BHP TO CHOOSE AND THERE WAS EVEN A SUPERCHARGED VERSION WITH 300BHP OR 340BHP. . THIS BOOK CONTAINS FORMER MAGAZINE ARTICLES FROM THE RESPECTIVE THUNDERBIRD MODEL YEARS FROM 1955 THRU 1957 COVERING ROAD & COMPARISON TESTS, PERFORMANCE AND TECH DATA, NEW MODEL INTRODUCTIONS, HANDLING TESTS, & DRIVING IMPRESSIONS. THERE ARE ROAD TESTS/ARTICLES THAT COVER ALL MODEL YEARS WHICH PROBABLY INCLUDE YOUR FAVORITE. INCLUDED ARE ROAD TESTS ON THE 1955 THUNDERBIRD, THE SUPERCHARGED THUNDERBIRDS, 1956 THUNDERBIRD, 1957 THUNDERBIRD AND AND MANY MORE. IN FACT THERE ARE 46 ARTICLES/ROAD TESTS IN THIS BOOK. .THERE ARE ALSO COMPARISON ROAD TESTS SUCH AS THE 1956 THUNDERBIRD VS 1956 CORVETTE AND1957 THUNDERBIRD VS1957 CORVETTE VS 1957 STUDEBAKER GOLDEN HAWK. THIS BOOK HELPS BRING BACK THE HISTORY & MEMORIES FROM THAT ERA & IS A MUST HAVE BOOK FOR ALL THUNDERBIRD FANS. BOOK MEASURE 8" X 10 1/2" WITH MORE THAN 200 PHOTOS & ILLUSTRATIONS .
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