1955 Ford Thunderbird • Serial number P5FH2344790 • French registration • Monaco origin • Typical 1950s convertible.

Introduced in 1954 and produced from October of the same year at the Dearborn, Michigan plant, the first-generation Ford Thunderbird met the growing demand in the American market for a prestigious two-seater car that combined style, comfort, and performance.

Designed to indirectly compete with the Chevrolet Corvette C1, it distinguished itself with a less radical approach: rather than a pure sports car, the Thunderbird positioned itself as an elegant and high-performing "personal car," designed for the open road.

It is equipped with a 4.8-liter, 292-cubic-inch Y-block V8 engine producing 193 horsepower, coupled to a Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission—a typical combination for high-end American models of the mid-1950s.

The independent front suspension and drum brakes on all four wheels reflect a design adapted to the comfort standards of the time.

This particular ex...