The 1956 Thunderbird was built using the same bodyshell and frame as the '55 model but with the addition of some unique changes. To alleviate heat in the cockpit, cowl vents were placed on each front fender. Small wind wings appeared on the side of the windshield to help deflect air and make the passenger compartment quieter and the largest change was the arrival of a continental rear tire carrier. In response to comments about the spare tire taking up most of the room in the trunk, Ford crafted a new rear bumper and tire carrier to free up space for luggage and golf clubs.
With the spare mounted where the dual exhaust had flowed through the rear bumper uprights on the '55 model, it was now rerouted through ports in the corners of the bumper for '56. The removable hardtop had a serious blind spot that was now taken care of with the addition of porthole windows on each side for increased visibility. There was also news under the Thunderbird's hood as Ford increased the displacement of the engine. Now with a 312 cubic inch Thunderbird Special V8, horsepower was 225 at 4,600 r.p.m. up 27 horses over the Thunderbird 292 V8 of 1955.
Owned by John Novak and Candace Blair, this beautiful 1956 Ford Thunderbird was discovered for sale on the Internet in Pennsylvania.
For Candace Blair and John Novak of Winnipeg, the mid '50s Thunderbird started as a runner up. Novak says, "We were looking for a '65 to '67 Vette, and everything that came up was out of our price range but, Candace had a love for the baby T-Birds so we started looking." Simply by entering '56 T-Bird on the Google search engine, they were directed to a for sale ad on the Antique Automobile Club of America's website. For sale was an award winning '56 Thunderbird, owned by Robert Antos of Pennsylvania. Having several classic vehicles and in the process of moving to another home, Antos was a motivated seller and as luck would have it, Blair and Novak had friends who lived in the area and they stopped by to check the car out for them. After more than a dozen phone calls and looking at many photos and documents, a deal was struck and the Thunderbird was headed to Winnipeg.
Finished in Fiesta red with a Colonial white hardtop and matching interior, the car had undergone a two-year restoration and had traveled few miles since its completion. Powered by a rebuilt 312 Thunderbird Special V8 and Ford-O-Matic transmission it easily powers down the road. Options include, Town & Country radio, chrome engine dress-up kit and tinted glass.
The first order of business was for Novak to go over the car and get it ready for the road. The entire braking, steering and suspension systems were gone over and the car taken to Keystone Ford for a wheel alignment and Manitoba Vehicle Safety Inspection. Novak has also replaced the bias ply tires with Coker wide whitewall radial tires and KYB gas shock absorbers for better handling and a smoother ride. There's also a new battery, rebuilt four-barrel carburetor, and a full tune-up. The factory AM radio was converted to AM/FM with a new dual speaker in the original front speaker location and the vacuum windshield wiper motor was changed in favour of a new electric unit.
Members of the Thunderbird Club of Manitoba and the Fabulous 50's Ford Club, they've entered the Thunderbird in several local shows and it's seen its share of awards from the World of Wheels, Cruisin' Downtown and the Fab '50s Flashback Weekend, to name a few.
The middle child of the two-seat Thunderbird roadsters, the '56 remains a hot commodity and very collectable vehicle today. The attractive continental spare tire kit is a feature people often look for, but it wasn't without controversy in '56. Adding weight behind the rear wheels was said to adversely affect steering and handling. With the advancements in tires and shock absorbers that concern is still there, but it's affects are greatly reduced.
It features a 312 Thunderbird Special V8 engine with the optional chrome dress-up kit.
With their outstanding styling, good performance and open-air mystique, the two-seat Thunderbirds are recognized as "Milestone Cars" by the Milestone Car Society.
This Sunday, the Manitoba Classic and Antique Auto Club will hold their 11th Annual Red River Valley Swap Meet at Red River Exhibition Park. Gates open at 8:00 A.M. and admission is $3.00 per person with children 12 years old and under entry is free when accompanied by an adult.
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