P5FH100004

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64thunderbird64
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Joined: Sat Jun 10, 2017 9:45 pm

P5FH100004

Post by 64thunderbird64 »

I recently learned of a pre-production car that was last known to exist around 1975 in PA, but has not been seen since. We all know that P5FH100005 has been confirmed by Ford as being the first PRODUCTION Thunderbird. So, this would make 100004 a pre-production car that was probably hand finished off the assembly line.

Does anyone have any more info about this car, and where it may exist today?
Attachments
P5FH100004 CAR.jpg
P5FH100004.jpg
David1955Tbird
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Re: P5FH100004

Post by David1955Tbird »

It looks a whole lot different now:

1957Birdman
Senior Member
Posted January 26, 2015
The first production 1955 T-Bird (s/n P5FH100005) was sold at BJ (no reserve) for $220,000. The current owner had bought it at BJ in 2009 for $660,000. Not exactly a great investment.

Found this on Barrett-Jackson's website:
Lot #2523 1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE "SERIAL #005"
1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE "SERIAL #005" - Front 3/4 - 1785861955 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE "SERIAL #005" - Rear 3/4 - 1785861955 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE "SERIAL #005" - Engine - 1785861955 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE "SERIAL #005" - Interior - 1785861955 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE "SERIAL #005" - Side Profile - 178586
Auction Scottsdale 2015
Reserve RESERVE
Status Sold
Price $242,000.00
Lot 2523
Year 1955
Make FORD
Model THUNDERBIRD
Style CONVERTIBLE VIN # 0005
*Includes Buyer Commission
}
Details
VIN P5FH100005
Exterior Color RAVEN BLACK
Interior Color BLACK/WHITE
Cylinders 8
Engine Size 292
Transmission AUTOMATIC
Description
Lot #2523 - The rarest of "Birds." Serial #005 was produced at the Michigan factory on September 9, 1954. This car came equipped with the 292 Y-block. Ford-O-Matic transmission, power steering, windows and seats. The wheelbase is 102". The BHP rating is 193 and the weight of the vehicle is 3,250 pounds. One of the first performance road tests of the newly created Thunderbird car was by a national magazine was tested on this same car. Sports Illustrated did an article October 4, 1954, entitled "Testing the Thunderbird," and this T-Bird was used as the test vehicle. Ford verified the status of this car in 1966, designated as the most valuable T-Bird in existence. This car has captured the attention of writers, collectors and car buffs throughout the United States and globally. This car has been featured in magazines, books, promotions, blogs, television shows and more. It has also made many special appearances at various museums, car shows and special events, like the 1984 Olympics. The Ford Motor Company commissioned the car, usually in its private trailer, to various events such as their national conferences and car shows including Ford headquarters in Dearborn, MI. It has been pictured with generations of Ford executives and celebrities such as Carroll Shelby, Barbara Streisand and Jay Leno, to name a few. The history of the Thunderbird dates back to the early 1950s, when a few individuals at the top of Ford's organizational chart conceived the idea of a sports car. Designer Frank Hershey fathered the idea of the sports car program that became the Thunderbird. The real history of this car dates back to 1965, when a well-admired gentleman and car buff by the name George Watts came across what he called "a needle in a haystack." After Ford officially verified the status of his car as the first production Thunderbird, he meticulously restored the "original" to original. After documenting every step with photos, it appeared three years later — as if it just rolled off the assembly line. The rest is history.
64thunderbird64
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Re: P5FH100004

Post by 64thunderbird64 »

That is the info for 100005, not 100004
David Tulowitzky
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Re: P5FH100004

Post by David Tulowitzky »

P5FH100004 was on the cover of the May/June Early Bird in 1972 with a two page article written by owner Jeff Barnes. Now in 2019 his daughter is looking for the whereabouts of this car that her father sold in 1978. As of this date, whether or not this Thunderbird exists is unknown.
64thunderbird64
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Re: P5FH100004

Post by 64thunderbird64 »

Do you happen to have that article handy? I don't believe I have read it!
cliffmollo@gmail.com
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Re: P5FH100004

Post by cliffmollo@gmail.com »

Actually it was the May/June issue of the Early Bird 1974. I remember because it was the year I graduated high school. There was a 1955 T-Bird in my family since 1959 & I drove a 1957 :-"E" Bird during High School. I was a member of CTCI since 1971 and off and on since the 1980's Fun times for sure!

This car caused quite a stir back then and I believe it was speculated to be a preproduction model that was used by FOMOCO in there around the country tour for their new car model in the Spring /Summer of 1954. I am not sure how it got out into the public but perhaps the last dealer who had it on the showroom floor got proper title and sold it.

There is also the possibility that this was the car used for the 1954 article in Popular Science Magazine about the new Ford sports car. Also there were preproduction photos of a car that had the 1954 headland bezels without the Ford Fairlaine "eyebrows" and the air scoop grill that matched the radiator grill. Both cars were the powder blue color. This from my memory during 1970's and articles written about the Early Birds

There was a very good historical article in a 1970 Automobile Quarterly magazine (really a hardcover book) "The Flight of the Early Bird". There seem to be 2-3 preproduction T-Birds made and one of them might have been given to L. Crusoe, the Father of the T-Bird. It was a Red 55 with what seems to be an aftermarket Continental Kit. Over my travels, I have seen these at car shows for both the 1955 & 1957 models and I don't believe they were offered by Ford. He not only complained of the lack of trunk space but also the lack of visibility when the hardtop was in place. Hence the porthole hardtop as a no cost option for 1956.

After 50+ years, it is about all I could remember for now.
ICON 1956
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Re: P5FH100004

Post by ICON 1956 »

I have a copy of the 1954 Popular Science magazine. Interesting article about Ford's "New Sports Car". Here's a picture of the cover.
Attachments
1955 Tunderbird Cover.jpg
1956 Thunderbird Sage Green
1953 Ford Custom Liner Hot Rod With Flat 8 Motor with Henderson three 2 barrel Carbs
VTCI Member # 12309
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paul2748
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Re: P5FH100004

Post by paul2748 »

I saw an entry on Face Book within the last 6 months that 004 was at a show. Can't remember the date or the location of the show. I questioned it and the person who posted the info posted proof of the number.
1956 Fiesta Red 312
1954 Ford Victoria 312
1948 Ford Convertible Street Rod 302
1957Birdman
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Re: P5FH100004

Post by 1957Birdman »

ICON 1956,
I am curious about the article in Popular Science. Is the article an actual road test of the car or more of a description of the car? I will explain why I am asking after your response.
Thanks,
Lew Bachman
1957 Colonial White
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Jimntempe
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Re: P5FH100004

Post by Jimntempe »

They seemed to like it. I put up the magazine article in its entirety so the OP could judge for themselves but someone objected it was off topic so I deleted it.
Last edited by Jimntempe on Mon Jan 01, 2024 11:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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paul2748
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Re: P5FH100004

Post by paul2748 »

I don't understand why when someone asks a particular question there are responses that are irrelevant to the question, such as was done here.
1956 Fiesta Red 312
1954 Ford Victoria 312
1948 Ford Convertible Street Rod 302
cliffmollo@gmail.com
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Re: P5FH100004

Post by cliffmollo@gmail.com »

I believe the question was twofold:

"Does anyone have any more info about this car, and where it may exist today?"

Interesting that it might have turned up at a car show in answering the second part of the original question.

As for the first part of the question, I was trying to throw light on the history of the car from info I had back in 1974-1975. Not much was written about the car afterwards.
ward 57
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Re: P5FH100004

Post by ward 57 »

As another T-Bird forum has found, it's verry difficult to prevent this from turning into a social media site. The questions and responses would fit into the general discussions portal and not on the technical Q&A portion.
We are all looking for information and some questions are valid but in their proper designation.
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cliffmollo@gmail.com
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Re: P5FH100004

Post by cliffmollo@gmail.com »

Lew Bachman
The article is an inspection and a road test of what the author says was difficult getting his hands on a preproduction unit
I was able to find the article under Google Books so anybody who wants read it should be able to.
Please bring us up to speed why you wanted find this article.
1957Birdman
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Re: P5FH100004

Post by 1957Birdman »

Thanks for the information. I have written an article attempting to trace what happened to the first 5 T-Birds that came off the assembly line. I have taken information and pictures from articles, both written at the time or later to speculate on their disposition. I have come to at least one conclusion that I am sure will generate discussion.
If there is interest, I will post what I have written so far.
Lew Bachman
1957 Colonial White
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