55 Tbird W Continental Tire

[HKS]

This restorer claims this is a 55 Tbird. To my knowledge the Continental Kit option started in 56. It looks kind of ugly. I think my 56 Tbird had a better Continental Kit from the factory.
Dot, help out here. Please.

HKS

http://autokraftnebraska.com/Restoration/55bird.htm

[Gobird]

Re: 55 Tbird W Continental Tire

HKS, Pics of what you are talking about might help.

Sorry, guess I didn't allow it time to load before replying.

[HKS]

Re: 55 Tbird W Continental Tire

HKS, Pics of what you are talking about might help.

Sorry, guess I didn't allow it time to load before replying.

I included the website

[Peterfurlan]

Re: 55 Tbird W Continental Tire

This restorer claims this is a 55 Tbird. To my knowledge the Continental Kit option started in 56. It looks kind of ugly. I think my 56 Tbird had a better Continental Kit from the factory.
Dot, help out here. Please.

HKS

http://autokraftnebraska.com/Restoration/55bird.htm

This is the best I can come up with. If you see a continental kit on a 1955
or 1957 it is after market add on. Not supplied by Ford though Ford dealers
my have installed same.

[DavidA]

Re: 55 Tbird W Continental Tire

This was a dealer option in '55. It is quite different from the '56 Continental kits in that ot featured a full bumper extension. Here's a few pictures of a '55 that came to the first Bristol event ... Thunder Valley. Same color too.

[AZTB]

Re: 55 Tbird W Continental Tire

If I remember correctly, didn't Ford have to beef up the suspension on the '56 Birds due to the weight distribution of the continental kit? And if so, did these folks take that into consideration when they rebuilt this '55?

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: 55 Tbird W Continental Tire

This was a dealer option in '55. It is quite different from the '56 Continental kits in that ot featured a full bumper extension. Here's a few pictures of a '55 that came to the first Bristol event ... Thunder Valley. Same color too.

DAVID, THANKS FOR THE PICTURES, THIS CAR BELONGS TO DANNY BECKETT AND HE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE EAST TENNESSEE REBEL CLASSIC THUNDERBIRD CLUB, A CHAPTER OF CTCT. AND YES THAT KIT IS ALL FORD, THROUGH PARTS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT. DANNY ADDED A YELLOW 2002 BIRD TO HIS COLLECTION LAST YEAR.