Thunderbird Facts

  

DECODE YOUR DATAPLATE

 

 1955  1956  1957
 Price new  $2,944 $3,163 $3,408
 Production 16,155 15,631 21,380
Wheel base 102" 102" 102"
Overall length 175.2" 185.2" 185.2"
Overall height 52.2" 52.2" 51.6"
Overall width 70.2" 70.2" 72.8"
Ground Clearance 5.5" 5.9" 5.9"
Tread 56" 56" 56"
Turning Diameter 36' 36' 36'
Curb Weight 3232 lbs. 3315 lbs. 3324 lbs.
Crankcase capacity 6 quart 6 quart 6 quart
Cooling system capacity 21 quart 21 quart 21 quart
Fuel tank capacity 17 gal. 17 gal. 20 gal.

Engines available

Disp/Carb/HP

 292/4v/198

292/4v/202

312/4v/225

292/2v/212

312/4v/245

312/8v/270

312/SC/300

 

 

Past issues of our paper edition of ThunderEnlightening, CASCO's newsletter:

*Now available as an electronic newsletter - sign up to receive it here

TE Issue #1  TE Issue #2  TE Issue #3  TE Issue #4  TE Issue #5  TE Issue #6

TE Issue #7  TE Issue #8  TE Issue #9  TE Issue #10  TE Issue #11  TE Issue #12

TE Issue #13  TE Issue #14  TE Issue #15  TE Issue #16  TE Issue #17  TE Issue #18

TE Issue #19  TE Issue #20  TE Issue #21  TE Issue #22  TE Issue #23

Use the INDEX to find the article you need!

 

 

Data Plate Decoder

Engine Code

Paint Color Code

Trim Color Code

Manufacturing Dates

Dealer District Code

 

Engine Code
 Year  Code  Engine  Carb.  Trans.  HP
 1955  P  292  4V  3 Speed  193
   P  292  4V  Fordomatic  198
   P  292  4V  Overdrive  198
 1956  M  292  4V  3 Speed  202
   P  312  4V  Overdrive  215
   P  312  4V  Fordomatic  225
   P  312  8V  3 Speed or  Overdrive  260
 1957  C  292  2V  3 Speed  212
   D  312  4V  Fordomatic or O/D  245
   E  312  8V  All  270
   F  312  4V  All  300

 

Paint Color Code
 1955  A  Raven Black
   E  Snowshoe White
   R  Torch Red
   T  Thunderbird Blue
   V  Goldenrod Yellow
 1956  A  Raven Black
   E  Colonial White
   J  Buckskin Tan
   K  Fiesta Red
   L  Peacock Blue
   M  Goldenglow Yellow
   T  Thunderbird Gray
   X  Navajo Gray
   Y  Sunset Coral
   Z  Thunderbird Green
 1957  A  Raven Black
   E  Colonial White
   F  Starmist Blue
   J  Willow Green
   N  Gunmetal Gray
   Q  Thunderbird  Bronze
   V  Flame Red
   X  Dusk Rose
   Y  Inca Gold
   Z  Coral Sand

 

Paint Codes added after September 1957
 Code  Replacing Code  Color
 G  Y  Sun Gold
 R  V  Torch Red
 L  F  Azure Blue
 H  N  Gunmetal Gray
 N  J  Seaspray Green

 

Trim Color Code
 1955  XA  Black & White
   XB  Red & White
   XC  Turquoise & White
   XD  Black & Yellow
 1956  XA  Black & White
   XB  Red & White
   XC  Peacock & White
   XD  Tan & White
   XF  Green & White
   XG  Brown & White
 1957  XA  Raven & Colonial
   XH  Flame Red
   XJ  Bronze
   XK  Colonial White
   XL  Dresden Blue &  Starmist Blue
   XM  Cumberland Green &  Willow Green

 

Manufacturing Dates
 Month 1st Year 2nd Year
 January A N
February B P
March C Q
April D R
May E S
June F T
July G U
August H V
September J W
October K X
November L Y
December M Z

 

Dealer District Codes

 

 1955/56 Code

 

 1957 Code

 

 District
 11  SD  Boston
 12  BF  Buffalo
 13  BX  New York
 14  PI  Pittsburgh
 15    Newark
 21  NK  Atlanta
 22  CE  Charlotte
 23  DI  Philadelphia
 24  KJ  Jacksonville
 25  RP  Richmond
 26  DC  Washington, D.C.
 31  CI  Cincinnati
 32  CL  Cleveland
 33  DD  Detroit
 34  NP  Indianapolis
 35  FX  Lansing
 36  LX  Louisville
 41  CX  Chicago
 42  RG  Fargo
 43  KE  Rockford
 44  SP  Twin Cities
 45  DQ  Davenport
 51  DN  Denver
 52  DS  Des Moines
 53  KS  Kansas City
 54  NB  Omaha
 55  SL  St. Louis
 61  DP  Dallas
 62  SU  Houston
 63  GB  Memphis
 64  NR  New Orleans
 65  KL  Oklahoma City
 71  LP  Los Angeles
 72  SK  San Jose
 73  SC  Salt Lake City
 74  SE  Seattle
 81  CA  Ford of Canada
 82  EX  FMC Export Op., NJ
 84  HO  FMC Transportation  & Equipment Dept