Replica but, nice...

http://www.autabuy.com/Vehicles/Details.cfm?VID=460674&Year=1955&Make=FORD&Model=THUNDERBIRD

 Seppo from Järvenpää, Finland
www.hollowheads.net (just click the hole in the head to proceed)

I have seen pics of a couple other Birds both '55's and raced in '55.  One was in Shreveport(?) Louisana and was in a stock car race on a dirt oval.  It was wrecked in the race when the rear axle bearing retainer failed. 

The other is just a picture of a bird slogging through a very rutted dirt turn at what was supposedly a sports car race somewhere in Virginia I think.  This was in some obscure magazine or book that I can not find now.

It looks to me that there are only two T birds in the link posted by Seppo The Black '55 is white in the later pics. and is pictured as late as '58 because the plastic scrub next to it is a '58.  It appears to have 3/2's with no air cleaners or hood scoop.  That car must have had some history being raced in Chicago and Daytona. The other car is clearly the Battle Bird with the Yblock and Hilborn FI

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

Paul, I think you are probably right. But after seaching through a little on the link that Seppo provided I did see a lot more Road race birds than I've ever come across before. Pretty cool!. I love to see that history. I of course have to wonder what ever happened to them. Most were abandoned or went to the crusher eventually. I try to collect what pics I can find and I am always interested in pics of old tbirds from the day. I know of Croan's car and the Battlebird, but had not seen those!

Thanks for the link!

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK    

A few years ago, Gary Croan, who is in the transmission conversion business, entered a T.Bird in historic races out West. In one early outing, as reported in YBM, they finished 10th in a field of 32 cars. The Bird driven by a hired driver, was the oldest car entered. However, as far as I'm aware there haven't been any further reports on it.. From what little I've heard of racing Birds, their biggest weakness was probably braking.

Paul

Someone might be interested?

http://forums.autosport.com/lofiversion/index.php/t114199.html

 Seppo from Järvenpää, Finland
www.hollowheads.net (just click the hole in the head to proceed)