From another site that I frequent

Stands to reason that Birds were numbered in sequence until the passeger cars were also built on the line.Thats when the Bird and passenger car data plate numbers would have been intermixed.

Rumor has it that #3 was dropped from a helicoptor for its destruction.

First three (or four) T-Birds were not assembly line cars. They had VIN#s, but only to tell them apart. Numbers were not official as demo/prototypes never sold to the public.



Mysterious demo #4 DID have many super early/preproduction characteristics. Maybe the guy stamping data plate #s that day came to work drunk, and no one ever caught the error? I don't think any original invoice was ever found for it, and since most all the '55 paperwork was lost, I think we may only have "pink lady's" (FoMoCo employee) word for which T-Bird was first (?), and she died recently.

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

The paperwork from Ford with the car stated that the first cars of that sequence of numbers were full size cars.This one is apparently the first Bird.

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO

Al:

After 100005 was discovered and restored, I read where 100004, a Bird, showed up.  Never heard any more about it, it may have been a scam.  I think you were right, cars and Birds on the same line were all consecutively numbered.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

I've not researched this recently. I remember from when it was originally found was that the birds were made on the same assembly line as the other cars- so it was not the first car off the line, but the first bird off the line.

Just what I read.

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

I watched some of it, I just like knowing what things are going for and compare it to stock market value so I can argue with my wife that investing in cars is better than investing in stocks.

Anyway, on to the bird thing, what gets me is it is not exactly number 1, The vin is 1000005 being the 5th thunderbird produced, the first 4 were used for testing and whatnot and never sold (What happened to those ones?), it is the first one that was let go to the general public though.

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?

Well I watched it almost from beginning to end (what part I didn't sleep through). On the first day there was a '59 4dr ht that went for 12K and it looked brand new. I'm no fan of '59's but that looked like a hell of a deal to me. And yes, a couple of the baby birds went for a good price. The supercharged one with the T-85 and #1 went for big bucks. Shelby's own Cobra went for big money. I didn't see what the new 700 hp Mustang went for, missed that one. I like watching it and can't wait until Palm Beach. I did the fantasy bid thing. Good thing I'm not in the business of buying and sellin' these classics. I'd either loose my ass or I wouldn't have anything. I was way off on lots of them. Oh well, was fun ..

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

Well, I hope to see a rerun of the 55 bird that sold.

I remember when George Watts first found that car behind an old building, and restored it. Late 60's I think.

The vin # was in question for awhile but then soon sorted out.

Bingo, Numero Uno Bird. He then later sold it to…FORD. sheese.

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

I didn't watch much of it(learned my lesson a couple of years ago),but I did happen to flip to that channel as they were selling Bird number 1.Which,by the way,the "experts"said had a 312 engine.Did any of the Bowtie's bring the money this Bird brought?

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO

Hey guys, going back to the Roadster Wire wheels on my 57 Bird. I had 2 sets on my car in less than a year. I could not balance the vibration out of them. The second set was better than the first but driving on the highway I still had a vibration. I put the stock rims back on and I now have the Roadster wire wheels collecting dust.