Introduced in 1954, Ford Motor Company’s dashing Thunderbird immediately became an object of automotive desire. Among them was a young Tom Larsen, who pinned an image of the Thunderbird on his bulletin board from a Time magazine feature article. In February 1960, Mr. Larsen realized his dream, purchasing this 1955 Thunderbird, a lovely example that had just 20,000 fair-weather miles at the time, for $2,350. Equipped with both hard and soft tops and a Ford-O-Matic transmission, the Thunderbird was soon driven 3,500 miles on his honeymoon. Serving faithfully as Mr. Larsen’s cherished daily driver, the Thunderbird’s copious documents include a 95 mph speeding ticket from 1961, incurred while passing early one morning through Natick, Massachusetts.

Over 100 pages of service and maintenance receipts dating from 1961 document the care and attention lavished on it by Mr. Larsen throughout his ownership. Eventually, the Ford was stored for about a decade, and afterwards it received refurbishment under Mr. Larsen’s watch during the 1990s, including a seven-coat refinish in its factory-specified Raven Black lacquer paint, and interior restoration using Black and White two-tone leather upholstery plus high-quality carpeting. Extensive documents thoroughly chronicle this iconic, first-year Thunderbird’s nearly 65 years as the foundation of Mr. Larsen’s impressive collection. For those looking to add an iconic American automobile to their collection, this example is quite appealing, given its great colors, outstanding documentation, and charming provenance.