Robert Seabeck (Wyoming, B. 1945) "1955 Thunderbird" Signed lower left. Original Mixed Media painting on Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 60c 1955 Thunderbird stamp issued June 4, 1996. The 1955 Thunderbird was introduced February 20, 1954 at the Detroit Auto Show and was an overnight success. Though Ford considered the Thunderbird a "personal" car, American buyers hailed this popular automobile as a sports car. Around 300 names were considered for the Thunderbird, including Sportsman and Coronado. This instantly popular two-seater featured a variety of options that catered to the luxury-minded buyer. The Thunderbird's mesh grill and hooded headlamps were similar to other Fords, as were its taillights and the distinct shape of its upper rear fenders. A removable fibre-glass hardtop, weighing about 85 pounds, was standard on the Thunderbird. The steering column was adjustable and a tachometer was standard equipment. Both manual and automatic transmissions used a floor shift. Ford built 16,155 Thunderbirds in 1955, with a base selling price of $2,944. Image Size: 6.75 x 13.75 in. Overall Size: 15 x 22.5 in. Unframed. (B15395) See More