Iconic 1950s American cars among historic vehicles in Lichfield auction

The 1959 Ford Thunderbird coupe 7L V8 petrol engine was a New York car until 2018 when it was imported to the UK.

It goes under the hammer with Richard Winterton Auctioneers at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane, Fradley Park, on Tuesday, December 3, starting at 9.30am.

Presented in a striking sea green, the Thunderbird has a matching sea green and cream leather interior, reminiscent of classic 1950s American diners.

Auctioneer Richard Winterton said: “Launched in 1955 as a sporty two-seater convertible, this T-Bird is the redesigned 1958 model which introduced a rear seat.

“The upscale nature of the vehicle saw the Thunderbird became one of the first in a new category of personal luxury cars.

“It’s a real rarity to find at auction so it’s especially great to be able to bring a slice of the archetypal 1950s American dream to our part of Staffordshire.”

Imported from New York in 2018, the T-Bird was registered in the UK in February 2019.

It is being sold on behalf of a collector from Leicestershire and carries an auction estimate guide of £5,000-£7,000.

The Thunderbird is one of several special vehicles offered in the December 3 sale as project cars.

Also going under the hammer on behalf of the same client are a 1956 Buick Riviera 6L V8 (guided £6,000-£8,000), a 1926 Chrysler Six Series 60 with 3L straight six petrol engine (guided £5,000-£7,000) and a 1966 Bristol 409 saloon with a 5.2L V8 engine and Torqueflite push-button automatic transmission (guided £6,000-£8,000).

As the name of the latter suggests, 409 of the Bristols were made and there are now just 69 left in circulation.

Other sought-after cars in the auction include a 1970 Triumph Herald 1200, a 1937 Wolseley 14-56 and a 1948 Rover P3 60, colloquially known as ‘The Cyclops’, first registered in 1951.

Modern vehicles in the same December 3 sale include a Volvo C70 2.4 V8 with a folding couple roof, a 1982 Rolls Royce Silver Spirit and a Honda CBR600F motorcycle, the last of the steel frames.

For more information on each vehicle, view the catalogue online now at https://bid.richardwinterton.co.uk/auctions/9106/srric10444.