Rusty Nuts ... 55 / 57 Thunderbird DATA........

Disclaimer...
The following information was gathered from various sources over the years. Most of the following information was published as articles in various car magazines during the 70's. I had copied and saved the information into a spiral tablet and saved it for personal use.

I do not recall the publication title, nor the authors names. I do believe that the information has been published by various others over the years. If anyone recalls exactly which magazines and who the author was that this data appeared in, please let me know so I can give credit to the proper individuals.

Being as it is good information.. I thought that I would share it.

1955-57 Thunderbird Data

Data Plate Information

  • Engine Codes
  • Paint Color Codes
  • Trim Color Codes
  • Manufacturing Date Codes
    •

     

     

    Thunderbird Data Plate Information

     

    1 - This particular '56 had a 312ci engine.
    2 - All '55 & '56 Models were coded 40A, All '57 Models were coded 40.
    3 - Body color and Hard Top. If a second letter shows, it indicates a different color.for the Hard Top.
    4 - 155th automobile (not only Thunderbirds) scheduled to be assembled on 2/13/1956.
    5 - SD signifies a Boston, Mass. dealer ordered this particular car.

     

    Engine Codes

    YEAR CODE ENGINE CARB TRANSMISSION HP
    1955 P 292 4V 3 SPEED 193
    1955 P 292 4V FORDOMATIC 198
    1955 P 292 4V OVERDRIVE 198
    1956 M 292 4V 3 SPEED 202
    1956 P 312 4V OVERDRIVE 215
    1956 P 312 4V FORDOMATIC 225
    1956 P 312 8V (2-4's) 3SP or O.D. 260
    1957 C 292 2V 3 SPEED 212
    1957 D 312 4V F/M or O.D. 245
    1957 E 312 8V (2-4's) ALL 270
    1957 F 312 4V ALL 300

     

    Paint Color Codes  

    (1955- 1957 THUNDERBIRDS)

    YEAR CODE COLOR
    1955 A RAVEN BLACK
    1955 E SNOWSHOE WHITE
    1955 R TORCH RED
    1955 T THUNDERBIRD BLUE
    1955 V GOLDENROD YELLOW
         
    1956 A RAVEN BLACK
    1956 E COLONIAL WHITE
    1956 J BUCKSKIN TAN
    1956 K FIESTA RED
    1956 L PEACOCK BLUE
    1956 M GOLDEN GLOW YELLOW
    1956 T THUNDERBIRD GRAY
    1956 X NAVAJO GRAY
    1956 Y SUNSET CORAL
    1956 Z THUNDERBIRD GREEN
         
    1957 A RAVEN BLACK
    1957 E COLONIAL WHITE
    1957 F STARMIST BLUE
    1957 J WILLOW GREEN
    1957 N GUNMETAL GRAY
    1957 Q THUNDERBIRD BRONZE
    1957 V FLAME RED
    1957 Y INCA GOLD
    1957 Z CORAL SAND
    1957 X DUSK ROSE

     

    TRIM COLOR CODES 

    (1955 - 1957 THUNDERBIRDS)

    YEAR CODE COLOR
    1955 XA BLACK & WHITE VINYL
    1955 XB RED & WHITE VINYL
    1955 XC TURQUOISE & WHITE VINYL
    1955 XD BLACK & YELLOW VINYL
         
    1956 XA BLACK & WHITE VINYL
    1956 XB RED & WHITE VINYL
    1956 XC PEACOCK & WHITE VINYL
    1956 XD TAN & WHITE VINYL
    1956 XF GREEN & WHITE VINYL
    1956 XG BROWN & WHITE VINYL
         
    1957 XA RAVEN & COLONIAL VINYL
    1957 XH FLAME RED VINYL
    1957 XJ BRONZE VINYL
    1957 XK COLONIAL WHITE VINYL
    1957 XL DRESDEN BLUE & STARMIST BLUE VINYL
    1957 XM CUMBERLAND GREEN & WILLOW GREEN VINYL

     

    MANUFACTURING DATE CODE

    1ST YEAR
    JAN - A MAY -E SEP - J
    FEB - B JUN - F OCT - K
    MAR - C JUL - G NOV - L
    APR - D AUG - H DEC - M
    2ND YEAR
    JAN - N MAY - S SEP - W
    FEB - P JUN - T OCT - X
    MAR - Q JUL - U NOV - Y
    APR - R AUG - V DEC - Z