Shannons Melbourne Spring Classic Auction 2008

On offer was a beautiful black left hand drive 1955 Ford Fairlane Sunliner Convertible and a classic white right hand drive 1956 Ford Thunderbird Convertible. The very original Sunliner has been part of a select collection of classic American vehicles in recent years and is fitted with the desirable 292-cid V8 engine and automatic transmission option. Showing 80,411 miles on the clock, the car was originally imported into Australia in 1989 and was then kept in storage for a number of years. According to Shannons, the car remains in unmolested condition and comes with desirable features like the factory hubcaps, two-tone red and white upholstery and sunvisors, while its power hood is said to be in good working order.

In total some 49,966 Sunliners were made in 1955 and they are now highly sought after by Ford collectors and lovers of 1950s American cars in general. An appealing alternative for Ford fanciers at the auction is a very desirable right hand drive 1956 Ford Thunderbird Convertible with just 70,707 miles showing on its odometer. Although the T-Bird was partly a response to the Chevrolet Corvette, it was intended from the outset to be more a personal luxury car than a sports car and today makes a very stylish weekend cruiser. The Thunderbird has been mechanically upgraded with a later model 302-cid V8 Windsor engine and C4 three-speed automatic transmission.