A basic Thunderbird came stock with a manual 3-speed transmission, 292 Y-block engine,  "Thunderbird" decaled black valve covers, painted oil breather cap,  painted fan, Argent silver air breather cover,  plain black-wall tires, removeable hardtop, manual steering, small hubcaps, manual roll-up windows, manual brakes, manual seat adjustments, clock, vinyl interior.

No Radio, No heater, No fender skirts, No back-up lights, No windshield washer, and no seatbelts.

OPTIONS:
These were the options for ALL the little 'Birds (except where noted) - many of which, the dealers ordered for the cars as a matter of practice- for better sales.

• Soft-top: this could be ordered as a no-cost option in place of the Hardtop OR as a cost option if both tops were wanted.
• Engine:  no option for the 1955; for 1956 and 1957, the 312 Y-block was commonly the engine of choice.  See the "engine" page for specifics.  Dual 4-barrel carburators were available in '56 & '57 and a supercharger was available in '57.
• Transmissions:  3-speed manual with overdrive OR the Ford-o-matic: which was the most common option ordered of the transmissions.
• Heater: in southern climes, you will find T-birds without heaters.
• Radio: this was an option!
• Back-up Lights 
• Wide WhiteWall Tires
• Fender Skirts
• Engine Dress-up Kit: very commonly found on these 'birds, included chrome air filter cover, chrome oil filler tube cap, finned aluminum valve covers and in the 55's and early '56's, 3-bladed chrome fans.
• Wind shield washer
• Full wheel hub caps:  wire wheel style hub caps were also available in '55 & '56 and came with the small hubcaps - no wire style sets were made for the 57.
• Power windows
• Power seats:  in '57, 2 options were available, the normal powerseats available for all 3 years or a new "dial-a-matic" power seat.
• Power steering
• Power brakes
• Seat Belts: only on the '56 and '57
• Tonneau cover: a vinyl cover for the cockpit, hung behind the seat and could be snapped into place across the dash.  Also had a middle zipper so the driver could have the front passenger seat covered while driving.