A Thunderbird Love Affair
As Told by Ed and Donna Benson
After selling my 1955 Bird in 1978 due to insurmountable rust issues I got the Bird bug again and purchased “Gunny.” in 1993. When purchased, I was told he had a three-year-old frame off restoration that cost $50,000.
Gunny is a numbers-matching, two top D Bird with the usual 312 four-barrel engine and all power accessories except windows and seats. There were two shades of gunmetal metallic paint in 1957; Gunny has the earlier and darker one. About 600 or so were painted his color, so it is relatively rare.
You can see in the pictures he is pretty striking. Since his purchase, little has been done to him except he had a great repaint ten years ago by Lafayette Auto Body and front seat replacement by Armand’s Upholstery. My main job has been keeping him clean and farming out mechanical upkeep to my Adam Auto Classics buddy, Dave Adams.
He has never been entered in a concours (con-cour) as we put around 1500 miles a year on him, mainly through Bay Area Thunderbird Owners Club events. He sparkles in show and shines, and there is always a crowd around him. If there are awards, he usually wins something, but an even greater reward is my being able to talk to other car lovers. If I could get a quarter for every picture that has been taken of him, I would be a rich man.
We just love him to death,
Ed and Donna Benson
Walnut Creek
