Marilyn Monroe’s 1956 Ford Thunderbird
This 1956 Ford Thunderbird was once driven by Marilyn Monroe herself, and just like her, this car was a sterling icon of the 50s. A star so bright it shines to this day. This was the car Monroe received from Milton Greene shortly before marrying playwright Arthur Miller. Moreover, according to accounts, this is the car she used to drive to their civil wedding ceremony in 1956.
The Ford Thunderbird boasts a black canvas convertible top and a “porthole” windowed hardtop, rear fender shields (skirts), American Classic 670R15 radial tires, and a Raven Black exterior with an elegant black and white interior. In terms of power, it’s sporting a 312 cubic-inch V-8 engine with Holley 4 bbl, with a carburetor generating 225 horsepower. On top of that, we’re also talking Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes, power windows, and power seats.
Apparently, Monroe loved driving this thing. Here’s Greene’s wife, Amy, on Monroe:
“Marilyn liked to drive. We’d take the convertible, and with the top down, we’d go sailing along the highway. We both liked to feel the wind in our faces and the warmth of the heater on our legs.”
If you happen to be filthy rich and also obsessed with the film star, you’ll be pleased to know that this Ford Thunderbird comes with documentation that proves Monroe did once own this car, including a a Declaration of Ownership of a Motor Vehicle issued by the State of Connecticut; a letter from the insurance company Kalvin, Miller, Meyer and Sachs; and a letter from the City of New York Department of Finance Bureau of Collections.
Photos courtesy of Julien’s Auctions