Ford Thunderbird

The Ford Thunderbird is a car manufactured in the USA by the Ford Motor Company. It entered production for the 1955 model year as a two-seater sporty car; unlike the superficially similar (and slightly earlier) Chevrolet Corvette, the Thunderbird was never sold as a full-blown sports car. Ford described it as a personal luxury car, a description which named a new market segment. In 1958, the Thunderbird gained a second row of seats for greater practicality. Succeeding generations became larger and more luxurious, until the line was downsized in 1977 and again in 1980. Sales were good until the 1990s, when large 2-door coupes became unpopular; production ceased after 1997. In 2002, a revived 2-seat model was launched, which will be available through the end of the 2005 model year.

1958-1960 "Square Birds"

Although the original Thunderbird was successful as an image-builder for Ford, the corporation's executives -- particularly Robert McNamara -- felt its sales volume was unacceptably small. Market research suggested that sales were inherently limited by its two-seat configuration, making it unsuitable as an only car for families. Therefore, the second generation, introduced for the 1958 model year, was designed as a four-seat car.

Related Topics:
Robert McNamara - 1958

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The four-seat Thunderbird, like the new Lincolns, was designed with unibody construction, eschewing a separate chassis. The intent was to allow the maximum interior space in a relatively small exterior package. Both the new Thunderbird and the new Lincolns were produced at a new assembly plant at Wixom, Michigan.

Related Topics:
Lincolns - Unibody - Wixom, Michigan

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The new Thunderbird had a distinct new styling theme, sharply angular and formal, but extremely low slung. The look, which was quickly propagated to the rest of Ford's car line, earned this generation the nickname "Square Bird." The design was driven entirely by the styling department and approved before the engineering was considered. The new 'Bird was nine inches (230 mm) lower than the standard American car of the time, at 52.5 in (1.33 m), with only 5.8 in (147 mm) of ground clearance. The significant transmission tunnel intrusion required to fit the powertrain into such a low car was turned into a styling feature by covering it with a large, full-length center console dividing the front and rear seats and containing ashtrays, switches, and minor controls.

Related Topics:
Transmission tunnel - Powertrain

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Beneath the innovative monocoque construction, the remainder of the engineering was conventional. Ford's new FE-series engine was used, with 352 in³ (5.8 L) displacement. Standard transmission remained a three-speed manual transmission, with optional overdrive or Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission. Front suspension was independent, with coil springs and unequal-length A-arms. The rear was Hotchkiss drive, with a live axle suspended by coil springs. Drum brakes were used at all four wheels.

Related Topics:
Monocoque - FE-series engine - Displacement - Manual transmission - Overdrive - Cruise-O-Matic - Automatic transmission - Independent - Hotchkiss drive - Live axle - Drum brakes

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Various delays conspired to have production start only on December 20 1957, much later than the normal September start; the 1956 Thunderbird was thus built for three extra months.

Related Topics:
December 20 - 1957

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The new Thunderbird captured Motor Trend's Car of the Year award in its debut season, the first of three it would eventually accumulate. While many fans of the earlier, 2-seat Thunderbirds were not happy with the new direction, Ford was vindicated with sales figures of 37,892, more than double the previous year despite losing three months of production and 1958 being a very poor year for car sales—the Thunderbird was one of only two cars to show a sales increase that year (the other being the Rambler. Only 2,134 convertibles were built, mostly because the convertible model did not become available until June 1958.

Related Topics:
Motor Trend - Car of the Year - Rambler

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For the 1959 model year, Ford made changes to the front, rear, and side ornamentation, altered the rear suspension to improve axle control, and made leather upholstery available for the first time. A new engine, the 430 in³ (7.0 L) MEL-series, was available in small numbers. Sales almost doubled again, to 67,456 units, including 10,261 convertibles. Thunderbird advertising in 1959 targeted women in particular, showing glamorous models in country club and other exclusive settings, and the sales figures bore out Ford's marketing plans.

Related Topics:
1959 - MEL-series

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1960's sales figures hit another record: 92,843 units sold, including 11,860 convertibles. A rare option in this year was a sunroof; this "Golde Edition" (Golde was a German company whose sunroof patent Ford licensed) sold 2,530 examples.

Related Topics:
1960 - Sunroof

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