| Ford Thunderbird | |
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| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Production | 1955-1997 2002-2005 2012(?)-? |
| Class | Personal luxury car |
| Layout | FR layout |
Ford Thunderbird was manufactured in the United States from 1955 through 2005 — through thirteen generations and various body types. The automotive industry is the industry involved in the design development manufacture marketing and sale of Motor vehicles In 2007 more than 73 million motor vehicles Ford Motor Company is an American Multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on Worldwide vehicle sales, following Car classification is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories or do not fit well into any A personal luxury car is a marketing term used to describe highly styled Luxury vehicle intended for the comfort and satisfaction of its owner/driver sacrificing In Automotive design layout specifies where on the car the Engine and Drive wheels are found Ford Motor Company is an American Multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on Worldwide vehicle sales, following The United States of America —commonly referred to as the
The name "Thunderbird" was inspired by the name of an exclusive housing development and recalls the mythological creature common to Indigenous peoples of North America. The Thunderbird is a Legendary creature in North American indigenous peoples' history and culture
Overview
It entered production for the 1955 model year as a two-seater sporty car but, unlike the similar Chevrolet Corvette, the Thunderbird was never sold as a full-blown sports car. The Thunderbird is an automobile manufactured by Ford in the United States from 1955 through 2005 &mdash through thirteen generations and various The Chevrolet Corvette is a Sports car that has been manufactured by General Motors since 1953 A sports car is a term used to describe a class of Automobile. Ford described it as a personal luxury car, a description which named a new market segment. A personal luxury car is a marketing term used to describe highly styled Luxury vehicle intended for the comfort and satisfaction of its owner/driver sacrificing In 1958, the Thunderbird gained a second row of seats. Succeeding generations became larger until the line was downsized in 1977, again in 1980, and once again in 1983. 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 was available through the end of the 2005 model year.
Genesis
A smaller two-seater sports roadster was created at the behest of Henry Ford II in 1953 called the Vega. Henry Ford II ( September 4, 1917 — September 29, 1987) commonly known as "HF2" and "Hank the Deuce" was the son Not to be confused with the Chevrolet Vega, a 1970s subcompact The completed one-off generated interest at the time, but had meager power, European looks, and a correspondingly high cost, so it never proceeded to production. The Thunderbird was similar in concept, but would be more American in style, more luxurious, and less sport-oriented.
Three men are generally credited with creating the original Thunderbird: Lewis D. Crusoe, a retired GM executive lured out of retirement by Henry Ford II; George Walker, chief stylist and a Ford vice-president; and Frank Hershey, a Ford designer. Henry Ford II ( September 4, 1917 — September 29, 1987) commonly known as "HF2" and "Hank the Deuce" was the son George Walker may refer to In arts and letters: George Walker (Puritan George Walker (chess player (1803-1879 English chess Frank Hershey (1907 &ndash 1997 was an American automobile designer and student of General Motors Vice President of Design Harley Earl. Crusoe and Walker met in France in October 1951. Walking in the Grand Palais in Paris, Crusoe pointed at a sports car (some say the car Crusoe pointed to was a Jaguar XK120) and asked Walker, 'Why can’t we have something like that?' Some versions of the story claim that Walker replied by telling Crusoe, "oh, we're working on it". . . although if anything existed at the time beyond casual dream-car sketches by members of the design staff, records of it have never come to light.
Walker promptly telephoned Ford's HQ in Dearborn and told designer Frank Hershey about the conversation with Crusoe. Dearborn is a city in the US state of Michigan. It is located in the Detroit metropolitan area and Wayne County, and is the tenth largest Hershey took the idea and began working on the vehicle. The concept was for a two-passenger open car, with a target weight of 2525 lb (1145 kg), an Interceptor V8 engine based on the forthcoming overhead-valve Ford V8 slated for 1954 model year introduction, and a top speed of over 100 mph (160 km/h). A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other Crusoe saw a painted clay model on May 18, 1953, which corresponded closely to the final car; he gave the car the go-ahead in September after comparing it with current European trends. Events 1152 - Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. After Henry Ford II returned from the Los Angeles Auto Show (Autorama) in 1953 he approved the final design concept to compete with the then new Corvette.
Unlike the Corvette, the Thunderbird was never a full-blown sporting vehicle; Ford's description was personal luxury car, and the company essentially created this market segment. A personal luxury car is a marketing term used to describe highly styled Luxury vehicle intended for the comfort and satisfaction of its owner/driver sacrificing
Naming
There was some difficulty in naming the car, with suggestions ranging from the exotic to the ridiculous (Hep Cat, Beaver, Detroiter, Runabout, Arcturus, Savile, El Tigre, and Coronado). Crusoe offered a $250 suit to anyone who could come up with a better name.
Stylist Alden "Gib" Giberson submitted Thunderbird as part of a list. Giberson got the idea during a lightning storm when he saw an illusion of a bird getting hit by lightning, but this happened because of his view. Giberson never claimed his prize, settling for a $95 suit and an extra pair of trousers from Saks Fifth Avenue. Saks Fifth Avenue is an upscale American Department store owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises (SFAE a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated.
According to Palm Springs Life magazine, the car's final name came not from the Native American symbol as one might expect, but from an ultra-exclusive housing tract in what would later be incorporated as Rancho Mirage, California: Thunderbird Heights. The Thunderbird is a Legendary creature in North American indigenous peoples' history and culture Rancho Mirage is a city in Riverside County, California, United States.
Generations
1955-1957 "Classic Birds", "Little Birds", or "Early Birds"
| First generation "Classic Birds" | |
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| Production | 1955-1957 |
| Assembly | Dearborn, Michigan |
| Body style(s) | 2-door, 2-seat convertible with removable hardtop |
| Engine(s) | 292 in³ Y-block V8 312 in³ Y-block V8 |
The car was shown at the Detroit Auto Show on February 20, 1954. Dearborn is a city in the US state of Michigan. It is located in the Detroit metropolitan area and Wayne County, and is the tenth largest Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only A convertible is a type of automobile in which the vehicle's roof can retract and fold away converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle The Y-block engine is an Overhead valve V8 Automobile Piston engine from Ford Motor Company. A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other The Y-block engine is an Overhead valve V8 Automobile Piston engine from Ford Motor Company. A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other The North American International Auto Show (previously called the Detroit Auto Show and often abbreviated NAIAS) is an annual Auto show held in Events 1472 - Orkney and Shetland are left by Norway to Scotland, due to a Dowry payment Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) The first production car came off the line on September 9, 1954, and went on sale on October 22, 1954 as a 1955 model, and sold briskly; 3,500 orders were placed in the first ten days of sale. Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) Events 202 BC - Hannibal Barca, leader of the Carthaginians, is defeated by the Roman legions under Scipio Africanus Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) Ford had only projected building 10,000; eventual 1955 sales were 16,155.
As standard, the 1955 Ford Thunderbird included a removable fiberglass top; a fabric convertible top was an option, although commonly specified. The Thunderbird is an automobile manufactured by Ford in the United States from 1955 through 2005 &mdash through thirteen generations and various A convertible is a type of automobile in which the vehicle's roof can retract and fold away converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle The engine was a 292 Y-block V8. The Y-block engine is an Overhead valve V8 Automobile Piston engine from Ford Motor Company. A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other The car had fender skirts. Fender skirts, known in Australia as spats, are pieces of Bodywork that cover the upper portions of the rear tires of an automobile The exhaust pipes exited through twin bumper guards, which are bolted to the rear bumper.
Created to act as a retort to the Chevrolet Corvette, it was also the first mass produced edition of all the Ford Thunderbird models. Exactly 53,166 models were produced. It was produced with a Fordomatic or Overdrive transmissions, and featured four-way powered seats and pushbutton interior door handles.
Equipped with a V8 engine, the Thunderbird could hit 110-120 mph. It was a smaller two-seat "personal luxury car", compared to the wallowing barges that roamed all the roads in the 1950s. It was designed to be a brisk luxury tourer, and not a sports car.
For the 1956 model, more trunk space was added, the spare wheel was mounted outside, the exhausts were moved to the ends of the bumper, and air vents were added behind the front wheels to improve cabin ventilation. To improve rear-quarter visibility with the removable hardtop in place, "porthole" windows were made available as a no-cost option. An optional 312 Y-block V8 was made available for those that wanted more performance. The Y-block engine is an Overhead valve V8 Automobile Piston engine from Ford Motor Company. A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other 1956 sales were 15,631, the lowest of all three 2-seater Thunderbird model years.
For 1957, a more radical restyle was performed. The front bumper was reshaped, the grille and tailfins were made larger, and larger tail-lights were fitted. The spare wheel moved inside the trunk again, which had been redesigned to allow it to be mounted vertically. The side "Thunderbird" script moved from the fins to the front fenders. As well as the standard 292 and 312 engines, versions of the 312 were produced in higher states of tune, and even a few McCulloch supercharged versions, rated at 300 and 340 hp (254 kW) respectively. Paxton Automotive is a United States -based manufacturer of Superchargers for Automotive use A supercharger is an air compressor used for Forced induction of an Internal combustion engine. 1957 sales were 21,380, including three extra months of production because the 1958 models were late. The 1957 Thunderbird would be the last two-seater Ford ever built and sold to the public until the 1982 Ford EXP sport compact car. First shown at the Chicago Auto Show and introduced in April 1981 as an early 1982 model the Ford EXP and Mercury LN7 were the first two-seaters A sport compact is a high-performance version of a Compact car or a Subcompact car.
1958-1960 "Square Birds"
| Second generation "Square Birds" | |
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| Production | 1958-1960 |
| Assembly | Wixom, Michigan |
| Body style(s) | 2-door hardtop coupe 2-door convertible |
| Engine(s) | 352 in³ FE V8 430 in³ MEL V8 |
Although the original Thunderbird was successful, the corporation's executives -- particularly Robert McNamara -- felt its sales volume was small. Wixom is a City in Oakland County in the US state of Michigan. Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only A convertible is a type of automobile in which the vehicle's roof can retract and fold away converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle The Ford FE engine was a Ford V8 engine used in vehicles sold in the North American market between 1958 and 1976 A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other Ford developed the MEL ("Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln" engine series for use in their line of Mercury models from 1958 through 1967 A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other Robert Strange McNamara (born June 9 1916 in Oakland, California) is an American business executive and former United States Secretary of Defense Market research suggested that sales were limited by its two-seat configuration, making it unsuitable as an only car for families. The second generation, introduced for the 1958 model year, was designed as a four-seat car.
The four-seat Thunderbird was designed with unibody construction, eschewing a separate chassis. Monocoque, from the French for single ( mono) and shell ( coque) is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external The intent was to allow the maximum interior space in a relatively small exterior package. The new Thunderbirds were produced at a new assembly plant at Wixom, Michigan, built as part of a corporate expansion plan to increase the sales of up-market cars (Mercurys, Lincolns, and Thunderbirds). Wixom is a City in Oakland County in the US state of Michigan.
The new Thunderbird had a distinct new styling theme. The look earned this generation the nickname "Square Bird. " The design was driven entirely by the styling department and approved before the engineering was considered. The design was one of two proposed, styled primarily by Joe Oros, who later worked on the Ford Mustang; the losing proposal, by designer Elwood Engel, was reworked in size to become the 1961 Lincoln Continental. Joseph Oros was an automobile designer for Ford Motor Company. The Ford Mustang sports coupe, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, was initially based on the Ford Falcon Elwood Engel was Chrysler Corporation 's design chief from 1961 until 1974 The Lincoln Continental, an automobile produced by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company, began for the 1939 model year
The new Thunderbird 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. For the UK engine manufacturer see Powertrain Ltd. In a Motor vehicle, the term drivetrain, powertrain or powerplant
Beneath the monocoque construction, the remainder of the engineering was conventional. Monocoque, from the French for single ( mono) and shell ( coque) is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external Ford's new FE-series engine was used, with 352 in³ (5. The Ford FE engine was a Ford V8 engine used in vehicles sold in the North American market between 1958 and 1976 8 L) displacement. Engine displacement is defined as the total Volume of air/fuel mixture an Engine can draw in during one complete engine cycle it is normally stated in Cubic Standard transmission remained a three-speed manual transmission, with optional overdrive or Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission. A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift or just 'stick' 'straight drive' or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in Overdrive can refer to two different things An overdrive is a device which was commonly used in Automobiles to allow the choice of an extra-high overall Gear ratio Ford-O-Matic was the first Automatic transmission used by Ford Motor Company, designed by Borg Warner Corporation (see http//www An automatic transmission (commonly "AT" or "Auto" is an Automobile Gearbox that can change Gear ratios automatically as the vehicle Front suspension was independent, with coil springs and unequal-length A-arms. Independent suspension is a broad term for any Automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same Axle to move vertically (i The rear was initially a live axle suspended by coil springs, which were intended to be interchangeable with optional air springs that were cancelled before production. A live axle is a type of Beam axle suspension system that uses the Driveshafts that transmit power to the wheels to connect the wheels laterally so that A Coil spring, also known as a helical spring, is a mechanical device which is typically used to store energy and subsequently release it to absorb shock or to maintain Air suspension is a type of vehicle suspension powered by an engine driven or electric air pump or Compressor. Drum brakes were used at all four wheels. A drum brake is a Brake in which the Friction is caused by a set of shoes or pads that press against the inner surface of a rotating
Various delays conspired to have production start only on December 20, 1957, much later than the normal September start; the 1957 Thunderbird was thus built for three extra months. Events 69 - Vespasian, formerly a general under Nero, enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor. Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar)
The new Thunderbird captured Motor Trend's Car of the Year award in its debut season. Motor Trend is one of the oldest Automobile magazines still publishing. In the USA Motor Trend magazine was the first to give a Car of the Year award doing so to Cadillac in 1949 (the earliest awards were While many fans of the earlier, two-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). Rambler was an Automobile brand name used by the Thomas B Jeffery Company between 1900 and 1914 then by its successor Nash Motors from 1950 to 1954 Only 2,134 convertibles were built, mostly because the convertible model did not become available until June 1958. A convertible is a type of automobile in which the vehicle's roof can retract and fold away converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle
For the 1959 model year, Ford made changes to the front, rear, and side ornamentation, and made leather upholstery available for the first time. The rear suspension was revised, discarding coil springs for Hotchkiss drive, with parallel leaf springs. The Hotchkiss drive is a system of Power transmission. It was the dominant form of power transmission for front-engine rear-drive cars in the 20th century Originally called laminated or carriage spring, a leaf spring is a simple form of spring, commonly used for the suspension in A new engine, the 430 in³ (7. 0 L) MEL-series, was available in small numbers. Ford developed the MEL ("Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln" engine series for use in their line of Mercury models from 1958 through 1967 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.
With more trim changes, 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. An automotive sunroof is a fixed hinged or sliding opening in an Automobile Roof which allows light and/or fresh air to enter the passenger compartment
At the end of 1960 production 2 1960 Thunderbirds were constructed of Stainless Steel for the Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation at a price of $35,000 each. Because of the properties of stainless steel, the production dies would be destroyed as a result of the stamping of the parts. This was not a problem for Ford, as the next generation of T-Bird was on a new body style. To duplicate the T-Birds 3,957 lb. normal production weight, body panels were made of Type 302 stainless steel, trim pieces out of Type 430 stainless steel. At the time of their production, because of the maximum rolling mill for stainless only produced stock that was 72 inches in width, the 2 cars roofs were constructed of two 42-inch-wide sections which were welded together in the middle. (The roof would have required an 84 inch wide piece of stainless, which apparently could not be obtained). Both Birds received mechanical and interior restorations in the 1980s and survive to this day.
1961-1963 "Bullet Birds"
| Third generation "Bullet Birds" | |
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| Production | 1961-1963 |
| Assembly | Wixom, Michigan |
| Body style(s) | 2-door hardtop coupe 2-door convertible |
| Engine(s) | 390 in³ FE V8 |
1961 saw new and much sleeker "Bullet Bird" styling. Wixom is a City in Oakland County in the US state of Michigan. Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only A convertible is a type of automobile in which the vehicle's roof can retract and fold away converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle The Ford FE engine was a Ford V8 engine used in vehicles sold in the North American market between 1958 and 1976 A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other Sales were strong, if not quite up to record-breaking 1960, at 73,051 including 10,516 convertibles. A new, larger 390 in³ (6. 4 L) FE-series V8 was the only engine available (in 1961). The Ford FE engine was a Ford V8 engine used in vehicles sold in the North American market between 1958 and 1976 A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other The Thunderbird was 1961's Indianapolis 500 pace car, and featured prominently in US President John F. Kennedy's inaugural parade, probably helped along by the appointment of Ford executive Robert McNamara as Secretary of Defense. The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, often shortened to Indianapolis 500 or Indy 500, and historically known simply as "The 500" is an American In Motorsport, a safety car or pace car is a car which limits the speed of competing cars on a racetrack in the case of a caution period such The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy (May 29 1917&ndashNovember 22 1963 often referred to by his initials JFK, was the thirty-fifth President of Robert Strange McNamara (born June 9 1916 in Oakland, California) is an American business executive and former United States Secretary of Defense The United States Secretary of Defense ( SECDEF) is the head of the U
The Thunderbird for 1961 introduced several firsts for the automotive market. The most distinctive feature of the 1961 to 1963 Thunderbirds was the highly touted 'Swing Away' steering wheel. With the transmission in the park position the steering wheel would slide approximately 18 inches to the right allowing the driver to exit the vehicle easily. Other innovations include a floating rear view mirror. Common on all autos produced today, this feature was first found on 1961 Thunderbirds. Depending on variable options Thunderbirds for 1961 could be purchased with options like air conditioning, power windows, power seats, AM radio, fender skirts and white wall tires. Several standard features, like power steering and power brakes, back up lights and bucket seats were costly options on most other autos.
1962 saw strong production figures of 78,011 (including 9,884 convertibles) and the introduction of the Thunderbird Sports Roadster. The Sports Roadster was a limited production version of the convertible which added 48 spoke Kelsey Hayes designed wire wheels, special badges to the front fenders and a passenger side grab bar to the front dashboard. The most striking addition to the Sports Roadster was a fiberglass tonneau cover which covered the back seat of the car and created a two seater appearance. 1,427 Sports Roadsters were produced in 1962, including 120 models with the special M Code option noted below. Early models suffered from problems related to their specially designed wire wheels. The problem was quickly corrected when Elvis Presley was involved in an accident when one of the Kelsey Hayes wheels collapsed during hard turning.
Another addition for 1962 was a special engine code (VIN engine code M) which added a tripower or three two barrel setup to a higher compression version of the Ford 390CI engine. This engine used 406 heads as well as the same carburetors that were found on the high performance 406 powered Ford Galaxies but with a modified version of the intake manifold to allow for proper air flow under the engine. This engine boasted 345 hp (257 kW) but was considered a moderate failure. The engine option was quietly discontinued halfway through the mid 1963 production run.
Also introduced in 1962 was the Landau model, with a vinyl roof and simulated S-bars on the rear pillars. Landau, when used in referencing an Automobile, generally means a simulated Convertible. Vinyl roof refers to a Vinyl covering for an automobile's top This was the beginning of the 1960s/1970s fashion for vinyl roof treatments, and a vinyl roof was a popular Thunderbird feature for the next twenty years.
Changes for 1963 were relatively mild. Some additions to the option list included vacuum assisted door locks and an AM/FM radio and a remote power drivers side mirror became standard. 1963's numbers were down at 63,313. The Landau became the number 2 model after the standard hardtop, at 12,193 sold. Landaus added simulated wood grain trim to go along with the landau top. In addition a Limited Edition "Principality of Monaco" Landau model was introduced. This Corinthian White car, with a white leather interior was personalized with a plaque displaying the owner's name and the car's limited production number, was limited to and sold only 2,000 units. Only 5,913 convertibles and 455 Sports Roadsters sold, indicating a decline in convertible popularity at the time.
There was some speculation that due to the wedge appearance that the Thunderbird would be renamed as a Lincoln to coincide with the new Lincoln Continental introduced at this time
1964-1966 "Flair Birds"
| Fourth generation "Flair Birds" | |
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| Production | 1964-1966 |
| Assembly | Wixom, Michigan |
| Body style(s) | 2-door hardtop coupe 2-door convertible |
| Engine(s) | 390 in³ FE V8 427 in³ FE V8 (Very Rare) 428 in³ FE V8 (1966) |
For 1964 the Thunderbird was restyled in favor of a more squared-off, "formal" look. The Thunderbird's sporty image had by that time become only an image. The standard 390 cu. in. 300 bhp (224 kW) engine needed nearly 11 seconds to push the heavy T-bird to 60 mph (96 km/h), although with enough room a top speed of about 120 mph (200 km/h) was obtainable. The softly sprung suspension allowed considerable body lean, wallow, and float except on smoothly surfaced highways; there was an export suspension package available as special order. Contemporary testers felt that the Buick Riviera and Pontiac Grand Prix were substantially more road-able cars, but the Thunderbird remained the leader of the market segment. The Buick Riviera was an Automobile produced by Buick in the United States from the 1963 to 1999 Model years with 1127261 produced The Pontiac Grand Prix was an automobile that was produced by the Pontiac division of General Motors.
The revised 'bird was initially offered as a hardtop, a convertible, or Landau, with vinyl roof and simulated landau irons. The tonneau cover and wire wheels of the Sports Roadster remained available as a dealer-installed option, although only 50 were sold from the factory. Total 1964 sales were excellent: 92,465, up nearly 50% from the previous year. The 1964 Thunderbird was the only car to have the word 'Thunderbird' on the front hood below the image of the thunderbird.
Several features intended for the new generation were delayed until 1965, when front disc brakes became standard equipment and sequential turn signals were added. The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a Wheel. The latter feature flashed the individual segments of the broad, horizontal tail lights in sequences from inside to outside to indicate a turn. The delay resulted from legal difficulties with various U. S. state laws on vehicle lighting. Sales, impacted by increasing competition (including from Ford's own Mustang), dipped to 74,972. The Ford Mustang sports coupe, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, was initially based on the Ford Falcon
For 1966 the 390 cu. in. V8's power was increased to 315 bhp (235 kW). The larger 428 cu. in. (7. 0 L) V-8 became optional, rated at 345 gross horsepower (257. 4 kW) and providing a notable improvement in 0-60 acceleration (to about 9 seconds). The watt (symbol W) is the SI derived unit of power, equal to one Joule of energy per Second. A new Town Hardtop model was offered, featured a roof with blind quarter panels for a more 'formal' look (at the cost of rear visibility). The Landau model was replaced by the Town Landau, which retained the previous model's padded roof and landau S-bars, but applied them to the Town Hardtop's formal roof. The Town Landau was by far the best-selling model, accounting for 35,105 of the 1966 model's 69,176 sales.
There was a very rare special order 427 available through certain Ford dealers for 1963-1965 Thunderbirds, 120 of these "high performance" models were made. Only six are still known to exist today. It is documented that Bob Tasca, a well known drag racer of the 1960s, ordered a factory-fitted 427 1964 Thunderbird with an export suspension and had custom body work done by Alexander Bros. Custom Shop in Detroit. The Birds Performance was said to do 0-60 mph in 6 seconds flat with a top speed of 135 mph (217 km/h). The car's current whereabouts are currently unknown. There is a link to another 427 Thunderbird at the bottom of this page.
A black 1964 "Flair Bird" convertible later had a major role in the TV series Highlander: The Series as protagonist Duncan Macleod’s main mode of transportation. Highlander The Series is an English language Fantasy / Sci-fi Television series featuring Duncan MacLeod ( Adrian Paul A green 1966 Thunderbird convertible was prominently featured in the 1991 film Thelma & Louise, starring Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis, and directed by Ridley Scott. Thelma & Louise is a 1991 American Road movie which breaks with tradition by featuring two female leads Susan Sarandon (born Susan Abigail Tomalin; October 4 1946 is an American Actress. Virginia Elizabeth "Geena" Davis (born January 21, 1956) is an Academy Award - and Golden Globe -winning and Emmy -nominated Sir Ridley Scott (born November 30 1937 in South Shields, Tyne and Wear) is a British Academy Award Nominated and Golden Globe Emmy Award and BAFTA Award winning A red 1966 Thunderbird convertible was featured in the 1983 film The Outsiders and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The Outsiders is a Film adaptation of the novel of the same name by S Francis Ford "Frank" Coppola (born April 7, 1939) is a five-time Academy Award -winning American Film director,
1967-1969 "Glamour Birds"
| Fifth generation "Glamour Birds" | |
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| Production | 1967-1969 |
| Assembly | Wixom, Michigan |
| Body style(s) | 2-door hardtop coupe 2-door landau 4-door pillared hardtop landau |
| Engine(s) | 390 in³ FE V8 (1967-68) 428 in³ FE V8 (1967) 429 in³ 385 V8 (1968-71) |
| Related | Lincoln Continental Mark III |
This fifth generation saw the second major change of direction for the Thunderbird. Wixom is a City in Oakland County in the US state of Michigan. Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only Landau, when used in referencing an Automobile, generally means a simulated Convertible. The Ford FE engine was a Ford V8 engine used in vehicles sold in the North American market between 1958 and 1976 A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other The Ford FE engine was a Ford V8 engine used in vehicles sold in the North American market between 1958 and 1976 A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other The Ford 385 engine family (the name coming from the 385 inch crankshaft stroke of the 460 V8 was the American Ford Motor Company 's final Big block V8 A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other See Lincoln Mark for a complete overview of the Lincoln Mark Series The Thunderbird had fundamentally remained the same in concept through 1966, even though the styling had been updated twice. The introduction of the Ford Mustang in early 1964 had, however, challenged the Thunderbird's market positioning. The Ford Mustang sports coupe, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, was initially based on the Ford Falcon It, like the Thunderbird, was a small, two-door, four-seater with sporting pretensions, but it was substantially cheaper. The Thunderbird's sales suffered. Ford's response was to move the Thunderbird upmarket, while some fans of the classic Thunderbird consider 1966 to be the last year of interest.
For 1967 the Thunderbird would be a larger car, moving it closer to Lincoln as the company chose to emphasise the "luxury" part of the "personal luxury car" designation. Lincoln is an American Luxury car manufacturer operated under the Ford Motor Company. Luxury vehicle is a marketing term for a vehicle that provides luxury &mdash that which is beyond strict necessity &mdash in exchange for increased cost to the buyer Ford chose to abandon the Thunderbird's traditional unibody construction for this larger car, turning to a body-on-frame method with sophisticated rubber mountings between the two to reduce vibration and noise. Monocoque, from the French for single ( mono) and shell ( coque) is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external
The convertible, increasingly a slow seller, was dropped. Instead, the company introduced a four-door model. The rear doors were backward-opening suicide doors as on the 1960s Lincoln Continental. A suicide door is a Car door that is hinged on the edge closer to the rear of the vehicle known as the trailing edge The Lincoln Continental, an automobile produced by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company, began for the 1939 model year The four-door would remain available through 1971 but never generated substantial sales.
The new 1968 Lincoln Continental Mark III was based on the four-door Thunderbird chassis, and from that point until the late Nineties, Thunderbirds and Continental Marks were generally related cars, the Thunderbird following the Mark's growth to enormity in the 1972 model year. See Lincoln Mark for a complete overview of the Lincoln Mark Series The Mercury Cougar also often shared components. The Mercury Cougar was an Automobile sold under the Mercury brand of the Ford Motor Company 's Lincoln-Mercury Division
The 1967 styling would be radically different from what came before. Ford's stylists delivered a radical shape that in many ways anticipated the styling trends of the next five years. A gaping wide "fishmouth" front grille that incorporated hidden headlights was the most obvious new feature. The look was clearly influenced by the intakes on jet fighters such as the F-100 Super Sabre, and was enhanced by the flush-fitting front bumper incorporating the bottom "lip" of the "mouth". The sides were the barrel-like "fuselage" style that was very popular during this period. The belt line kicked up "coke-bottle" style after the rear windows, again a styling trait that would prove ubiquitous. Large C-pillars (and a small "formal" rear window on the 4-door) meant poor rear visibility but were the fashion of the time. The taillights spanned the full width of the car, and featured, as in previous Thunderbird models, sequential turn signals.
The 1968 Thunderbird saw the introduction of the new 385 series big-block 429c. i. motors. Like most Ford motors of the time, they were "underrated" at 360hp for insurance reasons. The Thunderbird motors also got special treatment with wedge style heads, making a significant power increase over their conventional headed brothers. These motors made the "Glamour Birds" some of the quickest and fastest ever produced, despite their larger size and heavier body on frame construction. 1986 and 1969 model years saw minor trim changes respectively.
1970-1971 "Bunkie's Birds"
| Sixth generation "Bunkie's Birds" | |
|---|---|
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| Production | 1970-1971 |
| Assembly | Wixom, Michigan |
| Body style(s) | 2-door hardtop coupe 2-door landau 4-door pillared hardtop landau |
| Engine(s) | 429 in³ 385 V8 |
| Related | Lincoln Continental Mark III |
Although sharing the same platform and many of the same parts of the 1967-69 models the 1970 Thunderbird saw a major change to its style: a big eagle's beak out front! Offered in coupe or sports-back models, all 1970-1971 Thunderbirds had prominent angular lines on the hood leading to a jutting tip, that also formed the center of the grill work, that was not a too thinly disguised bird beak. Wixom is a City in Oakland County in the US state of Michigan. Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only Landau, when used in referencing an Automobile, generally means a simulated Convertible. The Ford 385 engine family (the name coming from the 385 inch crankshaft stroke of the 460 V8 was the American Ford Motor Company 's final Big block V8 A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other See Lincoln Mark for a complete overview of the Lincoln Mark Series The T-bird for these two years had its most animalistic look that was fairly aggressive in appearance. Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen, the former GM man now President of Ford, is said to be responsible for this dramatic change, as a result some have come to call the 1970/71 models 'Bunkie Beak Birds'. Semon E "Bunkie" Knudsen, (born October 2, 1912 in Buffalo New York - died July 6, 1998 in Bloomfield Hills Michigan As with the 1967-69 models, the 1970-71 models had sequential turn signals incorporated into the full panel tail lights in the rear of the vehicle.
In 1971, Neiman Marcus offered "his and hers" Thunderbirds in its catalog, with telephones, tape recorders and other niceties. Neiman Marcus is an upscale specialty retail Department store, operated by the Neiman Marcus Group in the United States. They retailed for US$25,000 for the pair. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been
1972-1976 "Big Birds"
| Seventh generation "Big Birds" | |
|---|---|
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| Production | 1972-1976 |
| Assembly | Wixom, Michigan |
| Body style(s) | 2-door hardtop coupe |
| Engine(s) | 429 in³ 385 V8 (1972-73) 460 in³ 385 V8 (1972-76) |
| Related | Lincoln Continental Mark IV |
Seventh generation Thunderbirds debuted in the fall of 1971. Wixom is a City in Oakland County in the US state of Michigan. Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only The Ford 385 engine family (the name coming from the 385 inch crankshaft stroke of the 460 V8 was the American Ford Motor Company 's final Big block V8 A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other The Ford 385 engine family (the name coming from the 385 inch crankshaft stroke of the 460 V8 was the American Ford Motor Company 's final Big block V8 A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other See Lincoln Mark for a complete overview of the Lincoln Mark Series These were the biggest Thunderbirds produced, sharing a common body with the Lincoln Continental Mark IV. They rode on a 120. 4-inch (3,058 mm) wheelbase, measured 225 inches (5,715 mm) overall by 1976. Prices rose also, with the 1976 Thunderbird listing at $7,790 without options. They housed massive 429 CID (7 L) that was standard in 1972 and 1973 or the optional 460 CID (7. 5 L) V8 engine, which was made standard for 1974 through 1976. A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other These cars weighed in at around 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg). Due to their enormous proportions and large engines gas mileage was abysmal. These cars averaged anywhere from 8 mpg (US) (29 L/100 km/9. 6 mpg imp) to 12 mpg (US) (20 L/100 km/14 mpg imp) depending on driving conditions. With the 1973 oil crisis taking its toll on the United States, automobiles were forced to downsize and become more efficient. The 1973 oil crisis began on October 17 1973 when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC consisting of the Arab members of The United States of America —commonly referred to as the
The 1972 Thunderbird represented a scaling down of body styles. Instead of the three body styles offered for the 1971 model year, Ford offered Thunderbird in only a two door hardtop form. The body shared many components with the new Lincoln Mark VI, the main differences being the front and rear ends. The prominent “beak” of 1971 was toned down and the full width tail lights lost the sequential turns signals of the previous cars. The interior was also shared with the Mark VI, the only difference being the dash. The 1972-76 dash utilized round gauges, speedometer, fuel gauge, and clock, as opposed to the Mark VI square gauges. To the driver’s left were the climate control controls and the light controls. To the right were the radio controls, wiper controls, and information center. This dash layout would remain through the 1976 model year. Base price was $5,293 and a total of 57,814 for the model year.
For 1973 Thunderbird would increase both in size and price. To accommodate the larger bumpers mandated for all 1973 automobiles, the front was restyled with an egg crate grill, topped by a spring loaded hood ornament, flanked by the quad headlight in individual nacelles. The turn signals were more prominent at the fender edges. Also new to the exterior were opera windows, first optional, then standard late in the model year. Power windows ($129), vinyl roof ($141), manual air conditioning ($436), and tinted glass ($51), were also made standard during the model year. Some new options included AM/FM 8-track tape player ($311), remote control right hand outside mirror ($26), and an anti-theft system ($79). Some optional equipment available included sure-track brakes, an early anti-lock braking system ($197), power sunroof ($504), power door locks ($59 ), cruise control ($103 ) and the 460 cid V8 ($76 ). 1973 was the last year for the 429 and leaded gas. Base price was $5,577 early in the model year and $6,414 later due to additions to the standard equipment list. A total of 87,269 Thunderbirds were built making this the third highest production figure to date.
 Rear view of 1973 Thunderbird |
 Front view of 1973 Thunderbird |
 Rear view of 1973 Thunderbird |
 Interior view of 1973 Thunderbird |
 Interior view of 1973 Thunderbird |
 1975 Thunderbird at car show |
1974 would see more changes made in response to new federal regulations. The only engine available was the 460 cid requiring unleaded fuel and the stronger bumpers in the rear. The full width taillights were replaced by four light segments separated by a central back-up light and the gas filler door was moved from behind the license plate to the drivers side rear panel. 1974 was the first year for special luxury group trim options, the burgundy luxury group ($411) and the white and gold luxury group ($546). These groups added upgraded paint and exterior and interior trim. Standard equipment remained unchanged but there were several new items listed as optional. Some of the most notable, and costly, included power moon roof ($798), auto lamp for automatic on/off of headlights ($34), and power mini-vent windows ($70). AM/FM stereo ($152) or with tape player ($311), power drivers seat ($105), dual power front seats ($210), rear window defroster ($85), power antenna ($31), automatic temperature control ($74), and front corning lights ($ 43) also appeared on the option list. Base price was $7,221 and 58,443 were produced for the model year.
Little changed for 1975 save new luxury groups and more items added to the standard equipment list. 1975 would have the most extensive list of standard equipment of any year Thunderbird from 1955 to 1997. Some items made standard this year were, AM/FM stereo, front corning lights, and front and rear stabilizer bars. The special editions luxury groups returned being named copper luxury group ($624), silver luxury group ($337), and jade luxury group ($624). The wide range options available changed little but four wheel disc brakes ($ 184) were available for the time. Power was still supplied by the 460 cid V8 rated at 220 net horsepower. Base price was $7,701 with a production of 42,685.
1976 was the last model year for the seventh generation. Some items that were standard in 1975 were moved to the options list. Some items returning to the option list included, AM/FM stereo, front cornering lights, and tinted glass. Additionally the rear windows became stationary. This move was to keep cost down and was also shared by the 1976 Mark IV. The 1976 luxury groups were crème and gold ($793 ), lipstick ($546 ), and Bordeaux ($700 ). New options included driver's lighted vanity mirror ($43), power lumbar drivers seat, ($86), AM/FM stereo search radio ($298), and AM/FM stereo radio with Quadra sonic 8-track tape player ($382). An auto dimmer was added to the autolamp option. Base price was $7,790 with a total of 52,935 cars produced.
 1976 Thunderbird shows the larger rear bumper and location of the fuel door |
.jpg/120px-76tbirddash_(2).jpg) '76 Thunderbird dash |
1976 would be the last year of the up market Thunderbird. For 1977 Thunderbird was moved to an intermediate, competing with the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Oldsmobile Cutlass and Pontiac Grand Prix. The car lost its relationship to Lincoln and became essentially an upscale LTD II, sharing much of the latter cars design and interior layout. With a base price in the $5,100 range, a drop of over $2,700, many of the standard features of the 1972-1976 cars moved to the options list or not available.
1977-1979 "Torino Birds" A. K. A. "Birds of a Feather"
| Eighth generation "Torino Birds" A. K. A. "Birds of a Feather" | |
|---|---|
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| Production | 1977-1979 |
| Assembly | Wixom, Michigan |
| Body style(s) | 2-door hardtop coupe |
| Engine(s) | 302 in³ Windsor V8 351 in³ 351M V8 400 in³ Cleveland V8 |
| Related | Ford LTD II Mercury Cougar |
For the 1977 through 1979 model years, the Thunderbird nameplate was shifted to the smaller 114" wheelbase chassis that underpinned the 1972-76 Ford Torino and its replacement, the concurrent 1977-79 LTD II, as Ford's first effort at downsizing the car. Wixom is a City in Oakland County in the US state of Michigan. Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only The Windsor engine is a 90-degree Small-block V8 from Ford Motor Company. A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other The Ford 335 engine family were a group of small-block V8 engines built by the Ford Motor Company between 1970 and 1982 A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other The Ford 335 engine family were a group of small-block V8 engines built by the Ford Motor Company between 1970 and 1982 A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other The Ford LTD II was a Mid-size car built by the Ford Motor Company between 1977 and 1979 for the North American market The Mercury Cougar was an Automobile sold under the Mercury brand of the Ford Motor Company 's Lincoln-Mercury Division The Ford Torino was an intermediate car produced by the Ford Motor Company for the North American market between 1968 and 1976 The Ford LTD II was a Mid-size car built by the Ford Motor Company between 1977 and 1979 for the North American market The squarer, sharper styling was popular, and this generation of Thunderbird sold well. Helped by a $2,700 drop in price from 1976, this generation was by far the most popular in Thunderbird history, with sales in excess of 300,000 units in both 1977 and 1978, almost 300,000 in 1979. In essence, this generation was really a continuation of the 1974-76 Ford Elite, Ford's successful first attempt at competing in the market created by the Pontiac Grand Prix and Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The Ford Elite was an Automobile produced by the Ford Motor Company for the North American market from 1974 to 1976 The Pontiac Grand Prix was an automobile that was produced by the Pontiac division of General Motors. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was an American-made automobile Originally introduced by Chevrolet for the 1970 model year (as competition with the Ford Thunderbird
Compared to the enormous 1972-1976 T-Birds, the car lost 10 inches (254 mm) of length and 900 lb (408 kg) of weight, while height and width were essentially unchanged. A substantial part of the weight reduction was in the drivetrain, where a small-block V8 replaced the heavy big-block V8 of previous years. The cylinder block or engine block is a machined casting (or sometimes an assembly of modules containing cylindrically bored holes for the Pistons of a multi-cylinder A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other The cylinder block or engine block is a machined casting (or sometimes an assembly of modules containing cylindrically bored holes for the Pistons of a multi-cylinder
The standard engine outside of California was the Ford 302 Windsor (5. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The Windsor engine is a 90-degree Small-block V8 from Ford Motor Company. 0 L), while the larger 351M (5. The Ford 335 engine family were a group of small-block V8 engines built by the Ford Motor Company between 1970 and 1982 8 L) or 400 (6. The Ford 335 engine family were a group of small-block V8 engines built by the Ford Motor Company between 1970 and 1982 6 L) & T-tops were available as options along with the 351 W. In California, the 351 was the only engine available. Although power was definitely down by 1977, the lighter car did compensate.
1980-1982 "Silver Birds" - A. K. A. "Box Birds"
| Ninth generation "Silver Birds" - A. K. A. "Box Birds" | |
|---|---|
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| Production | 1980-1982 |
| Assembly | Lorain, Ohio |
| Body style(s) | 2-door coupe |
| Platform | Ford Fox platform |
| Engine(s) | 200 in³ Thriftpower Six I6 (Late 1980-1982) 232 in³ Essex V6(1982) 255 in³ Windsor V8 302 in³ Windsor V8(1980-1981). Lorain is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie, at the mouth Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only An automobile platform is a shared set of common design engineering and production efforts as well as major components over a number of outwardly distinct models and even types of The Ford Fox platform was a Rear wheel drive, Unibody automobile architecture that Ford used for 26 years in the North American market Ford 's first Straight-6 engine was introduced in 1906 in the Model K. The straight-6 or inline-6 engine (often abbreviated I6 or L6) is a six cylinder Internal combustion engine with all six cylinders See also Ford Essex V6 engine (UK The Ford Essex V6 engine was a 90° V6 engine family built by Ford Motor Company at the The Windsor engine is a 90-degree Small-block V8 from Ford Motor Company. A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other The Windsor engine is a 90-degree Small-block V8 from Ford Motor Company. A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other |
| Related | Ford Fairmont Ford Mustang Mercury Capri Mercury Cougar Mercury Zephyr Ford Granada |
For a post-fuel-crisis America. See Ford Fairmont (Australia for the Australian built vehicle of the same name The Ford Mustang sports coupe, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, was initially based on the Ford Falcon The name Mercury Capri has been used for several different Cars over the years The Mercury Cougar was an Automobile sold under the Mercury brand of the Ford Motor Company 's Lincoln-Mercury Division For other Ford related cars called Zephyr see Ford Zephyr, Lincoln-Zephyr, and Lincoln Zephyr The Mercury Zephyr was a The Ford Granada was an intermediate sized car built and marketed by Ford Motor Company in North America from 1975 to 1982 along with a twin model the 1980 saw a new downsized Thunderbird that was an upmarket derivative of the Ford Fairmont sedan with nicer trim. See Ford Fairmont (Australia for the Australian built vehicle of the same name The 1980 Thunderbird was a unibody car, weighing 800 lb (363 kg) less than the 1979 model, and was 17 in. Monocoque, from the French for single ( mono) and shell ( coque) is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external (432 mm) shorter. It was based on the Fox platform, and the lighter weight resulted in better gas mileage. The Ford Fox platform was a Rear wheel drive, Unibody automobile architecture that Ford used for 26 years in the North American market
The Box Birds were not well received by the general public, and sales dropped off dramatically after 1980. T-Bird didn't come with aggressive engine options. It had a base 4. 2 L V8, or a 130 hp (97 kW) 5. 0 L V8 optional. A 3. 3 L I6 was offered as a delete option in late built 1980 models and made the standard powerplant in 1981. Mercury's version of this car was the Cougar XR-7. Mercury is an Automobile Marque of the Ford Motor Company founded in 1939 by Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford, to market entry-level-luxury The Mercury Cougar was an Automobile sold under the Mercury brand of the Ford Motor Company 's Lincoln-Mercury Division The squarish upright lines favored by Ford design vice-president Eugene Bordinat, similar to the popular 1977-79 models, didn't translate well to the smaller platform. The 3. 8 L V6 was made available as an option in 1982. The 5. 0 L V8 was dropped in 1982.
They were luxuriously appointed, and fuel efficient for their size. The six cylinder models were known to get up to 30 US mpg with the 5. 0L V8 models getting 25 US mpg with the Ford AOD transmission and 3. The AOD (for automatic overdrive was a four-speed Automatic transmission with Overdrive. 08 rear axle ratio. The 1980–1982 Thunderbirds offered vacuum operated flip-up headlights, and were the only Fox-body cars to have them. Digital instrumentation was also available, along with a variety of trim packages. The 1980 Thunderbird was also among the first cars qith a keyless entry keypad available. Recaro bucket seats were optional, and power windows were available. RECARO GmbH & Co KG, commonly known as Recaro, is a German company based in Kirchheim unter Teck in the vicinity of Stuttgart, known for their Though somewhat underpowered, they drove well, could easily keep pace with traffic on the open road, and offered considerable luxury in their size class.
Power was somewhat scarce due to the new emissions control laws coming into effect in the late 1970s, resulting in the biggest engine, the 5. 0L V8, making only 130 hp (97 kW).
1983-1986 "Aero Birds"
| Tenth generation "Aero Birds" | |
|---|---|
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| Production | 1983-1986 |
| Assembly | Lorain, Ohio |
| Body style(s) | 2-door coupe |
| Platform | Ford Fox platform |
| Engine(s) | 2. Lorain is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie, at the mouth Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only An automobile platform is a shared set of common design engineering and production efforts as well as major components over a number of outwardly distinct models and even types of The Ford Fox platform was a Rear wheel drive, Unibody automobile architecture that Ford used for 26 years in the North American market 3 L Lima I4 (turbo) 3. The Ford Pinto engine is the unofficial but generic nickname for a 4 cylinder Internal combustion engine built by the Ford Europe. The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders A turbocharger, or turbo, is an air Compressor used for forced-induction of an Internal combustion engine. 8 L Essex V6 5. See also Ford Essex V6 engine (UK The Ford Essex V6 engine was a 90° V6 engine family built by Ford Motor Company at the A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders 0 L Windsor V8 |
| Transmission(s) | 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 104. The Windsor engine is a 90-degree Small-block V8 from Ford Motor Company. A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other An automatic transmission (commonly "AT" or "Auto" is an Automobile Gearbox that can change Gear ratios automatically as the vehicle A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift or just 'stick' 'straight drive' or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in In both road and rail Vehicles the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels 2 in (2647 mm) |
| Length | 202. 1 in (5133 mm) |
| Width | 71. 1 in (1806 mm) |
| Height | 53. 4 in (1356 mm) |
| Related | Ford LTD Ford Mustang Lincoln Continental Mark VII Mercury Capri Mercury Cougar Mercury Marquis |
| Designer | Jack Telnack |
1983 saw a much improved and aerodynamic car and the launch of the Turbo Coupe, and a much sportier image. The Ford Mustang sports coupe, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, was initially based on the Ford Falcon See Lincoln Mark for a complete overview of the Lincoln Mark Series The name Mercury Capri has been used for several different Cars over the years The Mercury Cougar was an Automobile sold under the Mercury brand of the Ford Motor Company 's Lincoln-Mercury Division The Mercury Marquis was a vehicle produced by the Ford Motor Company under its Mercury brand from 1967 to 1986 Jack Telnack (born as "John J Telnack" in 1937 was the former global Vice President of Design of the Ford Motor Company from 1980 to 1997 Reputedly, in 1980 following a change in leadership, the new chief designer Jack Telnack was asked by executive Don Petersen "is this what you would want in your driveway?" Telnack's negative response prompted a redesign of the Thunderbird with the aero style that subsequently flowed on through the Taurus, Sierra and various Lincolns. Jack Telnack (born as "John J Telnack" in 1937 was the former global Vice President of Design of the Ford Motor Company from 1980 to 1997 The Ford Taurus is an Automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. The Ford Sierra is a Large family car built by Ford Europe from 1982 until 1993 Lincoln is an American Luxury car manufacturer operated under the Ford Motor Company. In 1987, the Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe was redesigned and came with such notable features as automatic ride control, anti-lock brakes, and the intercooled turbocharged engine similar to that of the Ford Mustang SVO. The Thunderbird is an automobile manufactured by Ford in the United States from 1955 through 2005 &mdash through thirteen generations and various The Ford Mustang sports coupe, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, was initially based on the Ford Falcon All this resulted in a personal luxury car that produced 190 horsepower (142 kW) from a 2. 3 L 4-cylinder engine and had a 146 mph (235 km/h) top speed. The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders The Turbo Coupe was Motor Trend's Car of the Year for 1987. In the USA Motor Trend magazine was the first to give a Car of the Year award doing so to Cadillac in 1949 (the earliest awards were
The 1983 Ford Thunderbird was built on the same "Fox platform" as many other Ford products including the 1980-82 Thunderbird and the Ford Mustang. The Ford Fox platform was a Rear wheel drive, Unibody automobile architecture that Ford used for 26 years in the North American market The Ford Mustang sports coupe, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, was initially based on the Ford Falcon Unlike the previous generation T-Bird, the new-for-1983 model was redesigned with a more aerodynamic look. The drag coefficient of this body style was a mere 0. The drag coefficient ( Cd, Cx or Cw) is a Dimensionless quantity that describes how streamlined an 35. The 1983 T-Bird came in base, Heritage, and Turbo Coupe models. Both the base and the Heritage came standard with a 3. 8 L (232 in³) Essex V6 that produced 110 horsepower (82 kW) mated to a 3 speed automatic. See also Ford Essex V6 engine (UK The Ford Essex V6 engine was a 90° V6 engine family built by Ford Motor Company at the A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders An automatic transmission (commonly "AT" or "Auto" is an Automobile Gearbox that can change Gear ratios automatically as the vehicle A new 5. 0 L (302 in³) Windsor V8 with 140 horsepower (104 kW) was available with the former two models as well. The Windsor engine is a 90-degree Small-block V8 from Ford Motor Company. A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other The Turbo Coupe, the top-of-the-line model was special for several reasons. It used a 2. 3 L (140 in³) turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with Ford's EEC-IV electronic engine control system. The Ford Pinto engine is the unofficial but generic nickname for a 4 cylinder Internal combustion engine built by the Ford Europe. Unlike the other models, the Turbo Coupe came with a standard 5-speed manual transmission. A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift or just 'stick' 'straight drive' or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in Other improvements included a limited-slip differential (called "Traction-Lok"), larger tires and wheels, and a sportier interior complete with analog gauges. A limited slip differential ( LSD) is a modified or derived type of differential gear arrangement that allows for some difference in rotational Velocity
For 1984, the Thunderbird few changes were made. The Turbo Coupe gained a 3-speed automatic transmission as an option. An automatic transmission (commonly "AT" or "Auto" is an Automobile Gearbox that can change Gear ratios automatically as the vehicle A "FILA" model was available, which featured unique paint and wheel choices, as well as badging to provide the car a more European feel.
By 1985, the Turbo Coupe gained power to 155 horsepower (116 kW), and all models received a new interior. A 30th Anniversary Edition model was offered, that featured unique blue paint and stripes, and came very well loaded with options. It was loosely based on the Elan model and most models came with the V8. Minor changes were made in 1986, including a center high mount stop lamp, and the deletion of the FILA edition.
1987-1988 "Bubble Birds"
| Eleventh generation "Bubble Birds" | |
|---|---|
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| Production | 1987-1988r |
| Assembly | Lorain, Ohio |
| Body style(s) | 2-door coupe |
| Platform | Ford Fox platform |
| Engine(s) | 2. Lorain is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie, at the mouth Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only An automobile platform is a shared set of common design engineering and production efforts as well as major components over a number of outwardly distinct models and even types of The Ford Fox platform was a Rear wheel drive, Unibody automobile architecture that Ford used for 26 years in the North American market 3 L Lima I4 (turbo) 3. The Ford Pinto engine is the unofficial but generic nickname for a 4 cylinder Internal combustion engine built by the Ford Europe. The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders A turbocharger, or turbo, is an air Compressor used for forced-induction of an Internal combustion engine. 8 L Essex V6 5. See also Ford Essex V6 engine (UK The Ford Essex V6 engine was a 90° V6 engine family built by Ford Motor Company at the A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders 0 L Windsor V8 |
| Transmission(s) | 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 104. The Windsor engine is a 90-degree Small-block V8 from Ford Motor Company. A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other An automatic transmission (commonly "AT" or "Auto" is an Automobile Gearbox that can change Gear ratios automatically as the vehicle A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift or just 'stick' 'straight drive' or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in In both road and rail Vehicles the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels 2 in (2647 mm) |
| Length | 202. 1 in (5133 mm) |
| Width | 71. 1 in (1806 mm) |
| Height | 53. 4 in (1356 mm) |
| Related | Ford LTD Ford Mustang Lincoln Continental Mark VII Mercury Capri Mercury Cougar Mercury Marquis |
| Designer | Jack Telnack |
By 1986, Ford was already hard at work on the so-called "MN12" project. The Ford Mustang sports coupe, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, was initially based on the Ford Falcon See Lincoln Mark for a complete overview of the Lincoln Mark Series The name Mercury Capri has been used for several different Cars over the years The Mercury Cougar was an Automobile sold under the Mercury brand of the Ford Motor Company 's Lincoln-Mercury Division The Mercury Marquis was a vehicle produced by the Ford Motor Company under its Mercury brand from 1967 to 1986 Jack Telnack (born as "John J Telnack" in 1937 was the former global Vice President of Design of the Ford Motor Company from 1980 to 1997 The Ford MN12 platform (Mid-size North America Project #12 was a two-door car platform formerly used by the Ford Motor Company from 1989 to 1997 for the Supposed to compete against the BMW 6-Series, Ford believed that the new Thunderbird would be too big a change for the public and still wanted to capitalize on the success that the "Aero-Bird" brought. BMW 6 Series refers to two generations of Automobile from BMW, both being based on their contemporary 5 Series sedans So for 1987, the body shell and interior were altered, replacing the Elan were new LX and Sport models. The latter came with the V8 while the LX came with the V6. The Turbo Coupe earned the honor of being the Motor Trend Car of the Year for 1987. In the USA Motor Trend magazine was the first to give a Car of the Year award doing so to Cadillac in 1949 (the earliest awards were The 2. 3 L turbo-4 now included the air-to-air intercooler that was found in the Ford Mustang SVO and boosted power up to 190 horsepower (142 kW) for the 5-speed manual transmission. The Mustang SVO was a limited-production version of the Ford Mustang sold from 1984 to 1986, during which time it was the fastest most expensive version A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift or just 'stick' 'straight drive' or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in New for the Turbo Coupe was a 4-speed automatic rated at 150 horsepower (112 kW). The automatic had detuned turbo boost of 9. 5 lbf/in² (65. 5 kPa or 0. 655 bar) instead of 10 to 15 lbf/in² (70 to 100 kPa or 0. 69 to 1. 03 bar). Ford's rationale for that was "transmission durability". Otherwise, the Turbo Coupe also came with anti-lock 4-wheel disc brakes, Automatic Ride Control, and 16-inch 225/60VR performance tires.
1988, the final year for the Turbo Coupe, saw only a minor change. The 5-speed manual transmission now allowed the full 15 lbf/in² of boost in all forward gears (as opposed to excluding the first two gears). The Turbo Coupe was replaced in 1989 by the Super Coupe which had a 3. The Thunderbird is an automobile manufactured by Ford in the United States from 1955 through 2005 &mdash through thirteen generations and various 8 L supercharged V6 engine—a radical departure from the old turbo-4. A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders
1989-1997 "Super Birds"
| Twelfth generation "Super Birds" | |
|---|---|
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| Production | 1989-1997 |
| Assembly | Lorain, Ohio |
| Body style(s) | 2-door coupe |
| Platform | Ford MN12 platform |
| Engine(s) | 3. Lorain is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie, at the mouth Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only An automobile platform is a shared set of common design engineering and production efforts as well as major components over a number of outwardly distinct models and even types of The Ford MN12 platform (Mid-size North America Project #12 was a two-door car platform formerly used by the Ford Motor Company from 1989 to 1997 for the 8 L Essex V6 (NA/SC) 4. See also Ford Essex V6 engine (UK The Ford Essex V6 engine was a 90° V6 engine family built by Ford Motor Company at the A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders A naturally-aspirated engine or normally-aspirated engine (or "N/A" - Aspiration meaning breathing refers to an Internal combustion engine A supercharger is an air compressor used for Forced induction of an Internal combustion engine. 6 L Modular V8(1994-1997) 5. The Modular engine is Ford Motor Company 's current high volume Overhead camshaft (OHC V8 and V10 gasoline engine family 0 L Windsor V8 (1991-1993) |
| Transmission(s) | 4-speed automatic, 1989-1993 AOD, 1994-1997 4R70W |
| Wheelbase | 113. The Windsor engine is a 90-degree Small-block V8 from Ford Motor Company. An automatic transmission (commonly "AT" or "Auto" is an Automobile Gearbox that can change Gear ratios automatically as the vehicle The AOD (for automatic overdrive was a four-speed Automatic transmission with Overdrive. The AOD (for automatic overdrive was a four-speed Automatic transmission with Overdrive. In both road and rail Vehicles the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels in (2870 mm) |
| Length | 1989-1993: 198. 7 in (5047 mm) 1994-97: 200. 3 in (5088 mm) |
| Width | 1989-1995: 72. 7 in (1847 mm) 1996-97: 73. 2 in (1859 mm) |
| Height | 1994-97: 52. 5 in (1334 mm) 1994-95 Super Coupe: 53. 0 in (1346 mm) 1989-1993: 52. 7 in (1339 mm) 1991-93 Upper End Model: 53. 1 in (1349 mm) |
| Curb weight | 3701 lb (1679 kg) |
| Related | Lincoln Mark VIII Mercury Cougar |
In 1989, the new, much-anticipated Thunderbird model premiered. Curb weight is the total Weight of a Vehicle with standard equipment all necessary operating Consumables (e See Lincoln Mark for a complete overview of the Lincoln Mark Series The Mercury Cougar was an Automobile sold under the Mercury brand of the Ford Motor Company 's Lincoln-Mercury Division Classified as the MN-12 (Mid-Size North American Project 12), the Thunderbird now had four-wheel independent suspension and a slightly smaller, more aerodynamic body. The Ford MN12 platform (Mid-size North America Project #12 was a two-door car platform formerly used by the Ford Motor Company from 1989 to 1997 for the Engine options fell to only two for 1989 as Ford dropped the V8 option for the new T-bird. The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the Combustion of Fuel and an Oxidizer (typically air occurs in a confined space called a The base and LX models were powered by the 140 hp (104 kW) 3. 8L OHV V6, which many felt was underpowered for the almost 3800 lb (1725 kg) car.
A 210 hp (157 kW), 315 lb·ft (427 N·m) torque supercharged and intercooled version of the 3. A supercharger is an air compressor used for Forced induction of an Internal combustion engine. An intercooler, or Charge air cooler, is an air-to-air or air-to-liquid heat exchange device used on turbocharged and supercharged (forced 8 L V6 was included in the top-of-the-line Super Coupe. The Super Coupe was available with a 5-speed Mazda-derived manual transmission as well as Ford's own AOD 4-speed automatic transmission. The M5OD (Mazda 5-speed with Over Drive is a line of Manual transmissions produced by Mazda and used in Mazda and Ford cars and trucks The AOD (for automatic overdrive was a four-speed Automatic transmission with Overdrive. An automatic transmission (commonly "AT" or "Auto" is an Automobile Gearbox that can change Gear ratios automatically as the vehicle The base and LX Thunderbirds could only be ordered with the AOD. The Thunderbird SC was Motor Trend's Car of the Year for 1989. Motor Trend is one of the oldest Automobile magazines still publishing. Car of the Year is a phrase usually considered to have been invented by Motor Trend magazine in the 1950s for their annual award for best automobile The 8. 2 to 1 compression ratio was combined with six computer controlled, sequential fuel injectors. When running at a maximum 5,600 rpm, the supercharger provided 12 psi of boost, producing 210 bhp (157 kW) at 4000 rpm and 315 lb·ft (427 N·m) of torque at 2600 rpm. The 5. 0L Windsor did return in 1991-93 models.
In spite of this the car was considered a failure by some in management; it badly missed its weight and cost targets, and the higher price needed to pay for the improved features resulted in a big decrease in production volume compared with the previous model. The program manager was publicly criticized by Ford Chairman Harold A. Poling at the company's internal celebration of the Car of the Year award, and he resigned a short time later. Harold Arthur "Red" Poling (born 1925 is a US automobile businessman The Lorain Assembly Plant reduced line speed from over 70 per hour to 40 per hour because of the reduced demand.
In 1994, the Thunderbird received some minor exterior updates and a redesigned interior that featured new sweeping curves on the door panels and dashboard areas, but the most dramatic change was the new 205 hp (153 kW) 4.6L SOHC V8 which replaced the iconic and much-loved 5. The Modular engine is Ford Motor Company 's current high volume Overhead camshaft (OHC V8 and V10 gasoline engine family Overhead camshaft, commonly abbreviated to OHC, Valvetrain configurations place the engine Camshaft within the Cylinder heads above the 0. The 4. 6 brought with it an updated electronic control system (EEC-V), and an electronically-controlled 4R70W automatic transmission. The AOD (for automatic overdrive was a four-speed Automatic transmission with Overdrive. The Super Coupe continued on in 1994 with the same supercharged V6 as before, but now with 230 hp (172 kW) and 330 ft·lbf (447 N·m) of torque. This was made possible due to a number of changes. The M90 supercharger was given a larger square style inlet, a larger attaching inlet plenum, and teflon coated rotors. The engine received larger fuel injectors and an increase in compression to 8. 6:1. These increases in output would be short-lived, however, as the Thunderbird Super Coupe was discontinued after the 1995 model year.
In 1996, the Thunderbird received its last styling update. Available in LX (V6 or V8) or Sport (V8 only) trims, both featured redesigned headlights and taillights, smoother re-styled front and rear fascias, body side cladding, new wheels (15 inch on LX, 16 inch on Sport), and a slight hood bulge, which was necessary to fit the updated 4. 6L engine's taller intake manifold, now composite. V8 models still made 205 hp (153 kW), but now made 280 ft·lbf (380 N·m) of torque, an increase of 15 ft·lbf (20 N·m). Unfortunately for owners, the all-composite intake had a tendency to crack and leak antifreeze. (Some 1997s are covered by a class action lawsuit settled by Ford late in 2005 - see Intake Manifold Defect for details. The Modular engine is Ford Motor Company 's current high volume Overhead camshaft (OHC V8 and V10 gasoline engine family ) The base LX model continued to use the 3. 8L V6 as its engine but now made use of the EEC-V computer which before was only found in 4. 6L V8-equipped models. Torque output from the V6 remained the same as before but horsepower increased to 145 for 1996. In 1997, Ford made few notable changes, trying to save as much money as they could on the floundering coupe. As a result, the 1997 Thunderbird's appeal suffered even more, as the only options available were power sunroof, power driver seat, remote keyless entry, and a CD player. A Compact Disc player (often written as compact disc player) or CD player, is an electronic device which plays audio Compact Discs CD players are often A low drag coefficient contributed to an impressive and consistent 24-28 mpg on the highway.
In 1997 high performance Thunderbirds were released. The four prototypes produced by Ford's Special Vehicle Engineering division came with Cobra "R" brakes and wheels, a Tremec 5-speed manual transmission, and featured a 4. 6 liter, DOHC V8 engine similar to that found in the SVT Mustang Cobra. Overhead camshaft, commonly abbreviated to OHC, Valvetrain configurations place the engine Camshaft within the Cylinder heads above the The SVE Thunderbirds also came with a cowl hood to accommodate the Eaton supercharger sitting atop the modular motor. However, this high-performance Thunderbird was not to be, as Ford not only pulled the plug on this project, but on the entire Thunderbird/Cougar line to close the 1997 model year. The last MN-12 Thunderbird rolled off the assembly line in Lorain, Ohio, on September 4, 1997. Lorain is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie, at the mouth Events 476 - Romulus Augustus, last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar (To see a video of this Thunderbird click on the link at the bottom of the page)
2002-2005 "Retro Birds"
| Thirteenth generation "Retro Birds" | |
|---|---|
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| Production | 2002–2005 |
| Assembly | Wixom, Michigan |
| Body style(s) | 2-door convertible with removable hardtop |
| Platform | Ford DEW98 platform |
| Engine(s) | 3. Wixom is a City in Oakland County in the US state of Michigan. Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only A convertible is a type of automobile in which the vehicle's roof can retract and fold away converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle A hardtop is a term for a rigid rather than canvas Automobile roof An automobile platform is a shared set of common design engineering and production efforts as well as major components over a number of outwardly distinct models and even types of The Ford DEW platform (or DEW98) is Ford Motor Company 's midsize Rear wheel drive Automobile platform. 9 L AJ35 V8 |
| Transmission(s) | 5-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase | 107. The Jaguar AJ-V8 is a compact DOHC V8 Piston engine used in many Jaguar vehicles A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other In both road and rail Vehicles the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels 2 in (2723 mm) |
| Length | 186. 3 in (4732 mm) |
| Width | 72 in (1829 mm) |
| Height | 52. 1 in (1323 mm) |
| Related | Jaguar S-Type Lincoln LS |
However, 2002 saw a new Thunderbird launched; this Retro Bird was again a two-seater and received the model's fourth Motor Trend Car of the Year honor. The Jaguar S-Type, introduced at the 1998 Birmingham Motor Show, is a Mid-size luxury / Executive car introduced for the 2000 Model year The Lincoln LS (for "Luxury Sport" was a Mid-size, Rear wheel drive entry-level Luxury car from Lincoln. Motor Trend is one of the oldest Automobile magazines still publishing. In the USA Motor Trend magazine was the first to give a Car of the Year award doing so to Cadillac in 1949 (the earliest awards were It was also nominated for the North American Car of the Year award that year. The North American Car of the Year is an Automobile award voted annually in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The new Thunderbird was based on the Ford DEW platform, shared with the Lincoln LS. The Ford DEW platform (or DEW98) is Ford Motor Company 's midsize Rear wheel drive Automobile platform. The Lincoln LS (for "Luxury Sport" was a Mid-size, Rear wheel drive entry-level Luxury car from Lincoln. It followed the recent trend for nostalgic recreations of old-fashioned (or "retro") styling (see Volkswagen New Beetle, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Chevrolet SSR), being a recreation of the 1955-1957 two-seat Thunderbird in a modern style. Retro is a term used to describe denote or classify culturally outdated or aged trends modes or fashions from the overall postmodern past but have since that time become functionally The Volkswagen New Beetle is a small family car introduced by Volkswagen in 1998 drawing heavy inspiration from the design cues of the original Beetle The Chrysler PT Cruiser is a typically American " Retro "-styled Station wagon or Hatchback built by Chrysler, launched in 2000 as an The Chevrolet SSR ( S uper S port R oadster was a retractable hardtop convertible Pickup truck manufactured by Chevrolet between Available only as a convertible with a removable hardtop and, according to automotive writer Jerry Flint, the new Thunderbird "turned heads wherever it went. Jerry Flint is a senior automotive editor for Forbes Magazine. "
The car had been intended for introduction during the 2001 model year but instead was delayed for a year. The 40,000 USD price tag was considered steep, given the car's somewhat average handling and power (although the handling and power were both commensurate with that of the original 2-seater Thunderbird). An initial run of 200 T-Birds were sold online by Neiman Marcus, and all sold out within 42 minutes. Neiman Marcus is an upscale specialty retail Department store, operated by the Neiman Marcus Group in the United States. The 200 N-M cars were painted black, with the exception of the porthole hardtop, which was painted silver. Interior colors matched the exterior.
Ford expected sales of 25,000 units per year but, despite strong sales during its initial launch which saw dealers charging well over MSRP, this goal was never met. The 2002 Thunderbird sold 19,085 units and sales declined each subsequent year until its cancellation.
Forbes magazine writer Jerry Flint attributed significant blame of the latest generation Thunderbird's demise to a lack of proper sales and marketing, writing: "Ford dealers have been successful selling 35,000-45,000 USD trucks but have little experience selling automobiles in the near-luxury price range. Forbes is an American Publishing and media company Its flagship publication Forbes magazine is published bi-weekly The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been If there was a marketing effort by Ford Motor, I wasn't aware of it. Naturally, sales didn't meet expectations. "
Though the Retro Bird body styling never changed, exterior and interior color packaging was changed year to year. For 2002, the car was available in bright red ("torch red"), bright yellow ("inspiration yellow"), and turquoise ("Thunderbird blue"), all reminiscent of 1950s colors. Furthermore, "retro" two-tone interiors (black and the color matching the exterior), were paired with these exterior colors.
"Whisper white" and "evening black" exteriors were also available in 2002, with matching solid color interiors or the two-tone red interior. The black and red proved to be the models for the remaining years. Beginning with 2003, the two-tone "retro" interiors were sacked with the exception of red and a limited white, in favor of all-black (or other one-color) interiors. Gone were the bright yellow and turquoise exteriors, replaced with more subdued colors: "mountain shadow grey," "desert sky blue," and coral. Exterior and interior colors added for both the 2004 and 2005 model years remained subdued and white was replaced by platinum silver.
If Ford's tinkering with the exterior/interior packages were designed to boost sales, it didn't work, as sales continued to fall short of the company's hopes. Just 11,998 were sold in 2004. The Ford Motor Company announced in March 2005 that the Thunderbird would again be discontinued in July of that year, with 9,548 sold for 2005. Unlike previous T-birds, a 2nd row of seats were not added which might have widened its appeal, though Lincoln had the LS rather than an upscale Mark based on a Thunderbird platform.
The Thunderbird also shares the same odometer equipment as the Lincoln LS, a system which has caused confusion amongst the buying market. The LS odometer system utilizes a six-digit display including the 1/10 mile indicator. Upon initial inspection it appears as if Ford were returning to old fashioned odometers that simply reset after 99,999. 9 miles, but instead the 1/10 mile indicator disappears and becomes a fraction-less odometer reading 100,000 thus forth.
There was also talk of a performance edition from Ford's SVT. See also Special Vehicle Operations Special Vehicles Team, also known as SVT, is an arm of Ford Motor Company responsible for Ford ultimately decided it was not necessary, though some Thunderbird fans believe it could have saved the car, both by improving performance and hearkening back to the Thunderbird's roots. The original 55-57 Thunderbirds came with several engine upgrades and were considered high performance cars of the day. Ford made no effort to give a performance image to the new Thunderbirds, and while the V-8 in the "Retro-birds" was competitively powered (280 hp (209 kW), 286 lb·ft (388 N·m)), its relatively heavy weight of over 3700 lb (1678 kg), widely spaced gears, and suspension that favored comfort over handling made it feel more akin to a large luxury car than a true sport coupe.
The 2003 Thunderbird was featured in the James Bond movie Die Another Day. James Bond 007 is a Fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve Novels and two Short story Die Another Day is a 2002 film the 20th in the James Bond series, and the fourth and final film to star Pierce Brosnan as fictional MI6 Halle Berry's character of Jinx drove one in the movie. Halle Maria Berry (ˈhæli ˈbɛri born August 14 1966 is an Academy Award - Emmy Award - and Golden Globe -winning American actress former A limited edition was produced by Ford to commemorate the movie.
In the last 50 years, some 4. 2 million Thunderbirds have been sold.
Racing
During the 1980-1990s, the aerodynamically clean Thunderbirds were quite successful in NASCAR stock car racing before they were replaced by Taurus-based bodies.
Concepts
A 1963 Ford Thunderbird 'Italien' concept vehicle was designed and built by Vince Gardner at the Dearborn Steel Tubing Company. [1] That vehicle went on sale in a 2008 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction. The Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction is a collector car auction and exposition company started in 1960 [2] It sold for $600,000.
Thunderbird's future
Ford's plans to revive the Thunderbird name at some point in the future have been confirmed by Ford Division president, Steve Lyons. He has stated, "We promised all along that this Thunderbird would have a limited production run, and we're being true to our word. Thunderbird was a terrific image builder for the Ford brand showroom at a time when we needed it. Now, we're in the midst of a major product onslaught, including more news on the Mustang at this month's New York Auto Show. At Ford, we're fortunate to have several dream cars, including the new Ford GT and Ford Mustang. For now, the Thunderbird nameplate will be placed on our shelf. But we'll keep it polished for future use. " A clue was given by Alan Mulally, Ford's current CEO, that under his leadership, Ford will start to remain more loyal to its customers and nameplates, and will continue to stick with and improve successful nameplates to keep customers loyal to the brand, and the revival of the Taurus was the first such move. No further word has emerged, however, about when the next generation Thunderbird will see production, or whether it will be a sport model, personal luxury car or fill another upscale market niche.
Sources
- Automotive Mileposts, Inc. Ford Thunderbird. Retrieved on May 2, 2005. Events 1194 - King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
- Flint, Jerry, "Ford's Thunderbird Gets Axed," Forbes.com, April 22, 2003. Events 1500 - Portuguese Navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral becomes the first European to sight Brazil. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.
- Gunnell, John A. (Ed. ) (1987). Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975, 2nd Edition. Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-096-3.
- 2004 Ford Thunderbird New Car Buyers Guide
- Wonder, William (1997). Thunderbird Restoration Guide 1958-1966, 1st Edition. MBI Publishing Company. ISBN 0-7603-0390-8.
See also
External links
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFFvoehJgVw&NR=1- 1997 Thunderbird SVE
- CTCI - Classic Thunderbird Club International The National Club for the 1955-1957 Thunderbird since 1962. Alfa Romeo 8C (1931-1939 2007-present Alfa Romeo Giulietta (1954-1965 1977–1985 Alfa Romeo Spider (1955–1993 1995-date
- Thunderbird Nest Forums - Discussions & events for Retrobird owners
- 65 427ci Thunderbird - Pictures of several 427ci Thunderbirds.
- Ford Thunderbird Forum - Discussion of the 2002 - 2006 Ford Thunderbird
- VTCI - Vintage Thunderbird Club International
- Devoted to 1965 Thunderbirds
- Chicagoland Thunderbirds ... Chicago's Own T-Bird Lovers
- Thunderbird Club of Manitoba
- Muscle Car Club T-Bird Gallery
- Upper Midwest Thundercats - An online community devoted to the MN12 and FN10 platform.
- Thunderbird and Cougar Club of America
- Squarebirds.org - An website for vintage Thunderbirds with historical and technical information plus an active message board.
- ThunderbirdTalk - The place for TBird lovers everywhere.
- AutoGuideWiki.com
- Thunderbird Registry forums for all generations
- NATO - North American Turbocoupe Organization
- Thunderbird Infoway
- Nebraska Thundercats - Nebraska Thunderbird Club.
- SuperCoupe Club Of America - An online community devoted to the Thunderbird SC.
- Fox T-Birds - An online community devoted to the FoxBody Ford Thunderbird
- Porthole Authority - Information resource for 1955 through 1957 and 2002 through 2005 Thunderbirds
- Obsolete Thunderbird - An online community dedicated to 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1971 ford thunderbirds.
- http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/
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