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Ford Thunderbird 1963

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FORD THUNDERBIRD 1955-PRESENT
There are many fine books that have been written about the History of the Thunderbird and, if you really want to learn more, we recommend that you get one as a ready reference. We will try to briefly summarize the development of the car from its origin to the present to give you some idea of the Wonderful World of Thunderbird!

The pictures you will see are cars owned by members of the International Thunderbird Club. This brief history was written by Upstate New York Thunderbird Club (Chapter) President Tom Kneebis.

WHERE DID THE IDEA COME FROM?
When GI’s who fought in the European Theater of World War II returned home they brought with them fond memories of the British two-seaters that were a common sight over there. Some even managed to buy some and have them shipped home. It was clear to Detroit that there just might be a market for an American made version of the famed two-seater open car.

The 2 most famous of these were the MG-TC (and the later TD) and the incredibly handsome Jaguar XK-120. Kaiser introduced the famed Kaiser-Darrin in the early 50′s and Chevrolet would follow next with the legendary Corvette. Ford was not blind to Chevrolet’s new car but chose to develop a car along a different path.

It was decided that their car would be made of metal instead of fiberglass; that it would be powered by a V-8 engine unlike the Corvette’s "Blue Flame Six"; and that it would feature roll-down windows and an optional hardtop unlike the Corvette’s snap on curtains. They further decided that it would, as much as possible, utilize the same tooling and parts interchangeability with the big Fords of that era.

1956 Thunderbird

THE "LITTLE BIRDS" 1955-1957
The public got its first glimpse of the new Thunderbird in February 1954 at the Detroit Auto Show. This mock-up was close to what would eventually end up in production. It drew rave reviews from both the Press and the public. On September 9, 1954 the first production Thunderbird rolled off the assembly line in Dearborn.

The 1955 was an instant success being priced around $3500 for a nicely equipped model. Unlike the Corvette, it was powered by a V-8 with either a manual or automatic transmission, had an adjustable steering wheel, roll-up windows, tach, clock, 150 mph speedometer and a ball-joint front suspension. It was marketed as a "personal luxury" car and not a sports car. The Thunderbird never was then or ever meant to be a sports car.

The 1956 model used the same basic design but added a standard Continental Kit which allowed for increased trunk space. The now famous "Porthole Window" was added to the hardtop optionally and side vents were added to improve ventilation.

1957 saw a marked change in styling with the addition of small fins and a completely different front end treatment. Engine and transmission choices also grew to include the standard 292 & 312 V-8′s ranging from 212 to an astonishing 340 horsepower Supercharged version! The 1957 model is easily the most popular of the Little Birds.

Ford also sent modified versions to the races with excellent results and setting a record speed in timed running-mile competitions.

The last Little Bird rolled off the assembly line on December 13, 1957. Combined production for all three years was 53,166 with a fairly high survival rate estimated at over 30% (as distinct from the average collector car survival of 10%). All of these cars are highly collectable as an American Classic and will command high dollars in pristine condition.

1960 Thunderbird Hardtop

THE "SQUAREBIRDS" 1958-1960
The upper management at Ford had to make a hard decision about what to do with the Thunderbird. Clearly the Little Birds had done well in the marketplace, but dealers were already telling Ford that owners were complaining about limited trunk space and the lack of a back seat. The bean counters at Ford urged a 4-seater to replace the beloved 2-seater. Some wanted to offer both but it was decided by Robert S McNamara (then CEO at Ford) that the 2-seater was dead and that was that! McNamara was an excellent accountant but in no way shape or form a "car man." This event marked Ford’s decision not to compete with Chevrolet’s Corvette and both cars developed along completely different paths. This decision also revived plans by Chevrolet to continue production of the Corvette which very nearly was discontinued.

The 1958 Thunderbird was nothing short of a completely new car. It was built on a unitized body instead of the traditional body on frame and was offered in both hardtop and convertible. In fact a completely new assembly plant had been built in Wixom, Michigan for this construction. Both the Thunderbird and Lincoln were built on the same assembly line. It was powered by an all new V-8, the 352. "Personal Luxury" was the phrase coined by Ford to describe this approach and it sold well.

The convertible, borrowing the technology from the 1957 Ford Retractable, featured a completely disappearing soft top that retracted into the trunk. Early plans were for a retractable hardtop, but the trunk design did not allow enough room. Production problems delayed the introduction of the convertible until late in the model year and they are all quite rare today. Happily an air suspension that was supposed to be installed never occurred.

The 1958 Thunderbird was named Motor Trend’s Car of the Year.

1959 saw a minor facelift and the addition of the powerful 430 V-8 as an option. A mid year running change made the convertible’s top mechanism fully automatic. The 352 remained standard.

1960 saw another stying change both front and rear as well as a sunroof option. Both the 352 and 430 were offered again. Total production for the 1960 models was 90,843. Many Squarebird fans consider the 1960 as the most attractive of the three years and it is also the most widely collected. Both 1959 & 1960 Thunderbirds were seen at NASCAR events in highly modified forms and did quite well.

This Second Generation Thunderbird was not seen as very collectable for a long time and, if not taken care of, was prone to rust. Many fine examples no doubt made their appointments with the crusher. Those that remain are now highly sought after, especially convertibles and those built with the 430 engine.

1963 Thunderbird Sports Roadster

THE "BULLET BIRDS" 1961-1963
Ford completely redesigned the Thunderbird for 1961 and the styling was somewhat controversial to say the least. From the side it reminded some of a bullet or a cigar and from the rear it had a definite jet aircraft look. Yet to many collectors, these are quite attractive and collectable. The 352 and 430 engines were dropped in favor of the 300 HP 390 engine and only an automatic was offered. A new gizmo was a slide away steering column that moved 10" to the right when the car was put into Park.

1962 saw only a very minor facelift but the big news was the addition of 2 new models. The Landau was a more luxurious version of the hardtop and actually sold quite well. Even more important was the Sports Roadster which featured real wire wheels, hard tonneau that covered the back seat, special badges and no skirts. It harkened back to the days of the 2-seater. 1,307 Sport Roadsters were built making them quite rare. Another addition was the optional 390 with 3 2-barrel carbs. This tri-power setup was good for 340 HP. Only 120 Sport Roadsters were equipt with this option. Fewer still found their way into standard convertibles and hardtops.

1963 provided another facelift along with a feature line on the front fenders and door which broke up the rather harsh slab-sided appearance. Engine choices remained the same as in 1962. A special Principality of Monaco edition came out mid year with a limited production of 2,000. Sports Roadster production fell off significantly to only 455 examples of which only 37 came with the tri-power option making them extremely rare!

1965 Thunderbird Landau

THE "SCULPTURE BIRDS" 1964-1966
1964 saw a dramatic change in the Thunderbird’s styling. The sides were deeply sculptured and the rear had two large rectangular pods that held the tail lights. The bumper-grill arrangement remained but appeared quite different from anything before it. The interior was one of the nicest offered in the 60′s with a flashy instrument cluster, new options and contoured rear seats. The 390 was the only engine available and the Sports Roadster was dropped (although 45 or 50 customers ordered wire wheels and tonneau).

Following Ford’s tradition, the 1965 models were essentially unchanged except for some details, but sequential turn signals at the rear were the newest innovation. Disc brakes replaced the front drums making the braking ability of the heavy car substantially improved. A mid year Special Landau was offered with 4,500 examples being built.

1966 saw the same body but with reworked front and rear styling. The rear featured wall to wall tail lights with a neat center mounted backup light. The 390 was joined with the optional 428 which pumped out 345 HP! Total production reached 69,176 with convertibles only having 5,049 units made.

These Fourth Generation Thunderbirds are really quite collectable and a joy to drive on long trips. By this time GM got on the bandwagon of making "personal luxury" cars to compete such as the Buick Riviera, Pontiac Grand Prix, Oldsmobile Toronado and, later, the Cadillac Eldorado. The Thunderbird outsold them all!

1970 Thunderbird 2-Door Landau

THE "BIG BIRDS" 1967-1971
1967 saw the most radical change in Thunderbird since 1958. Gone was the unit-body construction in favor of the tradtional body on frame. Gone was the convertible due to sluggish sales and safety concerns. Added to the lineup was a 4-door version. The Thunderbird had become something quite different than previous years and significantly different than it’s beginnings. Stylng was radical out front and featured hide-away headlights for the first time, but the overall package looked quite attractive in that 77,956 examples that found their way into buyer’s driveways.

1968 saw very little styling changes but offered the all new 429, 360 HP engine optionally until December when it became standard. Both bench and bucket seat interiors were offered on all models for the first time ever.

1969 also had very few styling changes although the rear surrendered the wall to wall tail lights in favor of 2 rectangular pods similar to the 1964-1965 models. The optional sunroof also reappeared as an option.

1970 used the same basic body but the styists did quite a job of making it look fresh. The design was heavily influenced by "Bunkie" Knudsen who had recently come over to Ford from GM. A very controversial protruding center grill with a very thin bumper looked unusual (although quite a few other cars from GM, especially Pontiacs, had variations on this theme) and was so prone to damage that insurance rates were high for this model. The hide-away headlights were eliminated on these models. Still it was an excellent road car and quite comfortable on long trips.

1971 was essentially a carryover featuring only a slightly redesigned grlll. Total production for 1971 had fallen off to only 36,055 examples built.

1976 Thunderbird Hardtop

THE "LUXO-BIRDS" 1972-1976
The best adjective to use when describing this generation of Thunderbird is "huge". The cars were longer, wider and heavier than anything before them. 1972 saw the introduction of this model with the 429 as standard and the massive 460 as optional. These cars were big and very comfortable road cars although their fuel mileage left a lot to be desired. They did, however carry on the Thunderbird styling with long hood and short rear deck. The 4-door was no longer offered and the sequential turn signals were sadly deleted.

1973 through 1976 were essentially the same with only a different grill and tail light treatment.

An interesting historical note needs to be mentioned here. The Thunderbird from it’s conception in 1955 shared it’s body with no other Ford product making it "Unique in all the World" as the advertisers liked to say. However, this generation clearly shared it’s body with the Lincoln Mark IV, V and VI (to be truthful the Mark III was also based on the Thunderbird platform but didn’t look it). This phenomenon would continue right up until 1997 when the Thunderbird was discontinued.

1979 Thunderbird

THE "TORINO BIRD" 1977-1979
In 1974 Ford offered a special edition of the Torino called the Elite and marketed it as being "Thunderbird Inspired". It actually was a test to see if the public would accept a downsized Thunderbird. The reaction was positive and in 1977 an all new Thunderbird was introduced that was based on the Torino (as was the Mercury Cougar of the same year). For the first time in it’s history the Thunderbird actually got smaller than the model it replaced! It also got less expensive.

The 1977 was really a handsome car that retained the Thunderbird styling cues from the past. Hide-away headlights returned and the full width tail light treatment remained. The standard engine was the 302 except in California where it was the 351. Optional was the 400.

Styling was essentially unchanged for both the 1978 and 1979 models. Sales, however, were dramatic with 318,140 built in 1977, 333,757 in 1978 and 284,141 in 1979. These were the most popular Thunderbirds ever in terms of sales, but they are not widely collected as yet.

1980 Thunderbird Landau

THE "FAIRMONT BIRD" 1980-1982
In 1980 yet another downsizing occured with the Thunderbird and it’s now sister ship Mercury Cougar. The body on frame construction was again replaced with unit-body as it was in 1958. Based on the"Fox Platform" used by the Fairmont it appeared to some as nothing more than a fancy Fairmont with Thunderbird stying. Also, for the first time in it’s history a V-6 was the standard engine with the 302 as optional.

1981 and 1982 were essentially carryovers with minimal styling changes.

1987 Thunderbird TurboCoupe

THE "AERO BIRDS" 1983-1988
1983 ushered in an all new sporty looking Thunderbird (and Cougar) that proved to be an instant success. Again, the Mark VII was also based on this body as well. The 3.8L V-6 was standard with the 5.0L optional.

1984-1988 saw only minor styling changes, but they were all quite attractive. The TurboCoupe was introduced in 1987 using a turbocharged version of the 2.5L 4-cylinder engine and loaded with suspension, braking and performance options. They are quite collectable.

The 1987 Thunderbird TurboCoupe was named Motor Trend’s "Car of the Year"

1997 Thunderbird Hardtop

THE "SPORTY BIRDS" 1989-1997
This generation was the last of the Thunderbirds until it was discontinued in 1997 (actually this isn’t true anymore with the re-introduction of the 2002). 1989 saw another all new Thunderbird what was longer than it’s predecessor and really very nice looking. The long hood, short deck styling was retained once again. The big news was the release of the SuperCoupe which was powered by a supercharged 3.8L V-6 with V-8 performance. As with the TurboCoupe before it, many performance upgrades seperated it from the rest of the lineup.

1990 through 1997 saw only minor styling changes. Ford announced that the Thunderbird would be discontinued after the 1997 model year.

The 1989 Thunderbird was named Motor Trend’s "Car of the Year"

2002 Thunderbird (at the Official Launch, July 2001 in Dearborn, MI)

THE "RETRO BIRD" 2002-
There was much celebration when Ford announced that the production of the Thunderbird would resume for 2002. Following a theme that is gaining popularity, the designers looked to the original 2-seater for inspiration. From any angle it is obvious that styling cues were taken from the beloved Little Birds of 1955-1957 right down to the optional removable hardtop with porthole window!

Sharing many components, as well as platform, with the Lincoln LS, this reincarnation of the original is already being considered an "instant collectable." Of note, it is being assembled once again at the Wixom Plant along with Lincolns.

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS
It is impossible to detail all the features and innovations that make the Thunderbird so special. No doubt I have left out things that some readers might consider important, but I have sought only to highlight the history of Thunderbirds.

Motor Trend Magazine chose the 1958 Thunderbird as it’s "Car of the Year". Thunderbird won it again in both 1987 and 1989 with the TurboCoupe and SuperCoupe. In 1965 they gave the award to the entire Ford lineup which, of course, included the Thunderbird.

Now Motor Trend has again awarded the "Car of the Year" to the 2002 Thunderbird! No other car has ever won this award so many times.

We of the International Thunderbird Club are proud that the car we so admire is also seen as worthy of praise by the automotive press and particularly Motor Trend Magazine.

The flight of the Thunderbird continues………!

2002 Thunderbird Launch Day Celebration at the Ford World Headquarters, July 20, 2001, where over 350 Thunderbirds were on display.

International Thunderbird Club

The Thunderbird began life with its introduction in 1955. It was introduced as a two-seat car with clean styling, creature comforts, and V8 refinement. Ford wanted to manufacture a car that could compete with the Chevrolet Corvette. For the 1955 model year, the Thunderbird was available with a 193-212 horsepower 292 cubic-inch V8. For the 1956 and 1957 model year, the Thunderbird was available with a 215-340 horsepower 312 cubic-inch V8 or the original 292 cubic-inch engine.In 1958, the Thunderbird was transformed into a four-seat car. It had boxy lines, a wide-pillar roof, and was one of the first personal luxury cars. From 1958 until 1960, the Thunderbird could be ordered with either a 353 cubic-inch, 300 horsepower V8 or a huge 430 cubic-inch, 350 horsepower V8.For the 1961 model year, the Thunderbird was again restyled with an all-new body shell which featured a severely pointed front “prow,” modest fins above the traditional round taillights, quad headlamps recessed in oblong housings, and softer roof contours for the hard-top versions. The interior featured a dash that curved at its outboard ends to blend in with the door panels, and the first ever “Swing Away” steering wheel. The 390 cubic-inch V8 was available for the 1961, 62, and 63 model years and put out 300-340 horsepower.The next body change came in 1964 with the “Jet Bird” model line. The wheel base was stretched to 113 inches and the overall length of the car was 205 inches. This new body style consisted of shorter roof lines, newly designed rear-ends, and a longer hood and rear deck. The convertible option was still available during this model year, however, the Sports Convertible option was officially dropped. In 1965, the Thunderbird changed cosmetically with a reversed scoop behind the front wheels and a different front end. Also newly available for this model year were the disk brakes. 1966 saw more cosmetic changes such as a new grille, a single tail-light that ran the width of the back of the car, and new body sculpting. Also new for 1966 was the 428 cubic-inch engine, which was available along side the standard 390.The 1967 Thunderbirds were very different from their predecessors. They had a new chassis design and a 4-door option was now available. Also changed was the grille and headlight layout, which were designed to appear like a jet engine intake. The headlights on these model year cars were hidden. The four-door model had rear “suicide” doors which opened from the B-pillar. The engine options available for the 1967 model year are a 315 horsepower 390 cubic-inch V8 and a 345 horsepower 428 cubic-inch V8. 1967 saw the drop of the convertible model. The 1968 Thunderbird was not very different from its predecessor except for a new grille, which featured small Thunderbird emblems attached to each retractable headlight door. A person buying a ’68 Thunderbird could have either a 390 cubic-inch 315 horsepower V8, a 428 cubic-inch 345 horsepower V8, or a 429 cubic-inch 360 horsepower V8. In 1969, the grille and the tail-light assemblies were changed. As with the ’67 Thunderbird, the Thunderbird emblem was placed in the center of a mesh pattern grille. The single taillight was replaced with two taillights, each with a thunderbird emblem attached to their centers. Also, a sunroof option became available for the Thunderbird during this model year. The standard and only engine available for the Thunderbird in 1969 was the 429 cubic-inch 360 horsepower V8. For 1970, the body of the Thunderbird was redesigned. It had all new sheet metal and a V’d front grill which stuck out a good amount. The Thunderbird still had concealed headlights and came in a two-door or four-door version. In 1971, the Thunderbird was basically the same as it was in 1970, except for a redesigned front bumper and grill assembly. It still had the protruding nose and the four-door model was still available.The 1972 Thunderbird model year saw a much larger car emerge. It was only available as a two-door hardtop and took on a much more luxurious tone than did earlier Thunderbird models. The base engine was still the 429, but the consumer could also order the Lincoln 460 cubic-inch V8 as an extra cost option. For 1973, the Thunderbird saw small cosmetic changes such as an “egg crate” styled grill and dual headlights grouped individually instead of together. Also available for this year was the opera window, which would become standard equipment on Thunderbirds to come. The 429 cubic-inch engine was still the standard engine for the Thunderbird. The 1974 Thunderbird had little differences from the ’73 model. One major difference was changing the standard engine to the 460 cubic-inch Lincoln V8. The 1975 Thunderbird was outfitted with many standard options which made it into a standard luxury car. The 460 cubic-inch engine was still the standard engine. 1976 was the biggest and most luxurious Thunderbird ever. After 1976, the size of the Thunderbird would dwindle and the performance would decrease.1977 saw a Thunderbird that was almost 1000 lbs. lighter and almost a foot shorter. It was now built on a mid-size platform. It featured a wrap-around, body-colored band that went from one side of the body, over the roof, and ended at the other side of the body. The standard engine for 1977 was the 302 cubic-inch V8 while a 351 cubic-inch V8, and a 400 cubic-inch V8 were available at extra cost. The 1978 Thunderbird was not changed much from its predecessor. Newly available for this model year was the T-top option. The 1979 Thunderbird had the same body as its predecessors but had a redesigned grill and two individual tail lights instead of one wrap-around taillight.The 1980 Thunderbird was a unibody framed car, weighed 800 lbs. less than the 1979, and was 17 inches shorter. It was also more aerodynamic than its predecessors and as a result had better fuel mileage. This Thunderbird was available with either a 255 cubic-inch V8 or a 302 cubic-inch V8 with overdrive. In 1981, the Thunderbird for the first time was available with a 6-cylinder engine. The consumer could also purchase one of these cars with the 255 or the 302. Another change for the 1981 thunderbird was a revised grill treatment. In 1982, the Thunderbird was offered with a V6 alongside the inline 6 and 255 cubic-inch V8. This V6 allowed the Thunderbird to achieve a record 30 mpg. on the highway. 1983 was a monumental year for the Thunderbird. This year’s Thunderbird was unidentifiable from its predecessors and featured a new aerodynamic look and was initially only available with the 3.8 liter V6. In February of 1983, however, Ford unveiled the Thunderbird Turbo coupe, a car that would put the Thunderbird name on the sports car wall. This car was available only with a 2.3 liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. Another option that was added at the same time as the turbo coupes introduction was the 5.0 liter V8 model. The 1984 Thunderbird experienced very little changes except for the addition of the FILA and Elan models to run alongside the Turbo coupe and standard models. In 1985, the Thunderbird received interior changes such as a new gauge cluster and seat arrangements. On the outside, the ’85 Thunderbird received a redesigned front grille, different tail light assemblies, and a new Thunderbird emblem. In 1986, the Thunderbird received an eight-injector port fuel injection system on its 302 engine and a third brake light for safety.The 1987 Thunderbird was a newly restyled aerodynamic bird. It had a redesigned front end that featured flush-mounted headlights, a new grill and a new front fascia. Also, the roof line was made more aerodynamic, the rear deck-lid was raised, and the taillight were redesigned. Other changes for 1987 include the dropping of the Elan model line and coming out with the Thunderbird Sport and the Thunderbird LX. The 1987 Thunderbird Turbo coupe was now putting out an awesome 190 horsepower when outfitted with the five-speed manual and 150 horsepower when outfitted with the automatic. There were no real significant changed for the 1988 model year.The Thunderbird which was introduced in 1989 was a completely new car. It had a longer wheel base and a wider stance than the previous Thunderbirds and it now featured a new independent rear suspension. The outside was completely redesigned and the standard and only engine available for this model year was the 3.8 liter V6. There were three models available for the 1989 Thunderbird: the Thunderbird, Thunderbird LX, and Thunderbird SC. The Thunderbird Super Coupe featured a 215 horsepower Super-charged 3.8 liter V6, dual exhaust, four-wheel disk brakes, and special front and rear end treatments. The 1990 Thunderbird was almost unchanged from the 1989 model. In 1991, the Thunderbird was offered with a V8. In 1992, the Thunderbird LX and base Thunderbird received redesigned front fascias and a full-width taillight. 1993 saw the drop of the Thunderbird Sport and base Thunderbird models. Instead, the Thunderbird LX and Thunderbird SC had complete control of the model line. In 1994, Ford changed the front end by giving it a new hood, head lights, and bumper design. Also, the 1994 Thunderbird received an interior change. The Thunderbird Super coupe boasted 230 horsepower for the 1994 model year. The 1995 Thunderbird was much the same as it was in 1994 except for the replacing of the 5.0 liter engine with the 4.6 liter V8. For 1996, the Thunderbird received exterior changes such as a revised nose that featured a smoother bumper. The 1997 model year saw once again a revised nose and a general smoothing out of the fender lines etc.1997 was the last model year for the Ford Thunderbird, until its restyling and re-introduction in 2002 as a modernized design of the vintage models.