![]() Anyway, Motor Trend crowned the 2002 Ford Thunderbird the Car of the Year. The Blue Oval must be well aware of this fact, which is why it decided to do something different with the resurrected Thunderbird, which seemed a better approach than attempting to compete with Mustang. ![]() Thunderbird may not compete with 'Stang these days, but it was already rocking the market before the Mustang showed up in 1964. Why not? This was the coolest sports car of its time, both on this side of the Atlantic and in Europe. Thunderbird returned in 2002 to critical acclaim and enthusiastic reception, both by enthusiasts and the mass public. Thus, the Blue Oval had no choice but to kill the Bird one last time in mid-2005. The automaker’s fruitless attempt to capitulate on nostalgia to revive the T-Bird in 2002 failed shamefully, despite selling out, in two hours, the entire 200 examples advertised on the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog. Such was the glorious life of the Ford Thunderbird until the 1990s when slowing sales rang its death toll, with Ford discontinuing the model in 1997. Three years later, the Beach Boys rock band helped turn Thunderbird into a cultural icon with the lyric, “she’ll have fun, fun, fun ’til her daddy takes the T-Bird away.” The car also snagged a major appearance in the 1973 film “American Graffiti.” Kennedy included 50 Thunderbirds in his inaugural procession in 1961, significantly elevating the car as a cultural symbol. It was during this period that President John F. The 4-seat version arrived in 1958, offering a roomier trunk and bucket seats. Thunderbird packed an array of creature comforts to complement its performance engine, helping it to remain a formidable force in the sports car segment for many years. It was an immediate hit, putting away more than 14,000 units in its first year of introduction against the Chevrolet Corvette's 700 that year. As a result, the Thunderbird would soon find itself upsized again and, as the 1960s ended, equipped with an extra set of doors.So, Ford exploited the opportunity and introduced a more ‘thunderous’ V8-powered alternative to the Corvette. Thunderbird reached its Swan Song, as Ford prepared to make room in the lineup for the upcoming sport coupe, the Mustang. (Image/OnAllCylinders – Patrick Miller)īy 1963, the third-gen. The 1961 Thunderbird was also the first car to have its rear-view mirror attached to the windshield-a feature that’s pretty much standard on cars nowadays. ![]() (Image/OnAllCylinders – Patrick Miller)įor 1961, Thunderbirds were offered in both a convertible and hardtop, but in 1962 a “Sport Roadster” package was offered that used a hard tonneau cover to conceal the rear seats of the convertible, mimicking the look of a two-seater-though it wasn’t a hot seller at the time. T-Birds could also be equipped with power windows, power seats, and air conditioning. The redesigned 1961 Thunderbird’s interior featured a handful of clever innovations-including a swingout steering wheel that lets you get into and out of the car more easily. The 390 was the only available engine from 1961-63, though starting in ’62 you could opt for a 390 equipped with a trio of Holley two-barrel carburetors that made closer to 340 hp.Ī three-speed automatic was the only transmission you could get. Since the one we spotted is a 1961 edition, under the hood likely resides Ford’s then-new 390ci FE big block engine good for around 300 horsepower. Note how the fender and bumper meet to form a point up front-a styling trait that earned these third-gen. Thunderbird was not only tapped as the Pace Car for the 1961 Indianapolis 500, it was also used in the inauguration parade for President John F. We know it’s a 1961, thanks to the horizontal side trim pieces on the rear flank, the shape of the taillights, and the horizontal grille treatment up front. So yeah, even though the Thunderbird nameplate itself was less than ten years old, it was already in its third generation-one the earned the nickname “Bullet Bird” thanks to its long pointed “beak” up front. (Image/OnAllCylinders – Patrick Miller)ġ961 marked the first year of the T-Bird’s third generation that spanned from 1961-63. Here’s a good look at the quartet of horizontal flutes on the Thunderbird’s rear flanks and the unique taillight design that immediately tell us this is a 1961 model. ![]() We spotted this 1961 Ford Thunderbird convertible in the Summit Racing Retail Store near Akron, Ohio. ![]()
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