The Thunderbird formula was fairly consistent from 1958 to 1966, with upscale styling and features, fashionable interiors, reasonable dimensions, and a unibody platform. For 1967, Ford changed everything with the car that T-Bird fans now call the “Glamour Bird.” With a new Continental-aping four-door model and a body-on-frame architecture inspired by the full-size Ford, the T-Bird was off in a new direction.
One of the more controversial decisions Ford made was indeed the four-door bodystyle. It was an interesting look: the door extended into the vinyl top and broke at the “landau iron” on the C-pillar. If you read that sentence a few times without looking at the picture, it’s hard to imagine a world where that would be aesthetically justified, but as I live and breathe, it sort-of works. I actually prefer the four-door Glamour Bird to the two door, but your mileage may vary.
The “Bunkie Beak” of the 1970 and 1971 model is a little tougher to defend. The old story goes that Bunkie Knudsen, the longtime GM executive who defected to Ford and was summarily fired by Henry II, preferred prominent Pontiac-like noses on his cars. The ‘Bird was the outrageous metaphor for that preference. Surprisingly, sales were roughly the same between the more conservative ’69 and this ’70 model.
By 1970, the new 385-series big block had been the T-Bird’s standard powerplant for a few years. Producing 360 horsepower, it has a lot of fans in the pantheon of V8 engines. It doesn’t seem to have the same reputation as the big-block Chevy, but it’s a strong engine that easily pulled around a big T-Bird with air conditioning.
Perhaps the most “special” part of T-Birds past had been the swanky interiors, which were just as stylish as the exteriors, and perhaps the best in the industry at the time. The ’70 loses a little of the magic, looking more like a Torino inside than a T-Bird.
Still, it’s not bad in there, and this looks like a very clean example of a lesser-known Thunderbird. The seller claims that it has “no major issues” is “all original” with just over 35,000 miles on it. Those appear to be fair claims based on the pictures, and it’s for sale on both Craigslist and Marketplace in Las Vegas for $12,000 cash or best offer. According to the Marketplace ad, it’s been advertised for quite some time, so if you’ve always liked these four-door ‘Birds, this might not be a bad option for you to make an offer on. Thanks to numskal for the lead.
Good write-up Aaron. I can’t say these model year T-Birds have ever been a favorite, but you bring up an interesting observation about the styling features. The “Bunkie beak” and the rear door treatment can be considered over-the-top, but somehow they work on a niche vehicle like this. And the other thought I had was that, in a sense, they hearken back to the over-the-top, look-at-me styling features of late 50’s cars.
This looks like a very nice example. Attractive colors. Something different for not much money. Cruise in style.
I always preferred the 4 doors to the 2 door version.
Posted 48 weeks ago on FB.
Like it. Look at that es-cargot…so says the Judge in Trading Places. This has to be the last production line car with landau irons… disclaimer, after market hearses and limos don’t count.
It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s hideous.
That 70 t-bird with the 429 and their highway gears can really bury the mph needle. Hold on
That’s a Correct statement, back in the mid eighties i purchased a 69 model almost identical to this offering. my interior color was a very nice burgundy fabric. so nice and comfortable for travel. wheel covers were different but other than that, a twin. i believe mine had 3:20 axel ratio. and One Time on long straight away i let that 429 Breathe and she rolled up 140 i lifted But she still had legs, at 80/85 mph she just floated down the road. i bought it to pull my 20’ jet boat, it was a original one owner retired Air Force automobile outta North Carolina .. a honey see was
I seem to recall reading somewhere that these were subject to an insurance surcharge due to the fragile beak
I don’t know about the surcharge for the beak, but this, the Karmann Ghia’s vulnerable nose, the 240Z’s exposed hood front, and others, these are the cars that made the insurance companies run to Washington for help with those horrible bumper standards that came soon after
You have to admit….. This T Bird was somebodys baby and was properly cared for, for many years. I always like the proportions of the 4 door landaus over the 2 doors. And this shade of maroon really highlights the body lines. I have always liked the “Bunkie” beaks, but then again, I have a soft spot for mid 60s Pontiacs.
If that’s what you like, it might be a good example needing further inspection. A caveat with all old vehicles, mileage is always questionable unless it can be documented, or is in comparable condition.
Love it !! Outrageous but beautiful !
In the pic showing the steering wheel the color looks much different than the one that follows. ????
I always loved the 60s Pontiacs so I’m good with the beak. Love four doors over two across the board and I love this design, especially the suicide doors that remind me of my 66 Continental.
Had a 71 just like this except for the burgundy “silk” interior. Nice car
Ahh the Thunderbird. So many changes, not all of them good. I never liked this one much but when you consider the generation that followed, all bloated and a grille like an LTD, this really looks like a T-Bird, beak and all. Have to agree with the writer about the Torino like interior though. I would change the steering wheel at least or wrap it in leather and just cruise with that big block.
Ahh the Thunderbird. So many changes, not all of them good. I never liked this one much but when you consider the generation that followed, all bloated and a grille like an LTD, this really looks like a T-Bird, beak and all. Have to agree with the writer about the Torino like interior though. I would change the steering wheel at least or wrap it in leather and just cruise with that big block. No I wouldn’t, I just checked the mileage on this land yacht and eight miles to the gallon ain’t going to make it.
Having owned a ‘69 Tbird I was curious to hear what others had to say about this generation Bird. Personally, it was the most powerful and luxurious automobile I’d owned at the time and I was happy to be driving what was, even then thought to be a disgrace to the once proud reputation of Thunderbird. I see those feelings haven’t changed much over the years and I guess four doors and ‘beak’ have been the nail in the coffin. But let me say this, all the could top this beautifully preserved 5-door Bird in my opinion, of course, would be to have in it bucket seats, resplendent in that luxurious black fabric so prevalent at the time — and of course mileage in todays standards that beat 12mpg.
My Mom’s ’67 was the first year for the “Glamour Birds” and my favorite. The ’68 lost the bucket seats as standard equipment and gained the hideous “Nader Eyes”, the side marker lights and cornering lamps that look like giant zits on the car’s chin. I used to hate the “Bunkie Beak”, but it has grown on me. The ’69 had the worst looking behind of the bunch, with that hideous pot metal panel between the taillights that only lasted for one (1) year before the full-width taillights were back for 1970. The four-door had the Continental-style “suicide doors”, but lost the wrap-around rear seat that was so comfortable in the coupes. Coupes could be ordered with a painted steel roof instead of the vinyl roof, with classy T-Bird badges replacing the ugly vinyl roof and faux Landau Bars, but four-door owners were stuck with the vinyl roof and Landau Bars, to hide the cut line for the rear doors.
The one change I really liked for ’68 was when the “385” block 429 replaced the 390 and optional 428 “FE” block engines. More power, and a displacement upgrade was a stroker crank away, for a displacement increase to 460 cubic inches, the engine that was limited to the Lincoln Continental until 1975, when the anti-smog pollution controls left the big V8 so short on power that a displacement increase was necessary.
This example has the less desirable front bench seat, I prefer the bucket seats and console, and the four-door is best restricted to the Lincoln Mark series, IMHO.
I had a friend who worked at Ford that said they used to have to keep a lot of those grilles in stock because they were always getting smashed in because they stuck out to far. One old lady kept smashing it into the wall of her garage and had to get a new grille about twice a year.