The “Square Bird” was launched in 1958, a Ford Thunderbird with seating for four adults. Before that (1955-57), it had been a two-passenger personal luxury car. Ford gambled that a 4-seater would sell better, and they were right – by a multiple of nearly four times. This 1959 edition of the bigger ‘Bird was restored a few years ago, but not well (per the seller). It needs some work and comes with a manual transmission, perhaps uncommon for the car in those days. Located in Seattle, Washington, this square project is available here on craigslist for $7,500. Kudos to “Curvette” for this tip.
Development of the 4-seat Thunderbird led to a whole flurry of competition in the 1960s, such as the Pontiac Grand Prix and Buick Riviera. The car even earned a Motor Trend “Car of the Year” award for Ford during this second generation for the hardtop and convertible models. Unibody construction was employed on a product that was now 800 lbs. heavier. In 1959, engine choices were a 352 cubic inch V8 or a 430 CI motor.
No mention is made of what powerplant lies beneath the front-hinged hood, or if it was restored along with the rest of the car. Though the Ford has been garaged for the past five years, new parts have been installed, including a clutch and power steering pump. A new master cylinder comes with the car for the buyer to replace. The “3-on-the-tree” manual tranny seems out of place with the caliber of the vehicle.
The body and white paint look good enough, though the quality of the restoration is rated as “poor.” This is a running and driving machine where everything seems to work except for the turn signals. We’re told the interior looks to be “newish,” but there is a distinct lack of photos in the seller’s listing. The rust-free Ford is said to have tires with few miles. Do these Square Birds appeal to you?
Another manual transmission square bird. They are far and few but they exist. Again I mentioned a fellow airman in Tech school bought a 59 square bird and it had the manual transmission with OD. What was crazy is somebody fixed the worn shifter by installing a conversion shifter into the console. To add to the combination it had the big Lincoln engine. That car would easily eat up the highway.
No production 1959 Thunderbirds came from the factory with the 430 cubic-Automatic transmission as a mandatory option for any buyer upgrading to the 430ci V8.
While zero factory-built manual 430s exist, a few rare exceptions were built for motorsport. The racing team Holman-Moody modified roughly 8 Thunderbirds for NASCAR competition by installing a manual stick shift to make the cars competitive.
Well then either someone dropped it in or it got lost.
I’ll take the puppy!!!!
Looks to be a custom interior (or was ordered with leather, odd combo with clutch). Standard interior was tu-tone, seats and door cards had white inserts. ’60 was the last year of manual tranny ‘Birds until the ’80’s turbo. And yes, the production numbers for square birds with clutch pedals was infinitesimal. Have seen only two in my 7 decades wandering this orb. Wish my ’59 was . . . but I am happier to have the factory A/C.
First of all, very very few people even USE their turn signals even if they work in the car, so that’s not a big deal.
3 on the tree? Not even a floor shift on the console? This is a rare bird.
My mother’s 1960 T-bird had the 430 and slush box. As I recall, the three on the tree only came with the 352 CI engine. A console shifter in the T-bird was NOT an option from the factory. All shifting was done on the column whether it was a manual or an automatic.
Yeah – and those people are just pure stoo-peed golden gifts to the local police departments. Being pulled over for lack of using your turn signals for turning or changing lanes is usually a warning the first time. If the person continues to not use their turn signals, each time they get pulled over for it gets a more and more expensive fine, until they rack up enough points to lose their license to drive. There’s very good reasons for these laws, and those that consistently break them should lose their money and their license for being so stupid for not using their turn signals. — I would not recommend taking this T-bird on the road until that problem is fixed.
Angel, I never even knew a three on the tree Bird existed. Rare animal.
@ Jeff Hall
Interesting.
Guess it’s not as rare as I thought.
😆
I used to be a big fan of the square birds but now they just look a little odd. Maybe its that formal roofline competing with the curves stamped on the sides. It’s like they didn’t want to abandon the roadster vibe completely. I would definitely find some way to move the shifter to the console and make it a four speed.
Where I live it is said that if you see a car with the turn signals on it was that way when they bought the car. And if the blinkers don’t work you can always use hand signals (eons ago, when I took the Arizona drivers’ test, hand signals were required).
A lot of states no longer recognize hand signals as “replacements” for proper turn signals, brake lights, etc – AND most people today don’t even know what the hand signals stand for anyway and would think you’ve got some crazy tick/need to stick your arm out the window, so they’re useless as a safety measure today. — For this T-bird, it is probably a simple matter of the turn signal flasher no longer works or is missing. If it was a blown fuse, other lights on the car would not work either.
My second car was a 1960 Thunderbird with a three speed overdrive, 1 of 332, I read. Even then, there was no way I would have cut into that beautiful console to install a floor shift. I bought it in 1969 for $300. Had to sell it when I got married and it wouldn’t fit in the apartment parking space.
My dad had a ’60 TBird with the 430, white with red interior … first car I ever drove – I was twelve years old … it was after church and my mom was following in the Rambler Classic 660 … I asked my dad how fast could I go and he said as fast as I thought I could handle … he caught hell from my mom later after I left her at 80 …