The original two-seater Thunderbird will always be my favorite car. It is just so beautifully proportioned and styled. Even as a little kid in the 1960’s, whenever I saw one on the street or passing by, it got my full attention. It’s taken me decades to “accept” and warm up to the four-seater 1958-60 Squarebirds, but there’s no denying their place in automotive history. The second-generation Thunderbirds popularized the personal luxury category and was more practical and way more of a sales success to Robert McNamara and the other Ford Executives (especially the bean counters) than the Baby Birds. 1960 would be the last of the three-year Squarebirds styling cycle, and it would break the sales record up to that point with 92,843 units sold (Baby Bird sales from 1955-57 only totaled 53,166). Here’s an impeccably restored example of an original California car that has one of the more rare options available in 1960: a sliding metal sunroof. Only 2,536 were sold with that option (only 478 are listed in the Thunderbird registry today), and this one’s a beauty. Currently residing in my state of North Carolina in the city of Benson, this 1960 Ford Thunderbird is for sale here on eBay for $45,000.
With the sleek Bullet Birds on their way for the 1961 model year, the ’60 Thunderbirds received the obligatory minor front grille, rear taillights (going from four to six), and body trim treatment. To me, they made the styling look busier, but the buying public didn’t think so. This ‘Bird looks elegant with its Aquamarine and Corinthian White painted exterior, wide whitewalls and deluxe wheel covers. The only objection I have, and it’s a personal one, is what is listed as an “exterior chrome dress up kit.” I would prefer the headlight and taillights surrounds to be painted Aquamarine, not all chromed up. The factory sunroof mechanism was produced by the Goldie Company of Germany, the same company that produced sunroofs for the Porsche 356, and it wasn’t a cheap option at $212.40 – that’s $2,200 in today’s dollars. But, exclusivity was part of Thunderbird’s upscale image, so offering the first postwar sunroof to buyers was seen as another Thunderbird “first.”
The totally restored two-tone turquoise interior with its jet-age padded dash and console is simply stunning. This is what reminded lucky drivers of the 1960 Thuderbird’s promise of being “Dashing as a sports car…Comfortable as a limousine.” And not only does this ‘Bird have the rare sunroof option, it also has factory air conditioning, which according the Hagerty’s, raises the value estimate by 30%. Other creature comforts listed include a driver’s power bucket seat, Master-Guide power steering, Swift Sure power brakes and tinted glass. The seller claims the air conditioning works along with the AM radio, all the gauges, and even the electric clock.
You don’t realize how low-slung these Squarebirds are until you stand beside one at a car show. Once I sat down in this driver’s seat, I’d have trouble getting out of this turquoise treasure. Not because my knees are bad (which they are), but because of the beauty surrounding me. To be honest, the Squarebirds had the Baby Birds’ interiors beat, hands down. This was the ultimate in Jet-Age personal luxury styling and comfort.
Under the front-opening hood is the 300-hp, 352-cubic inch Thunderbird Special V8 that is mated to a smooth Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission. Like the rest of this car, it is clean, highly detailed (with an engine dress up kit), and picture perfect. The seller claims, “Mechanically the car runs and drive exceptional well. The car is smooth and powerful.” This award-winning, well-documented Squarebird is one of the nicest 1960 Thunderbirds ever featured here on Barn Finds (especially one with the rare sunroof plus factory A/C)! As Clark Griswold Sr. once said, “It’s a beaut, Clark. It’s a beaut!”
Good job Ron. I’m with you, this generation of T-Birds has never been my favorite. But this is a stunning example. It certainly looks like something a head T-Bird judge would have owned. The two-tone upholstery is particularly attractive. Expensive, but high-end show cars don’t come cheap.
Thanks, Bob. Yeah, this one’s a beaut. And I don’t think I’ve seen one in that color combination before. From a styling POV, I guess it’s the front end treatment that seemed a bit bulky because I’ve always liked the rear styling. But, if a Sqaurebird was good enough for Paul Drake to tool around in, it must be cool. Nothing about Paul Drake or his choice of wheels while working for Perry Mason were square…
Took my driver’s license test in my grandmothers 60 T-bird. Was cream with black and white interior. Beautiful cars. Used it because visibility out the rear window was excellent for parallel parking and grandma was great about letting me use her car for the test. Anyway what is that chrome rail above the windshield? Something for the sunroof to buffer the wind? This is a beautiful car, always thought about getting a square bird, not this one, too pretty to drive like I want to use it.
Took my driver’s test in a 59 T-Bird, the same blue color. My other option was to take it in a 58 Cadillac which might have been difficult to park.
I had a ’59 bird, black, red gut when l was 18. Bought it for $65 from my father. Burned oil like crazy but would smoke the tires from a dead stop til the rear went. I was going to fix her up but l was 18 and just picked up a ’66 Goat and my father said “get it out of my garage”! Drove it the junkyard and got $50 for it.
This car really looks nice with the extra chrome. And any four-seater ‘Bird floats my boat with those cocktail lounge-style rear seats! If I pulled 45 large from the money tree, I’d keep this car in the garage and only take it out on really nice days.
You featured a gold square bird a few months back that (if memory serves) was a finer example than this one. Very nice writeup.
You featured a gold square bird a few months back that (if memory serves) was a finer example than this one. Very nice writeup.
I own a 60 Goldie edition. White with black and white int. I have 11 T birds from a 56 to a 2003. 56, 59, 4-60’s, 64, 3-66 (1-Qcode 428 convertible), and the 03. I also have a 1955 factory promotional go cart. All up here in Alaska. Two are parts cars but the rest are running or won’t take much. One of the 60’s is the same blue and interior as this car.
The Baby Birds could have been as nice as you want if Ford was willing to put any thought into them. Better than a ‘Vette with the slightest effort. Square Birds are indeed nice, but apples to oranges.
IMO: Just think how much cooler the car would have been with a console shifter! :-)
We featured a ’60 Thunderbird with a three-on-the-tree manual transmission a few months ago. I didn’t know Ford made about 2,000 of them. I agree with you that it would’ve looked cooler with a console shifter…
This is a beautiful car. As a child, my folks owned a pair of them. A black 59, and a silver 60. For style, I think these are better. Just my opinion. My thanks for sharing it with your readers.
My mom bought one for my dad on his thirtieth birthday – white with red interior, 430 AT, no AC … he once let me drive it home from church – I was twelve yrs old … asked him how fast could I go and he said as fast as I thought I could handle … I hit 80 on the old river road straight, then turned on to a cross road to go back home, but turned it into a ditch while backing up, at which point he took the wheel (it was a shallow ditch – no damage) and drove back home … he raced his brother who had a ’62 Corvette and the Vette blew the engine … it was replaced under warranty – he, of course, didn’t say he was racing … he traded in on a ’64 Galaxie XL with a 390 … we’d later see it occasionally driven by the new owner who just trashed it … I later had a couple ’55s, but always liked the “Squarebirds” from personal experience …
my late uncle had one when i was little, don’t recall the sunroof but was always fascinated by the stationary fly windows. i had a ginormous motor and every now and then when he was up here visiting he would tromp on it. as a pre teen it was the baddest rocket ship ever. years later we put some time into getting her going again, but the body was so far gone he finally parted with it. if i put my hindsight goggles on i shoulda got it and put it back together for him. heck i had nearly 20 years to get it done before he passed. one of the few fomcos that hold a place in my heart. rip sully
What were they thinking? Turned a beautiful 55-56-57, into an ugly beast like this!
The factory was on overtime to try and keep up with demand of the new four seater 58 thunderbird. I like the looks of the 57 bird but the unibody birds from 58-66 were extremely well built durable cars. The square birds from 58-60 are a blast to drive. Modern enough to keep up with anything else on the road but definitely a 50s vibe as you drive it.
Back in the early Seventies I had a white ’60 with a red interior……..perfect condition. There’s nothing like getting behind that humongous dashboard. Then years later my vehicle envy was aroused at an early auction in Orange County where I was putting a ’60 Caddie limo through . In front of me was a ’60 Tbird with the steel sunroof………I almost bought it just for the hole in the roof. Had my significant other not given me the death stare, I probably would have. It sold for fifteen hundred dollars! I’ll never forget it. So dumb.
ahhh but mountainwoodie the real question was… would you have survived the death stare to enjoy it had you made the1500 winning bid???. i have seen those death stares and still get chills just remembering them
Our neighbor had a 1960 T-Bird Convertible with the 430 engine. I remember the day she first brought it home and showed everyone how the top went into the trunk. As a 9 year old I was fascinated with that beautiful Corinthian White car and still am to this day. This one is a stunner
Nice car but I buy a 57 Bird for that!
I really like Thunderbirds. Each generation was different from the last, but they always managed to retain that Thunderbird charm and character. Of all the generations, I have a hard time choosing my favorite. The best way around that problem is to have one from every generation. However the 57, the 58 through 60 square Birds. The 67 through 69s are beautiful and luxurious. I way like the 70 and 71 Glamor Birds, I owned a 70, and I loved it. Then came the 74. Through the 76s are a totally different Thunderbird, but there’s something about them that I really love, even though they are huge. I also liked the 1980, and of course the 80s. The 2003 was known as the retro Birds, but they weren’t quite retro enough, but they are 2 seaters. I’m still hopeful Ford will release another generation Thunderbird soon. Only Ford has so many collectable cars from the past. I will only drive Fords and that won’t change any time soon.
That’s why I like watching all the classic tv shows from perry mason to Barnaby Jones those shows had lots of classy and flashy rides that were easy to spot, the antique, classic and vintage rides were easy to tell apart even from a distance. And man Oman what rides they were. I was telling my dad I would choose, pick and take all big 3 major manufacturers over the rides they build, make and manufacture today.
From Fully Sized Luxuriously Luxurious Luxury Rides, Muscle Rides to the Fully Sized Beach Wagoy Station Wagons.