The redesign of the 1967 Ford Thunderbird marked its most dramatic change since the shift from a 2-seater to four seats in 1958. The cars were bigger and more luxurious, and a 4-door sedan was offered for the first time – and with suicide doors! This one looks to be in great shape, though the seller acknowledges some rust underneath and has adjusted the asking price accordingly. Located in Lima, Ohio, this “Glamour Bird” is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $9,000. Thanks, Sam6!
Each cycle of the Ford Thunderbird earned a nickname. That includes the Baby Bird (1955-57), Square Bird (1958-60), Bullet Bird (1961-63), Flair Bird (1964-66), and finally the Glamour Bird (1967-71). These latest T-Birds dumped the unibody of the past and switched to body-on-frame construction. Peek-a-boo headlights adorned the front end with massive taillights out back. Sales continued to be brisk, with overall production just short of 78,000 units, of which 25,000 were the new sedan.
The seller’s land yacht has a standard 390 cubic inch V8 (315 hp), though a 428 was optional. You only had one transmission choice, a C-6 Cruise-O-Matic. We’re told this car only has 27,000 miles, but some documentation to that effect would be nice. The sweet-running 390 has a newer carburetor, fuel pump, alternator, suspension parts, brakes, and other hardware. We’re told the upholstery has been refreshed, and the passenger compartment looks as swanky as any Lincoln.
This T-Bird is not without its faults. The gas gauge is temperamental, and the clock and radio have quit working. But other stuff, like the electric seats, works as they should. The buyer should plan on inspecting the undercarriage of the car on a lift to determine how bad the seller’s rust issue is. The asking price is OBO, and no trades will be considered. Is there a Glamour Bird in your future?
It’s interesting how half of the C-pillar is connected to the door. Seems unnecessary with the kissing door setup.
The extension of the C-pillar into the door was required so the rear-window size could be limited to what could be retracted; because the windows were frameless, a quarter-pane couldn’t safely be used. Like 1961 Lincoln, the suicide doors (“kissing doors” is much better BTW) were used because the relatively short wheelbase meant a short rear-door. The four-door Thunderbird is probably the only car ever where the appearance was improved by the addition of a vinyl roof because it and the fake landau irons do somewhat disguise what was done. The odd one has had the vinyl removed and it’s a strange look.
We called these Ugly Birds. After the svelte, space age styling of the ’61 thru ’66? These were not one of Ford’s better ideas.
Those are called Carriage doors, not suicide doors as per my local Rolls-Royce dealer.
Regardless of that, these Turd-birds were ugly as sin.
I never liked the term “suicide doors”, and that’s why I use the term “kissing doors”, as it sounds nicer. Carriage doors is also a good term, I like it.