Thunderbird

40k Miles? 1965 Ford Thunderbird

The 1965 Thunderbird was on the second year of its then-traditional three-year styling cycle, but Ford made a worthwhile improvement or two to keep it fresh: the first was standard power disc brakes and the second was a set… more»

Show Quality: 1957 Ford Thunderbird

We are no strangers to sellers making bold claims at Barn Finds, and the merits of each must be assessed to determine whether they are justified. This 1957 Ford Thunderbird is a perfect example of that philosophy. Its presentation… more»

Good News, Bad News: 1957 Ford Thunderbird

I don’t know if it’s true anymore, but at one time the 1957 T-Bird was a candidate for America’s collector car Mt. Rushmore, if there were such a thing. The Baby Bird is still a hot commodity, although values… more»

56k-Mile Bullet Bird: 1961 Ford Thunderbird

Each generation of the Ford Thunderbird has been given a nickname that capsules its appeal. For example, the original 1955-57 models are called the “Classic Birds” while their successors from 1958 to 1960 are referred to as “Square Birds”…. more»

Fresh Paint: 1964 Ford Thunderbird Convertible

While Ford created the Personal Luxury Car market segment with the Thunderbird, it faced strong opposition from the Buick Riviera and Pontiac Grand Prix during the early 1960s which eroded sales. However, the introduction of a new model in… more»

Emberglo Project: 1966 Ford Thunderbird

One of my favorite Thunderbirds is the 1965 Special Landau, which wore Ford’s new “Emberglo” paint. Emberglo was clearly a ripoff of Chrysler’s “Turbine Bronze,” but Ford must have felt that Chrysler had one coming; after all, the Turbine… more»

Restoration Redo Project: 1960 Ford Thunderbird

Purists were upset when Ford changed the concept of the 1955-57 Thunderbird from a 2-seater to a 4-seater in the personal luxury car market. That set the stage for a plethora of competitors to come forward in the 1960s… more»

Great Resto Start? 1963 Ford Thunderbird

For years, Ford’s luxury coupe, the Thunderbird, garnered respect merely by mention of its name. By the time this 1963 subject came along, the T-bird was ending its third generation and the evolution from its original two-seater configuration was… more»

1 of 5: 1967 Ford Thunderbird “Apollo”

From its conception in 1955, the Ford Thunderbird was a personal luxury car that had a long run in dealer showrooms. It shed its 2-seat configuration in 1958 and would carry at least four passengers in the future (until… more»

Running Project: 1957 Ford Thunderbird

Even though the Ford Thunderbird started out in the mid-fifties as a sporty two-seater, it quickly grew to accommodate additional passengers and became billed as a personal luxury car.  After ten successful generations followed by a five-year absence from… more»

No Reserve: 1957 Ford Thunderbird

I always welcome a candid approach from sellers, because it provides potential buyers with a clear picture of the challenges they may face with a restoration project. Such is the case with this 1957 Ford Thunderbird. Its mechanical health… more»

302-Powered Kit: 1957 Ford Thunderbird

The 1955-57 Ford Thunderbird was a more successful 2-seat automobile than the 1953-55 Chevrolet Corvette. But they had different target markets and the Ford handily outsold the Chevy. At first glance, you’d think this beauty is a real 1957… more»

Bullet Bird Project: 1963 Ford Thunderbird

The third generation of the Ford Thunderbird was in production from 1961 to 1963. They seemed to run in three-year cycles (1955-57, 1958-60, 1961-63, 1964-66). Personal luxury cars were still evolving with competitors like Buick joining the field in… more»

38K Mile Survivor: 1979 Ford Thunderbird

Ford’s sixth-generation (’72-’76) Thunderbird grew to such gargantuan proportions, especially after the federal five MPH bumper standard was enacted, that I took to calling them “Blunderbirds”. With the introduction of the seventh generation (’77-’79), I thought, well, that’s a… more»

Needs Love: 1956 Ford Thunderbird

Some enthusiasts possess greater self-control than me. If I were the owner of this 1956 Ford Thunderbird, I would not have been able to leave it parked in a garage in its current state since 1985. This classic deserves… more»

Cheap Project? 1955 Ford Thunderbird 390 4-Speed

Ford introduced its Thunderbird (aka T-Bird) in 1955 as a personal luxury car. The first generation (1955-57) of the car is often compared to the early Chevy Corvettes, but they didn’t have much in common besides the seating configuration…. more»

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