Ford Motor Company of the United Sates introduced Ford Thunderbird as a two-seater, sporty, personal luxury car in 1955. In 1958, two more seats were added to the car’s design. Since then these cars have undergone a range of variation in style and size and has competed successfully with other popular luxury cars.
Credits Creation
Lewis D. Crusoe, George Walker, and Frank Hershey are all at the same time credited with the creation of Ford Thunderbird. The idea of working on a car began with Crusoe and Walker in 1951 when they took interets in introducing a sport car. As they shared their idea with Frank Hershey, a Ford designer, Hershey statrted working on it. However, the car was never sold as a full-blown sport car. The name of the car was derived from an ultra-exclusive housing tract Thunderbird Heights.
Evolution through Generations
Ford Thunderbird went through a number of evolving features. Since its debut in 1955 up to 1957, the style of the car is remembered as Classic Bird or Little Bird. With a 292 Y-block V8 engine and two seats, the earliest models had a removable fiberglass top. In 1956, the trunk space was increased, mounting the spare wheel outside. Sales of these cars in 1956, however, were fairly low. The following year brought a more radical restyling with larger taillights and removal of the spare-wheel from the outside while shifting the side “Thunderbird” script to the front fenders.
Square Birds
In the period 1958 to 1960, Ford Thunderbird was redesigned with two added seats to make it a four-seat luxury car. It was nine inches lower than the standard size of the American cars. A center console divided the front and rear seats of the car. Leather upholstery was brought to view first in 1959. These cars sold twice greater than previous models.
Bullet Birds were popular from 1961 to 1963. These had a sleeker style and sold very well in 1961. Thunderbird Sports Roadste was introduced in 1962, with the rear seat area covered by a tonneau cover. They went poor on sales due to being expensive and less practicable.
Flair Birds
In 1964, Ford Thunderbird assumed a more squared-off, formal sort of look and were sold well for their improved roadibility. Front disk brakes and sequential turn signals characterized the 1965 version. The Town Hardtop model was introduced in 1966 and proved the best-seller for that year.
Glamour Birds
Glamour Birds existed from 1967 to 1971. These were larger with four doors and manufactured by body-on-frame method. However they underwhelmed the markets with regard to sales.
As the name indicates, these cars were the big version of Ford Thunderbird, weighing about 2250 kg and abysmal gas mileage. This was one resaon why they did not make it big with the sales.
Torino Birds
With their square and sharp style, Torino Birds prevaled from 1977 to 1979 and became quite popular. With a lower price than previous models, they sold well.
Ford Thunderbird Cars in the 80s
The 1980s saw a great diversity in the features of Thunderbird cars. Box Birds and Aero Birds reigned the styles from 1980 to 1983 and 1984 to the end of the decade respectively.
Ford Thunderbird in 1990s and Onwards
The Ford Thunderbird cars of 1990s and onwards can collectively be called Super Birds. A number of additions were made during this time including a more aerodynamic body, redesigned lights, and enhanced performance. Retro Birds are the latest of these cars, competing in the automobile markets since 2002.
