The completed one-off generated interest at the time, but had meager power, European looks, and a correspondingly high cost, so it never proceeded to production. Development Ī smaller two-seater sports roadster was developed at the behest of Henry Ford II in 1953 called the Vega. Thunderbird production ended in 1997, then briefly resumed as a two-passenger, marketed from 2002 to 2005.įrom its introduction in 1955 to its final phaseout in 2005, Ford produced over 4.4 million Thunderbirds. Sales were good until the 1990s when large two-door coupes became unpopular. Succeeding generations became larger until the line was downsized in 1977, again in 1980, and once again in 1983. For 1958, the Thunderbird was redesigned with a second row of seats. Ford positioned the Thunderbird as an upscale model and it is credited in developing a new market segment, the personal luxury car. Unlike the Chevrolet Corvette, it was not marketed as a sports car. The Thunderbird entered production for the 1955 model year as a sporty two-seat convertible. Introduced as a two-seat convertible, the Thunderbird was offered variously as a four-seat hardtop coupe, four-seat convertible, five-seat convertible and hardtop, four-door pillared hardtop sedan, six-passenger hardtop coupe, and five-passenger pillared coupe, with the final generation designed again as a two-seat convertible.įord targeted the two-seat Thunderbird as an upscale model, but the 1958 model year design introduced a rear seat and arguably marked the expansion of a market segment eventually known as personal luxury cars, positioned to emphasize comfort and convenience over handling and high-speed performance. The Ford Thunderbird (colloquially called the T-Bird) is a personal luxury car manufactured and marketed by Ford from model years 1955 to 2005 (with a 1997–2002 hiatus), across 11 generations. Sports car (first and eleventh generations).The listing will expire in approximately five days, so fingers crossed for someone to bring back a Thunderbird whose fate let it down years ago. The T-Bird is parked in Otis, Colorado, and you'll probably need a trailer to take it home, given its condition. ![]() The lack of information makes this convertible a tough sell, but considering its shape, I believe buyers should first see it in person. The eBay listing summary indicates the T-Bird sells with a 390 V8, but the owner didn't share any specifics, so it's impossible to tell if the mill is original or at least turns over by hand. The engine is also as mysterious as possible. The bidding starts at $6,000 despite the car flexing a challenging shape and possibly many missing parts. Unfortunately, seller elstan-86 doesn't want to let the car go cheaply, and their expectations seem to make most interested buyers to walk away. The owner says the buyer will also receive some parts that you can't see in the photos, including two good front seats, a back seat, a new dash pad, door panels, and probably other goodies to help with the restoration. The convertible top is wrecked and must bereplacedt. ![]() It's easy to determine what the car needs by just checking the photos, but an in-person verification would help you get a clearer picture. The rust might have also invaded the trunk, so your best option is probably to find a lift and thoroughly inspect the undersides to assess the floor damage. Based on the images, the vehicle has been sitting under the clear sky for years, and we all know what this means. The car comes with the typical rust suspects, including on the floors, though I can't say I'm surprised. It's unclear why the car never received the full overhaul, but the owner is now ready to let it go to someone who can complete what looks like a very challenging restoration project. The 390 continued to be available in the standard configuration alongside the more powerful siblings, including the 427.Ī 1962 convertible whose restoration started many years ago ended up abandoned in someone's yard despite still looking doable. ![]() The upgraded mill sported three two-barrel carburetors and used 406 heads donated by the Ford Galaxie.įew T-Birds ended up using this engine, as the carmaker ditched it approximately one year after bringing it to the lineup. The 1962 model year witnessed several significant releases, including the debut of a new 390 with higher compression.
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