I learned to drive in a '62. Backwards. When I was 15 dad started to teach me to drive in his bird. My practice was backing his car out of the dogleg narrow driveway each morning. I was to park in front of the house. Before long, I drove it around the block first. Not long later, I was taking it around like 12 blocks (no license of course). That stopped when he was standing there waiting to get in his car which wasn't there. Ultimately, I got behind the swinging wheel all licensed up. I had the coolest car to drive of all my friends. I LOVED that one baby blue '62.
The thunderbirds during this period were something everyone liked, both women and men drove these, very popular design and the more options there was the higher the price was, so you could get one in various price ranges. Really nice car's with beautiful interiors
Nicely done! I own a 1963 Bullet Bird... Same "Silver Mink" color! By the way, that's an optional color for the bird, stock Lincoln color. Keeping mine as visually stock as I can... can't improve perfection! Stock 4100 carb, but converted to electronic ignition also went straight pipe dual exhaust with performance mufflers. All tucked up under for "stock" look... It is a sheer joy to drive! Going down the highway, step on the accelerator, it's like the "hand of God" pushing the car down the road. My godfather had one when I was 4... it began my 50+ year long love of cars. Honored to finally have one. Totally enjoyed watching another so close to mine!! Thanks!!
I'm glad you love your bird just like I do mine. What I don't like is someone reviewing a 1960s car and judging it against modern standards. Someone not familiar with these cars would assume from this review that it is a sluggish granny car with granny suspension. The truth is that in the early 60s these cars were very impressive.
Wow, very nice "Rocket Bird" . The suspension on these cars had what Ford called "controlled wheel recession". Thru the use of rubber bushings in the suspension the wheels were allowed to move fore and aft over bumps and irregularities, as well as conventionally. This improved the ride of these cars greatly. This is the kind of car you get noticed in! Beautiful car.
Hey, Hey Hey, I get 12mpg with my Thunderbirds. I've had close to a dozen Bulletbirds over the last 25 years. I have two 1962s now, one with 14,000 original miles and original down to the brakes and exhaust. Couple of interesting facts or things I am pointing out (with a couple of minor corrections on your vid) concerning these cars. Robert McNamara was responsible for the 61-63 Thunderbirds and approved the go ahead for production. You are absolutely right about him being the penultimate bean counter and he killed off much of the Ford Performance Division but the design of the car was signed off on by him. And yes, he did like stodgy cars. The funny thing was that several of his stodgy cars formed the basis of future Ford models for decades to come. The Mustang? Based on the Falcon chassis. In fact, the Falcon chassis was used as the basis for much of what Ford produced all the way into the mid 1970s ending with the Ford Granada. So he might just get the last laugh there. I'm not a great fan of Robert McNamara but he wasn't a total bust as the head of Ford and in some respects he helped save the company during the economic recession of the late 1950s. You mentioned that the Thunderbird is not badged as a Ford (well much) and you are right about them being built in the Wixom Plant in Michigan along side the slab side Lincolns (another McNamara approved design). The front bumper and grill were very similar to the 1961 Lincoln Continental. The first 61s Thunderbirds were made in two styles, hardtop and convertible. The convertible top was fully hydraulic and used a mechanism that was designed originally for the 57-58 Ford Fairlane Skyliners. It was unique (at the time) in that the rear deck lid would open and the entire convertible top assembly would fold down into the trunk giving the car a completely clean appearance. This actual setup started in 1958 but wasn't perfected until the 1959 models and was similar until the convertible top was discontinued in the Thunderbird in 1967. In 1961 the Thunderbird was amazingly well appointed with standard features that you couldn't find in most other cars. Like you said automatic transmission and power steering were standard, a rarity even as an option in the early 1960s. In addition bucket seats, console and backup lights were also standard. Interestingly things you would thing would be standard, like a heater, radio and side mirror (driver's side) were options in 1961 and 1962. The side mirror (which was remotely controlled in 63 only) became standard in the year you were driving. My 14K original car did not come with a driver's side mirror. It makes for interesting driving. Another interesting first was the 'floating mirror' that you see on the windshield. This seems common in most cars but the 1961 Thunderbird was the first car to do it. In 1962 Lee Iacocca was in charge and he made some changes to the lineup. One of the first things he did was jazz up the Thunderbird with some option packages not seen before. For the first time the Landau top option was put in place. The second was to add a higher horsepower engine option to the Thunderbird. By adding three two barrel carburators to the car the M Code Thunderbird of 1962 and 1963 put out 340 brake horsepower with similar torque settings. It had a special engine chrome dress up kit as well. It didn't sell all that well. The T-bird was not a performance car, like you said, by the early 60s and the carbs were difficult to keep in tune so they proved unpopular. But an M Code bird is pretty valuable today. The other big addition to the lineup was the Sports Roadster model that came out in early 1962 and ran until the middle of 1963. This tried to make the car look like a two seater by putting a fiberglass tonneau cover, special wire wheels, a grab bar and badging on a standard convertible. It could be bought with a regular Z code 390 engine or the M Code option. It, again, didn't sell as well as hoped and while stunning (I've owned two over the years) the cost of the car ballooned with the options so it didn't sell well. Again, if you can find one they bring a pretty penny. Interestingly, the 63 that you drove originally came with a single exhaust. The 61 and 62s had dual exhaust but in 63 Ford went with a single exhaust system for the standard versions of the Thunderbird. The M Codes kept the dual exhaust. One option you didn't mention was the vacuum door locks that came in 1963. Where the red brake light flasher is on that car there would be a switch that would activate or deactivate the door locks. It was more of a novelty than actually functional but I had one car that had it, and it still worked-sometimes. The 63 also came with a hydraulically controlled windshield wiper system that acted something like a delay wiper if you fiddled with it. It tended to leak power steering fluid (it fed off the pump) and a lot of people replaced it with the older electrical wiper motors that came on the 61s and 62s. It also fielded, for the first time, an optional AM/FM radio that was fully transistorized. This was a big thing in 1963 and the Thunderbird was one of the first cars that offered an FM option. If you think that car wallows around I'd love to let you try to drive my original 62 with the original shocks (yep, original) along with the bias ply tires that are recreations of the tires that came new on the car in 1962. Radial tires weren't around then and the car is smooth as silk but wallows like drunken musk ox in turns. My other car, which I have restored and has modern radials, is much easier an steady on the road. But even so it is not the most nible of cars. Still, I love driving them. Fire me a message if you have any questions or anything. I have had these cars for decades and pretty much have torn them down and put them back together and these are by far my favorite classic car. Every place I go I get questions, and it is really looks so different, almost modern, compared to other cars from that generation.
Exceedingly well said, when Detroit built cars we wanted, remember those days?? These " rolling pieces of artwork" as said in above narrative define what we the automotive consumer wanted in the driveway. Today's soulless , electric, cold, robotic so- cars is what Detroit is forcing the consumer to purchase by simply offering very few divergent vehicles.All look very similar to each other , UGHHH, Not me, Proud owner of an 73 T- bird the " big bird". This is an excellent and informative vid here , truly thank you for sharing this with us. Maybe some younger viewers can actually see what a real car is and whom it was built for, US.
While these cars looked great but from an engineering perspective they were crap. Today’s cars last twice as long, are five times as safe, produce 1% of CO, NOx and VOC emissions and get three times the mileage per horsepower as these dinosaurs did.
Brilliant!!! My Family ( Of 3) went from a Jaguar XK140 to a 1958 Thunderbird because My Mom demanded that I have My aOwn Seat!!! In 1971 I wanted to buy a Clapped Out 1961 Thunderbird for $100. My Dad Said No( I was 16) and instead I got a Plymouth. To This Day I Mourn the Passing of the XK 240…..
Such a smart-looking car! This was always my favorite Thunderbird, and it just oozes that Sixties "Martini and Rat Pack" look. Ford really had some extremely attractive and original designs in the early Sixties, especially this and the sibling underneath Lincoln Continental. I remember wanting to buy one of these or an early Sixties Lincoln as my first car in the late 1980s, and I regret not doing so!
Became a mustang fan through my dad, but developed my own love of the Ford Tbird. 61-63 being my favorite generation. Looks so 60s to me. Maybe one day. For now I’m happy with my 69 fastback.
My family had a triple black '61 back in the mid '70s around the time I turned 16 that my dad bought for about $1200 with 45,000 miles. Oh, that 390 would burn rubber okay, but yeah, it just kinda sat there smoking the tires because of the tremendous heft of the vehicle! Factory no-AC car. Not too uncommon for the day, but a deal-killer for me in the US Midwest with 90 degree+ temperatures common in the summertime . Otherwise an awesome car. I'd love to acquire a convertible version, but since I'm in Texas now, working AC would be non-negotiable!
I just love your '63 Tbird, I had a '64 for years and in fact sold it in England in '92. I now have a '65 in my garage. To get some better mileage I put a Holly 550 4 bbl carburetor on mine and on the highways I would get 18 mpg out of it. Which was a lot better than 12 mpg that I used to get. These are a lot of fun to drive and are well made cars. I wonder if my old '64 is driving around the UK somewhere? oh well, God bless.
@@benvenis9758 Before I sold it I had it painted two tone silver and a darker silver. It had a completely new blue interior that was blue. I don't have any paper work as for the registration number any more.
@@mikejohansson6711 oh that's curious... My car was silver at some point and it has a blue interior that was re done at some point, seats are a beautiful blue fabric with vinyl down the sides :)
@@benvenis9758 has the dash been recovered? I had mine recovered in California and he did a great job using two tone blue vinyl and it had a black vinyl top.
@@mikejohansson6711 I think so possibly, it's blue vinyl matching the side of the seats, and the car has a black vinyl top with thunderbird emblems still on the rear c post.
It was luxury indeed. My parents and siblings were travelling through yellowsone park. We encountered some bears, my father turned off the engine thinking the bears would go away. This turned off the power windows, my brother's window was down. The bear put his arm the open window at my brother, fun times!!!
I have owned one each of 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1966. I caluculate every tank of gas I have ever put into every car I have ever owned. These T-Birds get more like 15-16 mpg at 65 mph on the freeway. The heads were improved for the 1966 model, it had 315 hp. And it REALLY felt a bit quicker than the others I have owned.
My step-father had a 64 Thunderbird with all the bells & whistles, including a 454 engine someone had dropped in (he bought as a repo) & that car could fly! One day when I was across town, I thought I spotted it parked & not wanting to walk all the way home, I hopped in & waited on him. Some guy arrived & wanted to know what the hell I was doing in his car (opps), lol
Sir! This video is amazing!! Please make on the Oldsmobile Toronado!!! I love the history! And everything. I was so surprised when I saw you have less than 100 subscribers! You have one more today!!
I don't understand how you don't have more subs. You only have to videos but the quality is great and extremely professional. Don't be discouraged. If you just keep doing what you are doing with consistency there is no reason you shouldn't build an audience from your content, because it's genuinely good and entertaining.
Ephraim Zimbalist Jr was blessed with one of these babies in convertible form for 3 years on a row in the slick TV private eye program "77 Sunset Strip" from 1961 to 63. 13:30 To compare, I was assigned a 1971 Ford Custom Sedan as a cable inspector for Bell Telephone (Mountain Bell) in 1977 with a 390 Cubic Inch engine and 4 venturies. It got 14 mpg unless I was up in Wyoming having fun with that huge displacement and doing 90 to 95 mph, then she got 11mpg.
A friend of my father's who was an electrical engineer who worked for Ford's electronics company Philco had one of these. Going in a straight line at highway speeds you'd never know that you were in a car . You'd swear you were sitting on a sofa in someone's living room because every bump was soaked up and the ride was just so darn smooth. Sudden stops were like being jolted out of a seat in some type of bizarre amusement park ride.
Thunderbirds for great cars I’ve had four Thunderbirds. And I have enjoyed every single one of them. You have a sense of pride when you drive a Thunderbird pull up the other Fords and you know you’re driving Ford‘s best. My last Thunderbird was a 1989 Thunderbird super coupe SC . With a supercharged V6 3.8 it was one of the fastest Tbirds ‘s made .
Discussion of the 4 seater Tbird replacing the 2 seater overlook the Lincoln Continental of 1956 and 57. This was a beautiful car but very expensive and sold in tiny numbers. Combining the Tbird and Continental resulted in the 4 seater Tbird which had broad appeal outsold both put together.
Horsepower ratings in the sixties, were UNDERRATED for insurance purposes. 390's were in all probability closer to 425 horses. A bone stock 390 on a dyno, on premium fuel has been shown to kick out almost 460 horsepower, and the powerhouse 427 were well over 500 horse. Insurance companies would have loved to know this in the day.
Glad to hear the brakes "Will Stop The Car If Need Be" I have always loved this model of the T-Bird. I wish a modern car could try to capture the sprit of it in a modern design. Be daring in the styling and make the interior like the inside of a retro-future jet cockpit. An EV large personal luxury coup with four person bucket seats would be cool to see.
The body crease was unique to the `63 Bullet Bird body style. Some optional performance was available in the tripack six barrel carburetor, in case it was chugging back petrol fast enough for your liking. This big boat hauled ass. The baby bird retro was introduced in the Early 2000's by Ford but I guess they didn't send them across the pound.
My parents owned a 63 T-Bird with a 390 v8. The rear 2 valves burned at 100K miles. They drove it until 71. The day after they traded it in on a new 71 VW Beetle te dealership called my mom and said that it wouldn’t start. They had to replace the engine. They had given my parents $1500 for it and then they had to borrow the remaining $1500 to pay off the VW
They also had that feature on the 63 doors ! Which I think Enhanced the body style Greatly, my first car was a 63 Thunderbird!, I always said it was a 1 year body style.
Beuutiful car. But I like where you live better. A great place to have a thunderbird call home. The swing away steering was also available on the Mercury. Cougar. I’ve got a 67 and it has that same option except it was called tilt a away. A pain in the ``` to fix but sure nice to have
You know, I LOVE Thunderbirds (I have a ‘63, red/white top) but they should’ve had a 2-seater version for the second gen AND a 4-seater. Like a sports package
I haven't. In fact, I know a lot about the mutual history of those two cars. The Lincolns of that same period were reputed to be built around the Thunderbird's cowl, in the same exclusive factory...in fact, the world-famous clap-door (or, to use a very overused and very obsolete phrase, "suicide-door") Lincolns began their existence as T-Bird concepts. One thing I have never been able to ascertain, however, was whether the designer credited for Lincoln's revolutionary design, Elwood Engel, also got credit for the Thunderbirds of the same generation. The resemblance is noticeable; in fact, many design details were used on the original clay concepts that sold Kennedy's Secretary Of Defense on the new look, when he was seriously pondering sending Mercury and Lincoln down the same disposal chute the Edsel had just gone down. Toxic a personality as Engel may have been, at least according to some designers who were there at the same time, he did have talent and the ability to take lessons learned from mistakes (such as the 1958 Lincoln, even though he was not the top designer on that development)...though he may not necessarily have admitted to any mistakes to anyone. You notice how, by 1964, Chrysler started following the lead he made with the '61 Lincoln (maybe the T-Bird as well? Can anyone verify or refute that?); not a coincidence. But that concept which transformed from T-Bird to Lincoln per McNamara's orders *changed* the automotive industry like no other car after WW2. When the rest of the world was still stuck in the '50s rut, that design immediately changed everything. Even the construction standards changed the industry...not just the eventual total switch to unibody construction, but also in warranty quality and maintenance standards. How many would believe, let alone remember, when you bought a new car you'd have to take it back to the dealer as soon as the odo hit 1,000 miles for the "break-in" oil to be changed with standard-use oil...and if you missed that mark, they'd charge you for a maintenance they were required to do anyway? Lincoln did away with that: Right from the factory it was expected to give normal service right off the bat for 6,000 miles before its first oil change. And that's just one example. Another: Lincoln offered the first-ever 2-year/24,000-mile, bumper-to-bumper warranty, twice the best competition and worlds ahead of the 90-day/4,000-mile drivetrain warranties that were the norm in 1961. And there are still more. Let GTO-442-Nova-Camaro-Firebird-Charger-Challenger-Barracuda-Mustang types make all the noise they want about their primary loves. Their cars had their niche in automotive history, yes...but only as additional car options. Not one of them *changed* the way the industry built cars. Lincoln did.
@@aloysiusbelisarius9992 Alex Tremulis claimed credit for the "banana nose" 61 Tbird. He was one of the few stylist concerned with aerodynamics at the time. He claimed his Tbird was 6 MPH faster than its predecessor because it sliced thru the air more easily. Elwood Engel had the opposite philosophy. He always wanted to make his cars as bulky and boxy as possible to have a heavy, impressive look. Engel left Ford for Chrysler about 1964 which accounts for the change in styling from the elegant 64 Chrysler to the much more imposing, boxy looking 65s. They were the first Engel designs at Chrysler.
@@mrdanforth3744 Well, partially correct historical account. Engel did in fact have involvement (though not as the top designer) of the extreme '58 Lincoln. But he did learn a lesson, something he never really liked to learn through embarrassment. He created a Thunderbird concept car that was an almost total departure (and closer resemblance to the production '61 'Bird) from his Futura-on-steroids. That Thunderbird became the '61 Lincoln, which one can see bears more than a passing resemblance to the T-Bird of the same year. Now, Engel was a freelancer, so he wasn't committed to any one studio; I'm thinking that the designers of the Ford studio took his cues after the "Big Man" of Ford ordered Engel's 'Bird concept to be made into the Lincoln. But Engel did not go to Chrysler in '64. '64 was the first year that cars started to show his influence, but he started there in '61, after corporate politics in Ford and Chrysler, respectively, had done their damage. Now, I'm not one to exalt Engel. One designer at Ford said Engel was an abusive, narcissistic piece of work, bullying people left and right because of his status, where he had lots of authority, power, and money, but no responsibility.
@@aloysiusbelisarius9992 You may be right about Engel going to Chrysler in 61 but I didn't say anything about Lincoln. Although both the 61 Lincoln and 65 Chryslers showed his influence.
@@mrdanforth3744 True, you didn't mention Lincoln; I guess I went into more detail than I realized. I tend to do that, even if I try to be as concise as possible, for fear of leaving out a small but critical detail that could make the difference between making my point clear or making it even more confusing. I felt I had to raise that detail in my point, because it was that Lincoln that essentially set the stage for the rest of Engel's career and influence.
I remember being driven to school by my mother in '75, in her white on white '63. As the song says 'bird is the word'! T-Bird! But I wouldn't call it a barge; it was considered a mid-size car for the time it was produced, and on the smaller end in the 1970s.
A big improvement if you upgrade to a MSD multi strike ignition, from experience with 2 427 FE motors will run much smoother , also go with a smooth bore 2.5 inch over axle pipe with stock mufflers and larger power increase than you would think , and a difference you will be surprised is a change in the rear differential lube to a redline 80 90 synthetic, sliding gears like these are the biggest cause of friction and on my small truck I noticed the dif in the first 50 ft, from a 70 year old ford fan , good luck with your car. and one more thing which i dont think you car has is a clutch type engine cooling fan, ford was late to that change but an easy 10 HP boost. all without changing your cars nature but a lot more pep in it's step. .
Smooth yes. Ford even into the 1970s were touting "road hugging weight" (LOL). That said, the 2005 Ford Crown Victoria (the predecessor and successor of the Galaxy 500/LTD line) is the absolute smoothest riding Ford I've ever been in.
For your information both the design of the logo as well as the name Thunderbird came from a Ford executive who won a company naming contest for the new line of car. He had encountered a small statue of an local American Indian tribe’s god with the look and name he submitted while on a recent vacation out to Arizona which he subsequently decided to use as his entry in the contest. He won $500.00 and a tailor made brand new suit of his choosing.
I agree. I have a 64 convertible. I think it is far and away a sportier and better looking car. Sure the 62 and 63 sold M-code with 3 2bbl carbs, but in 1965 you could order a tbird with a 427. There are only about 20 in existance, but they were dramatically faster than an m-code.
Flairbirds don’t look sporty at all. They look much more luxury-orientated than any of them imo. My favorite gens are the BulletBirds (1961-‘63) the ‘57, and the ‘65. I’ve got a ‘63
The car was hard to work on it sat on the ground it was like working on a boat it was a good car and ride I liked it was a fast car exp 428 and. 390 with the 3.2 barrel carbs l.d.k.
The original Thunderbird did not handle better than the Corvette - it is a well known 'beautiful brick' on the road. But pretty. Luckily, we have a lot of straight stretches here in the US. Both cars were screwed by executive committees. The 'wind deflectors that sort of work' were known as 'butterflies' here in the day, greatly missed by many in my generation. Had their uses.
Growing up in Indiana those were not known as "butterflies". My dad called them a "no-drafts". Cigarette smokers loved those and you'd see people flick their ashes out of them. Strange how we have so many local dialects in the states. And my family alone had their own peculiar names for some things that even our next door neighbors didn't understand.
The baby birds the 55-57 Thunderbirds were not designed to be a sports car as the Corvette was when it was introduced in 1953 with a "underpowered" stovebolt 6 cylinder. The early birds were luxurious roadsters aimed at the country club well heeled clientel. It was said you drove you wife in your Lincoln and your mistress or girlfriend in your Thunderbird. I owned a 57 Tbird when you install radial tires on it and add a bigger sway bar in the back and install an optional large sway bar in the front. The baby birds handle pretty well for a 3000 lb. car. My 63 Thunderbird Sports Roadster does not handle that well and it is not supposed to. It is a luxurious big, stately luxury car. It floats and you feel like you are riding on a cushion of air almost like a Citreon.
They were not built to race even though fast, built for comfort gas was be low 30 cents a gallon, great cars for the time, the way you explained it they were junk, they served the purpose for the family and in most accidents you lived through it. An American should have given the talk it would have been more factual. There are a few cars from the U.K. I could have said were crap. Different taste for different Countries, different needs.
Love T birds! Correction; Wolseley 6/80 had auto-electric choke from 1948, Lanchester and A90 Atlantic 1949 had power hoods, Peugeot had foldaway power hardtops in early 1930s, etc. USA had many luxury firsts, but few mech engineering firsts,
In a few years replace the gas guzzler engine with an electric motor. I doubt you drive very far in this so an electric range of 150 miles (240 KM) would be plenty and the car would probably weigh less. These Birds were beautiful but way too heavy. They ate through tires and gasoline. Nice video. 👍👍
It's not a 'tudor' hardtop, it's a 'two-door' hardtop!! I can tell he's not from the states!! My brother had the most desirable '57 Chevy, the two-door hardtop!!
Ford first used "Tudor" and "Fordor" in their brochures & advertising in 1952, kind of a fun play on words, so the producer of this video DOES know what he's talking about, Mortensen.
Actually it's a '55, the '56 had a rear bumper mounted spare tire. The hardtop was an option and the porthole top came out in '57 and was interchangeable with all three years and due to it's popularity was often used on the earlier models. There are a ton of things in this video that are not accurate.
The best T-birds Were the 1st ones Two seaters. After that it was a disapointment. They should have stayed two seater Sport Cars. Or made both. Now its time to build two seater again.
A truly gorgeous monument to American automotive design.
This is exactly the thought I have about it. It’s perfect. I plan to buy one as my daily driver next year
My boss at work had me run an errand and use he new Thunderbird to run it. That was a cool experience for a teenager.
One of the most beautiful cars ever designed.
I learned to drive in a '62.
Backwards.
When I was 15 dad started to teach me to drive in his bird.
My practice was backing his car out of the dogleg narrow driveway each morning.
I was to park in front of the house.
Before long, I drove it around the block first.
Not long later, I was taking it around like 12 blocks (no license of course).
That stopped when he was standing there waiting to get in his car which wasn't there.
Ultimately, I got behind the swinging wheel all licensed up.
I had the coolest car to drive of all my friends.
I LOVED that one baby blue '62.
The thunderbirds during this period were something everyone liked, both women and men drove these, very popular design and the more options there was the higher the price was, so you could get one in various price ranges. Really nice car's with beautiful interiors
I got my first drivers license at 16 driving my Uncle's '63 bird. There's always been a soft spot in my heart for these cars.
My uncle had a '63 Bird that he allowed me to drive during high school!
Nicely done! I own a 1963 Bullet Bird... Same "Silver Mink" color! By the way, that's an optional color for the bird, stock Lincoln color. Keeping mine as visually stock as I can... can't improve perfection! Stock 4100 carb, but converted to electronic ignition also went straight pipe dual exhaust with performance mufflers. All tucked up under for "stock" look... It is a sheer joy to drive! Going down the highway, step on the accelerator, it's like the "hand of God" pushing the car down the road. My godfather had one when I was 4... it began my 50+ year long love of cars. Honored to finally have one. Totally enjoyed watching another so close to mine!! Thanks!!
I'm glad you love your bird just like I do mine. What I don't like is someone reviewing a 1960s car and judging it against modern standards. Someone not familiar with these cars would assume from this review that it is a sluggish granny car with granny suspension. The truth is that in the early 60s these cars were very impressive.
The 63 T-Bird is one of my most favorite T-Birds ever I love that sculpted door line that's a 61 and 62 didn't have.
Wow, very nice "Rocket Bird" . The suspension on these cars had what Ford called "controlled wheel recession". Thru the use of rubber bushings in the suspension the wheels were allowed to move fore and aft over bumps and irregularities, as well as conventionally. This improved the ride of these cars greatly.
This is the kind of car you get noticed in! Beautiful car.
Hey, Hey Hey, I get 12mpg with my Thunderbirds.
I've had close to a dozen Bulletbirds over the last 25 years. I have two 1962s now, one with 14,000 original miles and original down to the brakes and exhaust.
Couple of interesting facts or things I am pointing out (with a couple of minor corrections on your vid) concerning these cars.
Robert McNamara was responsible for the 61-63 Thunderbirds and approved the go ahead for production. You are absolutely right about him being the penultimate bean counter and he killed off much of the Ford Performance Division but the design of the car was signed off on by him. And yes, he did like stodgy cars. The funny thing was that several of his stodgy cars formed the basis of future Ford models for decades to come. The Mustang? Based on the Falcon chassis. In fact, the Falcon chassis was used as the basis for much of what Ford produced all the way into the mid 1970s ending with the Ford Granada. So he might just get the last laugh there. I'm not a great fan of Robert McNamara but he wasn't a total bust as the head of Ford and in some respects he helped save the company during the economic recession of the late 1950s.
You mentioned that the Thunderbird is not badged as a Ford (well much) and you are right about them being built in the Wixom Plant in Michigan along side the slab side Lincolns (another McNamara approved design). The front bumper and grill were very similar to the 1961 Lincoln Continental. The first 61s Thunderbirds were made in two styles, hardtop and convertible. The convertible top was fully hydraulic and used a mechanism that was designed originally for the 57-58 Ford Fairlane Skyliners. It was unique (at the time) in that the rear deck lid would open and the entire convertible top assembly would fold down into the trunk giving the car a completely clean appearance. This actual setup started in 1958 but wasn't perfected until the 1959 models and was similar until the convertible top was discontinued in the Thunderbird in 1967.
In 1961 the Thunderbird was amazingly well appointed with standard features that you couldn't find in most other cars. Like you said automatic transmission and power steering were standard, a rarity even as an option in the early 1960s. In addition bucket seats, console and backup lights were also standard. Interestingly things you would thing would be standard, like a heater, radio and side mirror (driver's side) were options in 1961 and 1962. The side mirror (which was remotely controlled in 63 only) became standard in the year you were driving. My 14K original car did not come with a driver's side mirror. It makes for interesting driving. Another interesting first was the 'floating mirror' that you see on the windshield. This seems common in most cars but the 1961 Thunderbird was the first car to do it.
In 1962 Lee Iacocca was in charge and he made some changes to the lineup. One of the first things he did was jazz up the Thunderbird with some option packages not seen before. For the first time the Landau top option was put in place. The second was to add a higher horsepower engine option to the Thunderbird. By adding three two barrel carburators to the car the M Code Thunderbird of 1962 and 1963 put out 340 brake horsepower with similar torque settings. It had a special engine chrome dress up kit as well. It didn't sell all that well. The T-bird was not a performance car, like you said, by the early 60s and the carbs were difficult to keep in tune so they proved unpopular. But an M Code bird is pretty valuable today.
The other big addition to the lineup was the Sports Roadster model that came out in early 1962 and ran until the middle of 1963. This tried to make the car look like a two seater by putting a fiberglass tonneau cover, special wire wheels, a grab bar and badging on a standard convertible. It could be bought with a regular Z code 390 engine or the M Code option. It, again, didn't sell as well as hoped and while stunning (I've owned two over the years) the cost of the car ballooned with the options so it didn't sell well. Again, if you can find one they bring a pretty penny.
Interestingly, the 63 that you drove originally came with a single exhaust. The 61 and 62s had dual exhaust but in 63 Ford went with a single exhaust system for the standard versions of the Thunderbird. The M Codes kept the dual exhaust. One option you didn't mention was the vacuum door locks that came in 1963. Where the red brake light flasher is on that car there would be a switch that would activate or deactivate the door locks. It was more of a novelty than actually functional but I had one car that had it, and it still worked-sometimes. The 63 also came with a hydraulically controlled windshield wiper system that acted something like a delay wiper if you fiddled with it. It tended to leak power steering fluid (it fed off the pump) and a lot of people replaced it with the older electrical wiper motors that came on the 61s and 62s. It also fielded, for the first time, an optional AM/FM radio that was fully transistorized. This was a big thing in 1963 and the Thunderbird was one of the first cars that offered an FM option.
If you think that car wallows around I'd love to let you try to drive my original 62 with the original shocks (yep, original) along with the bias ply tires that are recreations of the tires that came new on the car in 1962. Radial tires weren't around then and the car is smooth as silk but wallows like drunken musk ox in turns. My other car, which I have restored and has modern radials, is much easier an steady on the road. But even so it is not the most nible of cars. Still, I love driving them.
Fire me a message if you have any questions or anything. I have had these cars for decades and pretty much have torn them down and put them back together and these are by far my favorite classic car. Every place I go I get questions, and it is really looks so different, almost modern, compared to other cars from that generation.
Amazing designs on all Ford Thunderbird interiors. My Dad had a 69 model, the best , and I owned a 59 and 96. good cars .
Yeah, back when REAL automotive engineers existed and car manufacturers built cars with style and class.
Exceedingly well said, when Detroit built cars we wanted, remember those days?? These " rolling pieces of artwork" as said in above narrative define what we the automotive consumer wanted in the driveway. Today's soulless , electric, cold, robotic so- cars is what Detroit is forcing the consumer to purchase by simply offering very few divergent vehicles.All look very similar to each other , UGHHH, Not me, Proud owner of an 73 T- bird the " big bird". This is an excellent and informative vid here , truly thank you for sharing this with us. Maybe some younger viewers can actually see what a real car is and whom it was built for, US.
Oh yeah, RIGHT!😂
While these cars looked great but from an engineering perspective they were crap. Today’s cars last twice as long, are five times as safe, produce 1% of CO, NOx and VOC emissions and get three times the mileage per horsepower as these dinosaurs did.
A beautiful design…
Enjoyed your narrative and film editing.
Thanks!
Brilliant!!! My Family ( Of 3) went from a Jaguar XK140 to a 1958 Thunderbird because My Mom demanded that I have My aOwn Seat!!!
In 1971 I wanted to buy a Clapped Out 1961 Thunderbird for $100. My Dad Said No( I was 16) and instead I got a Plymouth.
To This Day I Mourn the Passing of the XK 240…..
Such a smart-looking car! This was always my favorite Thunderbird, and it just oozes that Sixties "Martini and Rat Pack" look. Ford really had some extremely attractive and original designs in the early Sixties, especially this and the sibling underneath Lincoln Continental. I remember wanting to buy one of these or an early Sixties Lincoln as my first car in the late 1980s, and I regret not doing so!
Beauty! I never actually owned one - just rebuilt its 390 cid and Cruise-o-matic for my dad.
Became a mustang fan through my dad, but developed my own love of the Ford Tbird. 61-63 being my favorite generation. Looks so 60s to me. Maybe one day. For now I’m happy with my 69 fastback.
That is a nice colour. Same as what was called "Silver smoke grey" on the 65 Mustang.
I used to have a 61. I still love them.
A classic car from the time when cars people and celebrities actually had class…
Always wanted a T-bird 🌟
You shall have one.
My family had a triple black '61 back in the mid '70s around the time I turned 16 that my dad bought for about $1200 with 45,000 miles. Oh, that 390 would burn rubber okay, but yeah, it just kinda sat there smoking the tires because of the tremendous heft of the vehicle! Factory no-AC car. Not too uncommon for the day, but a deal-killer for me in the US Midwest with 90 degree+ temperatures common in the summertime . Otherwise an awesome car. I'd love to acquire a convertible version, but since I'm in Texas now, working AC would be non-negotiable!
I just love your '63 Tbird, I had a '64 for years and in fact sold it in England in '92. I now have a '65 in my garage. To get some better mileage I put a Holly 550 4 bbl carburetor on mine and on the highways I would get 18 mpg out of it. Which was a lot better than 12 mpg that I used to get. These are a lot of fun to drive and are well made cars. I wonder if my old '64 is driving around the UK somewhere? oh well, God bless.
Sorry for the random question! What was the registration of your old 1964? I have a blue 64 in the UK that was imported around 91/92 :)
@@benvenis9758 Before I sold it I had it painted two tone silver and a darker silver. It had a completely new blue interior that was blue. I don't have any paper work as for the registration number any more.
@@mikejohansson6711 oh that's curious... My car was silver at some point and it has a blue interior that was re done at some point, seats are a beautiful blue fabric with vinyl down the sides :)
@@benvenis9758 has the dash been recovered? I had mine recovered in California and he did a great job using two tone blue vinyl and it had a black vinyl top.
@@mikejohansson6711 I think so possibly, it's blue vinyl matching the side of the seats, and the car has a black vinyl top with thunderbird emblems still on the rear c post.
It was luxury indeed. My parents and siblings were travelling through yellowsone park. We encountered some bears, my father turned off the engine thinking the bears would go away. This turned off the power windows, my brother's window was down. The bear put his arm the open window at my brother, fun times!!!
Great story!
I have owned one each of 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1966. I caluculate every tank of gas I have ever put into every car I have ever owned. These T-Birds get more like 15-16 mpg at 65 mph on the freeway.
The heads were improved for the 1966 model, it had 315 hp. And it REALLY felt a bit quicker than the others I have owned.
Being American, I wanted to say that the equipment/operation you insult here were attributes at the time.
You're exactly right. Of course the Brits did build the Jag XKE and Mark II.
This car would be a disaster on English B roads and in most British cities. Some of the roads are so narrow a micro car can barely pass.
You did a good job here
the swing-a-way steering wheel was the coolest feature!
I do love very much the bullet birds.
My step-father had a 64 Thunderbird with all the bells & whistles, including a 454 engine someone had dropped in (he bought as a repo) & that car could fly! One day when I was across town, I thought I spotted it parked & not wanting to walk all the way home, I hopped in & waited on him. Some guy arrived & wanted to know what the hell I was doing in his car (opps), lol
Remember the T-Bird Sports Roadster from that era? Sexy wheels.
New to the Channel! Beautiful Car!!
I had a 1963 Thunderbird. Loved It. I didn't want to sell it but I didn't have any place to store it.
Same thing happened to me. Probably one of my worst decisions was to sell my '63 Landau. If I ever win the lottery I'll buy it back.
Sir! This video is amazing!! Please make on the Oldsmobile Toronado!!! I love the history! And everything. I was so surprised when I saw you have less than 100 subscribers! You have one more today!!
I don't understand how you don't have more subs. You only have to videos but the quality is great and extremely professional. Don't be discouraged. If you just keep doing what you are doing with consistency there is no reason you shouldn't build an audience from your content, because it's genuinely good and entertaining.
Ephraim Zimbalist Jr was blessed with one of these babies in convertible form for 3 years on a row in the slick TV private eye program "77 Sunset Strip" from 1961 to 63. 13:30 To compare, I was assigned a 1971 Ford Custom Sedan as a cable inspector for Bell Telephone (Mountain Bell) in 1977 with a 390 Cubic Inch engine and 4 venturies. It got 14 mpg unless I was up in Wyoming having fun with that huge displacement and doing 90 to 95 mph, then she got 11mpg.
Maybe power steering was a LUXURY item in the UK in the 1960's but not in the USA. The vast majority of cars were sold with power steering by 1965.
You're absolutely wrong lol
Beautiful! 😍😍 Front end so similarly designed as The Ford Corsair!
A great car a strong the car and a good-looking car we had a 1961 when I was a child
A friend of my father's who was an electrical engineer who worked for Ford's electronics company Philco had one of these. Going in a straight line at highway speeds you'd never know that you were in a car . You'd swear you were sitting on a sofa in someone's living room because every bump was soaked up and the ride was just so darn smooth. Sudden stops were like being jolted out of a seat in some type of bizarre amusement park ride.
Thunderbirds for great cars I’ve had four Thunderbirds. And I have enjoyed every single one of them. You have a sense of pride when you drive a Thunderbird pull up the other Fords and you know you’re driving Ford‘s best. My last Thunderbird was a 1989 Thunderbird super coupe SC . With a supercharged V6 3.8 it was one of the fastest Tbirds ‘s made .
Discussion of the 4 seater Tbird replacing the 2 seater overlook the Lincoln Continental of 1956 and 57. This was a beautiful car but very expensive and sold in tiny numbers. Combining the Tbird and Continental resulted in the 4 seater Tbird which had broad appeal outsold both put together.
The 56-57 Connies were exquisite works of art. Imagine McNamara hated those too.
Style that never ages.
Horsepower ratings in the sixties, were UNDERRATED for insurance purposes. 390's were in all probability closer to 425 horses. A bone stock 390 on a dyno, on premium fuel has been shown to kick out almost 460 horsepower, and the powerhouse 427 were well over 500 horse. Insurance companies would have loved to know this in the day.
I never liked 390s. Low HP high torque. More of a truck engine really.
Glad to hear the brakes "Will Stop The Car If Need Be"
I have always loved this model of the T-Bird. I wish a modern car could try to capture the sprit of it in a modern design. Be daring in the styling and make the interior like the inside of a retro-future jet cockpit. An EV large personal luxury coup with four person bucket seats would be cool to see.
A lot of these jet-age cars look like they should have come from the factory with an electric drivetrain.
The body crease was unique to the `63 Bullet Bird body style.
Some optional performance was available in the tripack six barrel carburetor, in case it was chugging back petrol fast enough for your liking.
This big boat hauled ass.
The baby bird retro was introduced in the Early 2000's by Ford but I guess they didn't send them across the pound.
Manual transmission were offered on Thunderbirds from 1955-1960, with or without an electric overdrive.
My parents owned a 63 T-Bird with a 390 v8. The rear 2 valves burned at 100K miles. They drove it until 71.
The day after they traded it in on a new 71 VW Beetle te dealership called my mom and said that it wouldn’t start. They had to replace the engine.
They had given my parents $1500 for it and then they had to borrow the remaining $1500 to pay off the VW
You need more sound. Volume very hard to hear you thanks for showing all these great cars that I work on for yrs. .l.d.k
You're awesome at car reviews!!!
Lots of inaccuracies.
63 Thunderbird was my 1st car.
You're a lucky man! Do you still have her?
@@billolsen4360 Nope, I wish I did.
@@maurymorrison6498 I've got two I wish I'd kept. 79 TBird, my family's old 69 Grand Prix.
@@billolsen4360 My dad had a 69 Buick Wildcat wish we still had.
@@maurymorrison6498 Wonder what a 69 Wildcat would bring in good shape on today's market
UK Ford Corsair Crayford 2 Door Convertible resembles a two thirds scale 1963 Thunderbird.
And a pretty car it is too!
I believe the Swing Away Steering Wheel was an available on full-size Fords too.
FYI the Thunderbird car was named after the Thunderbird Golf Club in Palm Springs. TGC also was the place the first motorized golf cart was invented.
I never thought that additional re-stamping they added to the original 1961 front fender sheetmetal ever added anything good to the design.
They also had that feature on the 63 doors ! Which I think Enhanced the body style Greatly, my first car was a 63 Thunderbird!, I always said it was a 1 year body style.
Beuutiful car. But I like where you live better. A great place to have a thunderbird call home. The swing away steering was also available on the Mercury. Cougar. I’ve got a 67 and it has that same option except it was called tilt a away. A pain in the ``` to fix but sure nice to have
You know, I LOVE Thunderbirds (I have a ‘63, red/white top) but they should’ve had a 2-seater version for the second gen AND a 4-seater. Like a sports package
Name one car made by Ford today that is this uber cool. That's right, you can't.
Mustang
@@rayjames6096 Not even close to being as cool as the bullet birds.
@@wymple09 I agree but then no car is as cool as that beautiful thing, especially the convertible with the tonneau cover.
@@wymple09 The Jaguar E type was a beauty too but I'm to tall to fit in one so I prefer American sized cars, and I'm American too.
GT500
I love seeing what appear to be Triumph Spitfires )))
I want one!!!
I was going to guess 9 mpg. Silly me.
Did you forget about Lincoln? That's on the Ford ladder too... the top in fact.
I haven't. In fact, I know a lot about the mutual history of those two cars. The Lincolns of that same period were reputed to be built around the Thunderbird's cowl, in the same exclusive factory...in fact, the world-famous clap-door (or, to use a very overused and very obsolete phrase, "suicide-door") Lincolns began their existence as T-Bird concepts. One thing I have never been able to ascertain, however, was whether the designer credited for Lincoln's revolutionary design, Elwood Engel, also got credit for the Thunderbirds of the same generation. The resemblance is noticeable; in fact, many design details were used on the original clay concepts that sold Kennedy's Secretary Of Defense on the new look, when he was seriously pondering sending Mercury and Lincoln down the same disposal chute the Edsel had just gone down. Toxic a personality as Engel may have been, at least according to some designers who were there at the same time, he did have talent and the ability to take lessons learned from mistakes (such as the 1958 Lincoln, even though he was not the top designer on that development)...though he may not necessarily have admitted to any mistakes to anyone. You notice how, by 1964, Chrysler started following the lead he made with the '61 Lincoln (maybe the T-Bird as well? Can anyone verify or refute that?); not a coincidence.
But that concept which transformed from T-Bird to Lincoln per McNamara's orders *changed* the automotive industry like no other car after WW2. When the rest of the world was still stuck in the '50s rut, that design immediately changed everything. Even the construction standards changed the industry...not just the eventual total switch to unibody construction, but also in warranty quality and maintenance standards. How many would believe, let alone remember, when you bought a new car you'd have to take it back to the dealer as soon as the odo hit 1,000 miles for the "break-in" oil to be changed with standard-use oil...and if you missed that mark, they'd charge you for a maintenance they were required to do anyway? Lincoln did away with that: Right from the factory it was expected to give normal service right off the bat for 6,000 miles before its first oil change. And that's just one example. Another: Lincoln offered the first-ever 2-year/24,000-mile, bumper-to-bumper warranty, twice the best competition and worlds ahead of the 90-day/4,000-mile drivetrain warranties that were the norm in 1961. And there are still more.
Let GTO-442-Nova-Camaro-Firebird-Charger-Challenger-Barracuda-Mustang types make all the noise they want about their primary loves. Their cars had their niche in automotive history, yes...but only as additional car options. Not one of them *changed* the way the industry built cars. Lincoln did.
@@aloysiusbelisarius9992 Alex Tremulis claimed credit for the "banana nose" 61 Tbird. He was one of the few stylist concerned with aerodynamics at the time. He claimed his Tbird was 6 MPH faster than its predecessor because it sliced thru the air more easily.
Elwood Engel had the opposite philosophy. He always wanted to make his cars as bulky and boxy as possible to have a heavy, impressive look.
Engel left Ford for Chrysler about 1964 which accounts for the change in styling from the elegant 64 Chrysler to the much more imposing, boxy looking 65s. They were the first Engel designs at Chrysler.
@@mrdanforth3744 Well, partially correct historical account. Engel did in fact have involvement (though not as the top designer) of the extreme '58 Lincoln. But he did learn a lesson, something he never really liked to learn through embarrassment. He created a Thunderbird concept car that was an almost total departure (and closer resemblance to the production '61 'Bird) from his Futura-on-steroids. That Thunderbird became the '61
Lincoln, which one can see bears more than a passing resemblance to the T-Bird of the same year. Now, Engel was a freelancer, so he wasn't committed to any one studio; I'm thinking that the designers of the Ford studio took his cues after the "Big Man" of Ford ordered Engel's 'Bird concept to be made into the Lincoln.
But Engel did not go to Chrysler in '64. '64 was the first year that cars started to show his influence, but he started there in '61, after corporate politics in Ford and Chrysler, respectively, had done their damage.
Now, I'm not one to exalt Engel. One designer at Ford said Engel was an abusive, narcissistic piece of work, bullying people left and right because of his status, where he had lots of authority, power, and money, but no responsibility.
@@aloysiusbelisarius9992 You may be right about Engel going to Chrysler in 61 but I didn't say anything about Lincoln. Although both the 61 Lincoln and 65 Chryslers showed his influence.
@@mrdanforth3744 True, you didn't mention Lincoln; I guess I went into more detail than I realized. I tend to do that, even if I try to be as concise as possible, for fear of leaving out a small but critical detail that could make the difference between making my point clear or making it even more confusing. I felt I had to raise that detail in my point, because it was that Lincoln that essentially set the stage for the rest of Engel's career and influence.
I remember being driven to school by my mother in '75, in her white on white '63. As the song says 'bird is the word'! T-Bird! But I wouldn't call it a barge; it was considered a mid-size car for the time it was produced, and on the smaller end in the 1970s.
very intresting hearing about this era fron a Brits perspective. thanks
Very nice….live in the uk and would like one of these. Where did this one come from?
The narrators sarcasm is great.
A big improvement if you upgrade to a MSD multi strike ignition, from experience with 2 427 FE motors will run much smoother , also go with a smooth bore 2.5 inch over axle pipe with stock mufflers and larger power increase than you would think , and a difference you will be surprised is a change in the rear differential lube to a redline 80 90 synthetic, sliding gears like these are the biggest cause of friction and on my small truck I noticed the dif in the first 50 ft, from a 70 year old ford fan , good luck with your car. and one more thing which i dont think you car has is a clutch type engine cooling fan, ford was late to that change but an easy 10 HP boost. all without changing your cars nature but a lot more pep in it's step. .
The only engine they put in 63 THUNDERBIRDS were 390s NO 427S!
@@jerryparks6123 your right of course but same style of motor though and multi strike ignition will be a big improvement
this is great - thanks!
Very well written and completely true !
Smooth yes. Ford even into the 1970s were touting "road hugging weight" (LOL). That said, the 2005 Ford Crown Victoria (the predecessor and successor of the Galaxy 500/LTD line) is the absolute smoothest riding Ford I've ever been in.
For your information both the design of the logo as well as the name Thunderbird came from a Ford executive who won a company naming contest for the new line of car. He had encountered a small statue of an local American Indian tribe’s god with the look and name he submitted while on a recent vacation out to Arizona which he subsequently decided to use as his entry in the contest. He won $500.00 and a tailor made brand new suit of his choosing.
Without this era Ford, there probably wouldn't have been the '63 Riviera
Or the 63 Grand Prix, 66 Toronado, 67 Eldorado, 69 Continental Mk III, 70 Monte Carlo or the Chrysler Cordoba with rich Corinthian leather.
It sounds like a jet when accelerating on the inside.
428 FORD ENGINES WEREN'T MADE IN 63 !
Unique design. One Ford engineer called it a prime example of tortured sheet metal
That '58 T'bird he showed (the big, fat and ugly one) looks a lot like the 1960 Lincoln Premiere that my dad use to have!!
Diagonal head lamp luxo-boats!!
A rocket shaped Luxury Muscle car.
Mechanical drums are operated by cables or linkage. This car has hydraulic drums. Not mechanical.
Ford didn't have mechanical brakes since 1935
In the United States, Ford Dealership signs read "Ford & Thunderbird."
My first car was a ’62 T’bird. Great car to mess around in with the girlfriend.
I had a 66..never has the word "NO" been uttered in the back seat of any car ever.
SWEET SO SWEET 💕
But you forgot The Mustang! 🙄🙄😍😍
And she'll have fun, fun, fun, till her daddy takes the T-BIRD away, aawwaayeeee. FORD Thunderbird nicknamed Bullet Bird for 1961 to 1963.
I don’t agree that the 64 to 66 was less sporty. I thought it looked sleeker and less clunky
White exterior. 64-65
Magic
I agree. I have a 64 convertible. I think it is far and away a sportier and better looking car. Sure the 62 and 63 sold M-code with 3 2bbl carbs, but in 1965 you could order a tbird with a 427. There are only about 20 in existance, but they were dramatically faster than an m-code.
Flairbirds don’t look sporty at all. They look much more luxury-orientated than any of them imo. My favorite gens are the BulletBirds (1961-‘63) the ‘57, and the ‘65. I’ve got a ‘63
Was flair bird the 64-66 or 61-63 @@TheTrollMastah
I think the Hawk seemed Thunderbird rival just my opinion
I had a 3rg gen. 77 T bird.
The car was hard to work on it sat on the ground it was like working on a boat it was a good car and ride I liked it was a fast car exp 428 and. 390 with the 3.2 barrel carbs l.d.k.
"These wing vents kind of worked"? Is when I Stopped listening to a person who is ignorant about cars.
my favorite pickle!
the ford thunderpickle!
The original Thunderbird did not handle better than the Corvette - it is a well known 'beautiful brick' on the road. But pretty. Luckily, we have a lot of straight stretches here in the US. Both cars were screwed by executive committees. The 'wind deflectors that sort of work' were known as 'butterflies' here in the day, greatly missed by many in my generation. Had their uses.
Growing up in Indiana those were not known as "butterflies". My dad called them a "no-drafts". Cigarette smokers loved those and you'd see people flick their ashes out of them. Strange how we have so many local dialects in the states. And my family alone had their own peculiar names for some things that even our next door neighbors didn't understand.
The baby birds the 55-57 Thunderbirds were not designed to be a sports car as the Corvette was when it was introduced in 1953 with a "underpowered" stovebolt 6 cylinder. The early birds were luxurious roadsters aimed at the country club well heeled clientel. It was said you drove you wife in your Lincoln and your mistress or girlfriend in your Thunderbird. I owned a 57 Tbird when you install radial tires on it and add a bigger sway bar in the back and install an optional large sway bar in the front. The baby birds handle pretty well for a 3000 lb. car. My 63 Thunderbird Sports Roadster does not handle that well and it is not supposed to. It is a luxurious big, stately luxury car. It floats and you feel like you are riding on a cushion of air almost like a Citreon.
They were not built to race even though fast, built for comfort gas was be low 30 cents a gallon, great cars for the time, the way you explained it they were junk, they served the purpose for the family and in most accidents you lived through it. An American should have given the talk it would have been more factual. There are a few cars from the U.K. I could have said were crap. Different taste for different Countries, different needs.
I thought it looked like a flying burrito!
A burrito? Really? And what classic car do you own and drive sir?
@@Mr1963corvette a 1934 el ria al...sir... and some say it looks like a burrito...
Love T birds! Correction; Wolseley 6/80 had auto-electric choke from 1948, Lanchester and A90 Atlantic 1949 had power hoods, Peugeot had foldaway power hardtops in early 1930s, etc. USA had many luxury firsts, but few mech engineering firsts,
So, I guess the first "people's car" isn't enough for you?
Thunderbirds and full sized Ford’s, especially wagons had horrible brakes in those days! They burned through brake shoes and drums like no other car!
In a few years replace the gas guzzler engine with an electric motor. I doubt you drive very far in this so an electric range of 150 miles (240 KM) would be plenty and the car would probably weigh less. These Birds were beautiful but way too heavy. They ate through tires and gasoline.
Nice video. 👍👍
…. Your out of your skull, I’d rather throw in a 5.0 coyote then a electric motor gross!!!
It's not a 'tudor' hardtop, it's a 'two-door' hardtop!! I can tell he's not from the states!! My brother had the most desirable '57 Chevy, the two-door hardtop!!
Ford first used "Tudor" and "Fordor" in their brochures & advertising in 1952, kind of a fun play on words, so the producer of this video DOES know what he's talking about, Mortensen.
@@billolsen4360 Mine said "tudor" on the title. True it is a "two-door" car. And has nothing to do with the Tudor monarchy.
They were referred to by Ford for the last time as Tuder hardtops in '63!
My 62 has a passenger mirror.
Bragger!
@@arcademania7544 It ain't braggin' if I can back it up.
Sublime line and length, power and presence, for me the 58.
Your photo of the 1955 is actually a 1956 (porthole windows)
Actually it's a '55, the '56 had a rear bumper mounted spare tire. The hardtop was an option and the porthole top came out in '57 and was interchangeable with all three years and due to it's popularity was often used on the earlier models. There are a ton of things in this video that are not accurate.
The best T-birds
Were the 1st ones
Two seaters. After that it was a disapointment. They should have stayed two seater
Sport Cars. Or made both. Now its time to build two seater again.
We like 60's cars because they were designed by people who didn't all go to the same school of automotive design. Faster than a Karen...🤣
i don't even think new car designers go to a design school.. that's why they all look the same, they are just copying each other.