![]() ![]() The controversial prominent “beak” introduced for the 1970 model year was toned down while the sequential turn signals seen since 1965 were deleted for cost saving reasons. Exterior wise, many components were common with the Continental Mark IV, with the primary differences being the front and rear body panels. Instead of the two body styles (two-door and four-door landau sedan) offered for the 1971 model year, the Thunderbird was pared down to a single two-door hardtop model line. 1972 1972 Ford Thunderbird The interior featuring round dials and clock would remain the same until the end of the 1976 model yearĪside from the redesign itself, the 1972 Thunderbird represented a simplification of body styles. In terms of styling, the sixth-generation Thunderbird would heavily influence the styling of the 1974–1976 Mercury Cougar XR7 and Ford Elite, the latter of which was replaced by the seventh-generation Thunderbird in 1977. A sibling of the Continental Mark IV, this generation of the Thunderbird was the largest ever produced weighing in at over 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg), they are also the heaviest coupes ever produced by Ford (aside from its Mark IV sibling car). As the baby boom continued, by 1958, the Thunderbird grew to include a back seat on an all-new frame and body style, making the 1957 model the final 2-seater Ford for the next 25 years.The sixth generation of the Ford Thunderbird is a large personal luxury coupe that was produced by Ford for the 1972 to 1976 model years. ![]() Despite having bench-style seats, only 2 adults fit in the Thunderbird. Power-assisted steering made the car more friendly for casual and city driving. In the top range “F” models, a centrifugal supercharger boosted performance to over 300 hp but only 500 were made.įord fitted 1957 models with wire-spoked wheels with white sidewall tires along with rear fender skirts, giving the appearance of a bigger more luxurious car. Ford boosted the power with a 312 cubic inch engine option with twin 4-barrel carburetors combined with either an automatic transmission or 3-speed manual with overdrive on just 1500 “E” spec cars, such as this Starmist Blue example. ![]() These made up the vast majority of the 21,380 cars sold in 1957. Supplied on the base model T-Bird was a 290 cubic inch V8 mated to a 3-speed manual transmission, noted with a “D” designation on the car’s VIN. Superior engine power came with 3 different V8 options offered to buyers on the Ford. While adding weight, the hard roof made road trips quieter and dryer while bodywork made completely of steel gave the car a more solid feel when compared to the ‘Vette. The 1957 was the only year with the now iconic "port” style side windows. Like the Corvette, the 1st generation Thunderbirds came with a retractable soft roof and was available with an optional a convertible hardtop. The car grew 6” longer too, as the trunk was extended to accommodate a spare tire that previously had been attached externally to the rear bumper. Larger tail fins rounded “jet engine” styled taillights, and a bigger front grill were part of the model year restyling in 1957. Ford took a great risk in the development of a 2-seater car as market trends leaned towards larger and heavier cars for the open road, but by utilizing a V8 engine and user-friendly options, the Thunderbird reached a much larger audience due to its superior long-distance abilities and driver amenities. Entering the market in 1955, by the third year of production, the T-Bird was outselling its Chevrolet rival 10 to 1 with several V-8 engine options and styling matching the larger Ford models. One of the longest sports cars built in the 1950s.ĭespite Ford’s long history of offering practical transportation, the Ford Thunderbird of the mid-1950s answered the demand for a V8-powered 2-seater roadster that could take on the Chevrolet Corvette and European sports car imports that were popular with returning war veterans.
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