NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Ford Thunderbird

The Ford Thunderbird was a car manufactured in the United States by the Ford Motor Company. It entered production for the 1955 Ford Thunderbird model year as a two-seater sporty car but, unlike the similar Chevrolet Corvette, the Thunderbird was never sold as a full-blown sports car. Ford described it as a personal luxury car, a description which named a new market segment. In 1958, the Thunderbird gained a second row of seats. Succeeding generations became larger until the line was downsized in 1977 and again in 1980. Sales were good until the 1990s, when large 2-door coupes became unpopular; production ceased after 1997. In 2002, a revived 2-seat model was launched, which was available through the end of the 2005 model year. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1176x657, 847 KB) I created this image by photoshopping another image uploaded by Morven in 2005. ... Automakers, also known as carmakers, automobile manufacturers, motor manufacturers, or the automobile industry are companies that design and manufacture automobiles. ... â€œFordâ€ redirects here. ... Car classification is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories. ... Ford Thunderbird A personal luxury car is a highly styled, luxurious automobile intended for the comfort and satisfaction of its owner/driver, sacrificing passenger space, cargo capacity, and other practical concerns for the sake of style. ... In automobile design layout is the place where both the engine and driven wheels are. ... Sketch of FR layout In automobile design, an FR, or front-engine, rear wheel drive means a layout where the engine is in the front of the vehicle and drive wheels at the rear. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... â€œFordâ€ redirects here. ... The 1955 Ford Thunderbird is a Ford Motor Company automobile model. ... The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car that has been manufactured by Chevrolet since 1953. ... 1963 Jaguar E-Type, a classic sports car 1963 Chevrolet Corvette was based upon European sports cars A sports car is an automobile designed for performance driving. ... Ford Thunderbird A personal luxury car is a highly styled, luxurious automobile intended for the comfort and satisfaction of its owner/driver, sacrificing passenger space, cargo capacity, and other practical concerns for the sake of style. ... 1995 Buick Riviera coupe A coupÃ© (from the French for cut) or coupe is a two or four-seater car with a fixed roof and two doors. ...

Genesis

Three men are generally credited with creating the original Thunderbird: Lewis D. Crusoe, a retired GM executive lured out of retirement by Henry Ford II; George Walker, chief stylist and a Ford vice-president; and Frank Hershey, a Ford designer. Crusoe and Walker met in France in October 1951. Walking in the Grand Palais in Paris, Crusoe pointed at a sports car and asked Walker, 'Why can’t we have something like that?' Henry Ford II Henry Ford II (September 4, 1917 â€” September 29, 1987), commonly known as Hank the Deuce, was the son of Edsel Ford and grandson of Henry Ford. ... Several prominent individuals have been named George Walker: Colonel The Reverend George Walker (1645-1690) was an English commander in Ireland. ... Frank Hershey - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ...

Walker promptly telephoned Ford's HQ in Dearborn and told designer Frank Hershey about the idea. Hershey took the idea and began working on the vehicle. The concept was for a two-passenger open car, with a target weight of 2525 lb (1145 kg), an Interceptor V8 engine and a top speed of over 100 mph (160 km/h). Crusoe saw a painted clay model on May 18, 1953, which corresponded closely to the final car; he gave the car the go-ahead in September after comparing it with current European trends. Dearborn may refer to: Dearborn, Michigan Dearborn County, Indiana Dearborn, Missouri Fort Dearborn (Present-day Chicago) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Frank Hershey - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration, although modern automotive versions use a 90 degree block angle. ... is the 138th day of the year (139th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ...

Unlike the Corvette, the Thunderbird was never a full-blown sporting vehicle; Ford's description was personal luxury car, and the company essentially created this market segment. Ford Thunderbird A personal luxury car is a highly styled, luxurious automobile intended for the comfort and satisfaction of its owner/driver, sacrificing passenger space, cargo capacity, and other practical concerns for the sake of style. ...

Naming

There was some difficulty in naming the car, with suggestions ranging from the exotic to the ridiculous (Hep Cat, Beaver, Detroiter, Runabout, Arcturus, Savile, El Tigre, and Coronado). Crusoe offered a $250 suit to anyone who could come up with a better name.

Stylist Alden "Gib" Giberson submitted Thunderbird as part of a list. Giberson got the idea during a lightning storm when he saw an illusion of a bird getting hit by lightning, but this happened because of his view. Giberson never claimed his prize, settling for a $95 suit and an extra pair of trousers from Saks Fifth Avenue. Saks Fifth Avenue is a chain of upscale American department stores that is owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises (SFAE), a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. ...

According to Palm Springs Life magazine, the car's final name came not from the Native American symbol as one might expect, but from an ultra-exclusive housing tract in what would later be incorporated as Rancho Mirage, California: Thunderbird Heights. Depiction of a Thunderbird on a Totem Pole The mythological Thunderbird is a mythical creature common to Indigenous spirituality in North America . ... Rancho Mirage is a city located in Riverside County, California. ...

Generations

1955-1957 "Classic Birds" or "Little Birds"

The car was shown at the Detroit Auto Show on February 20, 1954. The first production car came off the line on September 9, 1954, and went on sale on October 22, 1954 as a 1955 model, and sold briskly; 3,500 orders were placed in the first ten days of sale. Ford had only projected building 10,000; eventual 1955 sales were 16,155. Download high resolution version (2304x1728, 741 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Location in Michigan Coordinates: , Country United States State Michigan County Wayne County Government - Mayor John B. Oâ€™Reilly, Jr. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... Saab 900 Convertible 1962 Rambler American 1981 AMC Eagle 4-WD convertible Convertible can also refer to a convertible security A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof (aka soft top or top in USA, hood in UK). ... The Y-block engine is an overhead valve V8 automobile piston engine from Ford Motor Company. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... The Y-block engine is an overhead valve V8 automobile piston engine from Ford Motor Company. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... NAIAS 2005, near the Audi exhibit. ... is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

As standard, the 1955 Ford Thunderbird included a removable fiberglass top; a fabric convertible top was an option, although commonly specified. The engine was a 292 Y-block V8. The car had fender skirts. The exhaust pipes exited through twin bumper guards, which are bolted to the rear bumper. The 1955 Ford Thunderbird is a Ford Motor Company automobile model. ... Saab 900 Convertible 1962 Rambler American 1981 AMC Eagle 4-WD convertible Convertible can also refer to a convertible security A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof (aka soft top or top in USA, hood in UK). ... The Y-block engine is an overhead valve V8 automobile piston engine from Ford Motor Company. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... 1962 Cadillac Series 62 with rear wheels covered by detachable Fender Skirts 1986 CitroÃ«n CX Fender skirts are pieces of bodywork that cover the upper portions of the rear tires of an automobile. ...

Created to act as a retort to the Chevrolet Corvette, it was also the first mass produced edition of all the Ford Thunderbird models. Exactly 53,166 models were produced. It was produced with a Fordomatic or Overdrive transmissions, and featured four-way powered seats and pushbutton interior door handles.

Equipped with a V-eight engine, the Thunderbird could accelerate to 110-120 mph. It was also a smaller two-seat "personal luxury car", compared to the wallowing barges that roamed all the roads in the 1950s. It was designed to be a brisk luxury tourer, and not a sports car.

For the 1956 model, more trunk space was added, the spare wheel was mounted outside, the exhausts were moved to the ends of the bumper, and air vents were added behind the front wheels to improve cabin ventilation. To improve rear-quarter visibility with the removable hardtop in place, "porthole" windows were made available as a no-cost option. An optional 312 Y-block V8 was made available for those that wanted more performance. 1956 sales were 15,631, the lowest of all three 2-seater Thunderbird model years. The Y-block engine is an overhead valve V8 automobile piston engine from Ford Motor Company. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ...

For 1957, a more radical restyle was performed. The front bumper was reshaped, the grille and tailfins were made larger, and larger tail-lights were fitted. The spare wheel moved inside the trunk again, which had been redesigned to allow it to be mounted vertically. The side "Thunderbird" script moved from the fins to the front fenders. The later British Anglia bore an uncanny resemblance to it. The Corsair was heavily influenced by the later "Bullet bird" of 1961-63. As well as the standard 292 and 312 engines, versions of the 312 were produced in higher states of tune, and even a few McCulloch supercharged versions, rated at 300 and 340 hp (254 kW) respectively. 1957 sales were 21,380, including three extra months of production because the 1958 models were late. The 1957 Thunderbird would be the last two-seater Ford ever built and sold to the public until the 1982 Ford EXP sport compact car. The Ford Anglia was a British car from Ford in the UK. It was related to the Ford Prefect and the later Ford Popular. ... Paxton Automotive is a United States-based manufacturer of superchargers for automotive use. ... For other meanings, see supercharger (disambiguation) A supercharger (sometimes called a blower), a positive displacement or centrifugal pump, is a gas compressor used to pump air into the cylinders of an internal combustion engine. ... First shown at the Chicago Auto Show and introduced in April 1981 as an early 1982 model, the Ford EXP and Mercury LN7 were the first two-seaters that Ford offered in 25 years. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Hot hatch. ...

1958-1960 "Square Birds"

Although the original Thunderbird was successful, the corporation's executives -- particularly Robert McNamara -- felt its sales volume was small. Market research suggested that sales were limited by its two-seat configuration, making it unsuitable as an only car for families. The second generation, introduced for the 1958 model year, was designed as a four-seat car. Download high resolution version (2304x1728, 853 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wixom is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... 1995 Buick Riviera coupe A coupÃ© (from the French for cut) or coupe is a two or four-seater car with a fixed roof and two doors. ... Saab 900 Convertible 1962 Rambler American 1981 AMC Eagle 4-WD convertible Convertible can also refer to a convertible security A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof (aka soft top or top in USA, hood in UK). ... The Ford FE engine was a Ford V8 engine used in vehicles sold in the North American market between 1958 and 1976. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... Ford developed the MEL (Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln) engine series for use in their line of Mercury models from 1958 through 1967. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... For the figure skater, see Robert McNamara (figure skater). ...

The four-seat Thunderbird was designed with unibody construction, eschewing a separate chassis. The intent was to allow the maximum interior space in a relatively small exterior package. The new Thunderbirds were produced at a new assembly plant at Wixom, Michigan, built as part of a corporate expansion plan to increase the sales of up-market cars (Mercurys, Lincolns, and Thunderbirds). Monocoque (French for single shell) or unibody is a construction technique that uses the external skin of an object to support some or most of the load on the structure. ... Wixom is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ...

The new Thunderbird had a distinct new styling theme. The look earned this generation the nickname "Square Bird." The design was driven entirely by the styling department and approved before the engineering was considered. The design was one of two proposed, styled primarily by Joe Oros, who later worked on the Ford Mustang; the losing proposal, by designer Elwood Engel, was reworked in size to become the 1961 Lincoln Continental. Joe Oros was an automobile designer for Ford Motor Company. ... For other Ford Mustang models and concepts, see Ford Mustang Variants. ... Elwood Engel was Chrysler Corporations design chief from 1961 until 1974. ... The Lincoln Continental, an automobile produced by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company, began for the 1939 model year. ...

The new Thunderbird was nine inches (230 mm) lower than the standard American car of the time, at 52.5 in (1.33 m), with only 5.8 in (147 mm) of ground clearance. The significant transmission tunnel intrusion required to fit the powertrain into such a low car was turned into a styling feature by covering it with a large, full-length center console dividing the front and rear seats and containing ashtrays, switches, and minor controls. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Beneath the monocoque construction, the remainder of the engineering was conventional. Ford's new FE-series engine was used, with 352 in³ (5.8 L) displacement. Standard transmission remained a three-speed manual transmission, with optional overdrive or Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission. Front suspension was independent, with coil springs and unequal-length A-arms. The rear was initially a live axle suspended by coil springs, which were intended to be interchangeable with optional air springs that were cancelled before production. Drum brakes were used at all four wheels. Monocoque (French for single shell) is a construction technique that uses the external skin of an object to support some or most of the load on the structure. ... The Ford FE engine was a Ford V8 engine used in vehicles sold in the North American market between 1958 and 1976. ... One complete cycle of a four cylinder, four stroke engine. ... A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ... An overdrive is sometimes a separate unit that fits into the back of a gearbox, as with this Fairey unit. ... Ford-O-Matic was the first automatic transmission from Ford Motor Company. ... The automatic gear selector in a Ford Five Hundred vehicle An automatic transmission (commonly abbreviated as AT) is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually (similar but larger devices are also used for railroad... A live axle is a type of beam axle suspension system that uses the driveshafts that transmit power to the wheels to connect the wheels laterally so that they move together as a unit. ... A compression coil spring A tension coil spring A selection of conical coil springs A Coil spring, also known as a helical spring, is a mechanical device, which is typically used to store energy and subsequently release it, to absorb shock, or to maintain a force between contacting surfaces. ... Vehicle suspension in which compressed air is used as a spring. ... A drum brake is a brake in which the friction is caused by a set of shoes or pads that press against the inner surface of a rotating drum. ...

Various delays conspired to have production start only on December 20, 1957, much later than the normal September start; the 1957 Thunderbird was thus built for three extra months. is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ...

The new Thunderbird captured Motor Trend's Car of the Year award in its debut season. While many fans of the earlier, two-seat Thunderbirds were not happy with the new direction, Ford was vindicated with sales figures of 37,892, more than double the previous year despite losing three months of production and 1958 being a very poor year for car sales—the Thunderbird was one of only two cars to show a sales increase that year (the other being the Rambler). Only 2,134 convertibles were built, mostly because the convertible model did not become available until June 1958. Motor Trend is one of the oldest automotive magazines still publishing. ... Car of the Year is a phrase usually considered to have been invented by Motor Trend magazine in the 1950s for their annual award for best automobile. ... The original Rambler was an automobile produced of the Thomas B. Jeffery Company then by its successor, Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and finally, by its successor, American Motors Corporation (all in Kenosha, Wisconsin). ... Saab 900 Convertible 1962 Rambler American 1981 AMC Eagle 4-WD convertible Convertible can also refer to a convertible security A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof (aka soft top or top in USA, hood in UK). ...

For the 1959 model year, Ford made changes to the front, rear, and side ornamentation, and made leather upholstery available for the first time. The rear suspension was revised, discarding coil springs for Hotchkiss drive, with parallel leaf springs. A new engine, the 430 in³ (7.0 L) MEL-series, was available in small numbers. Sales almost doubled again, to 67,456 units, including 10,261 convertibles. Thunderbird advertising in 1959 targeted women in particular, showing glamorous models in country club and other exclusive settings, and the sales figures bore out Ford's marketing plans. The dominant form of power transmission for front-engine, rear-drive cars in the twentieth century is called the Hotchkiss drive. ... A traditional leaf spring arrangement. ... Ford developed the MEL (Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln) engine series for use in their line of Mercury models from 1958 through 1967. ...

1960's sales figures hit another record: 92,843 units sold, including 11,860 convertibles. A rare option in this year was a sunroof; this "Golde Edition" (Golde was a German company whose sunroof patent Ford licensed) sold 2,530 examples. Open sunroof in a Peugeot 206. ...

1961-1963 "Bullet Birds"

1961 saw new and much sleeker "Bullet Bird" styling. Sales were strong, if not quite up to record-breaking 1960, at 73,051 including 10,516 convertibles. A new, larger 390 in³ (6.4 L) FE-series V8 was the only engine available (in 1961). The Thunderbird was 1961's Indianapolis 500 pace car, and featured prominently in US President John F. Kennedy's inaugural parade, probably helped along by the appointment of Ford executive Robert McNamara as Secretary of Defense. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 494 pixelsFull resolution (2079 Ã— 1284 pixel, file size: 310 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) 1962 Ford Thunderbird Hardtop in Deep Sea Blue (code U) with Medium Turquoise Metallic vinyl interior (code 57). ... Wixom is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... 1995 Buick Riviera coupe A coupÃ© (from the French for cut) or coupe is a two or four-seater car with a fixed roof and two doors. ... Saab 900 Convertible 1962 Rambler American 1981 AMC Eagle 4-WD convertible Convertible can also refer to a convertible security A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof (aka soft top or top in USA, hood in UK). ... The Ford FE engine was a Ford V8 engine used in vehicles sold in the North American market between 1958 and 1976. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1280x960, 136 KB) Tail lights of bullet bird Ford Thunderbird File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1280x960, 136 KB) Tail lights of bullet bird Ford Thunderbird File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Ford FE engine was a Ford V8 engine used in vehicles sold in the North American market between 1958 and 1976. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... â€œIndy 500â€ redirects here. ... See also List of Indianapolis 500 pace cars A pace car has been used to start the Indianapolis 500 since 1911. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas US Government Portal For other uses, see President of the United States (disambiguation). ... John Kennedy and JFK redirect here. ... For the figure skater, see Robert McNamara (figure skater). ... The United States Secretary of Defense is the head of the United States Department of Defense, concerned with the armed services and The Secretary is a member of the Presidents Cabinet. ...

The Thunderbird for 1961 introduced several firsts for the automotive market. The most distinctive feature of the 1961 to 1963 Thunderbirds was the highly touted 'Swing Away' steering wheel. With the transmission in the park position the steering wheel would slide approximately 18 inches to the right allowing the driver to exit the vehicle easily. Other innovations include a floating rear view mirror. Common on all autos producted today, this feature was first found on 1961 Thunderbirds. Depending on variable options Thunderbirds for 1961 could be purchased with options like air conditioning, power windows, power seats, AM radio, fender skirts and white wall tires. Several standard features, like power steering and power brakes, back up lights and bucket seats were costly options on most other autos.

1962 saw strong production figures of 78,011 (including 9,884 convertibles) and the introduction of the Thunderbird Sports Roadster. The Sports Roadster was a limited production version of the convertible which added 48 spoke Kelsey Hayes designed wire wheels, special badges to the front fenders and a passenger side grab bar to the front dashboard. The most striking addition to the Sports Roadster was a fiberglass tonneau cover which covered the back seat of the car and created a two seater appearance. 1,427 Sports Roadsters were produced in 1962, including 120 models with the special M Code option noted below. Early models suffered from problems related to their specially designed wire wheels. The problem was quickly corrected when Elvis Presley was involved in an accident when one of the Kelsey Hayes wheels collapsed during hard turning.

Another addition for 1962 was a special engine code (VIN engine code M) which added a tripower or three two barrel setup to a higher compression version of the Ford 390CI engine. This engine used 406 heads as well as the same carburators that were found on the high performance 406 powered Ford Galaxies but with a modified version of the intake manifold to allow for proper air flow under the engine. This engine boasted 345 horsepower (257 kW) but was considered a moderate failure. The engine option was quietly discontinued halfway through the mid 1963 production run.

Also introduced in 1962 was the Landau model, with a vinyl roof and simulated S-bars on the rear pillars. This was the beginning of the 1960s/1970s fashion for vinyl roof treatments, and a vinyl roof was a popular Thunderbird feature for the next twenty years. A landau (named after the German city) is a coachbuilding term for a specific body style. ... Vinyl roof refers to a vinyl covering for an automobiles top. ...

Changes for 1963 were relatively mild. Some additions to the option list included vacuum assisted door locks and an AM/FM radio and a remote power drivers side mirror became standard. 1963's numbers were down at 63,313. The Landau became the number 2 model after the standard hardtop, at 12,193 sold. Landaus added simulated wood grain trim to go along with the landau top. In addition a Limited Edition "Principality of Monaco" Landau model was introduced. This Corinthian White car, with a white leather interior was personalized with a plaque displaying the owner's name and the car's limited production number, was limited to and sold only 2,000 units. Only 5,913 convertibles and 455 Sports Roadsters sold, indicating a decline in convertible popularity at the time.

There was some speculation that due to the wedge appearance that the Thunderbird would be renamed as a Lincoln to coincide with the new Lincoln Continental introduced at this time The Lincoln Continental, an automobile produced by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company, began for the 1939 model year. ...

1964-1966 "Flair Birds"

For 1964 the Thunderbird was restyled in favor of a more squared-off, "formal" look. The Thunderbird's sporty image had by that time become only an image. The standard 390 cu. in. 315 bhp (235 kW) engine needed nearly 11 seconds to push the heavy T-bird to 60 mph (96 km/h), although with enough room a top speed of about 120 mph (200 km/h) was obtainable. The softly sprung suspension allowed considerable body lean, wallow, and float except on smoothly surfaced highways; there was an export suspension package available as special order. Contemporary testers felt that the Buick Riviera and Pontiac Grand Prix were substantially more road-able cars, but the Thunderbird remained the leader of the market segment. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (2304 Ã— 1728 pixel, file size: 793 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) 1965 Ford Thunderbird Convertible in Pastel Yellow (code G) with Black vinyl interior (code 56). ... Wixom is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... 1995 Buick Riviera coupe A coupÃ© (from the French for cut) or coupe is a two or four-seater car with a fixed roof and two doors. ... Saab 900 Convertible 1962 Rambler American 1981 AMC Eagle 4-WD convertible Convertible can also refer to a convertible security A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof (aka soft top or top in USA, hood in UK). ... The Ford FE engine was a Ford V8 engine used in vehicles sold in the North American market between 1958 and 1976. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... The Ford FE engine was a Ford V8 engine used in vehicles sold in the North American market between 1958 and 1976. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... The Ford FE engine was a Ford V8 engine used in vehicles sold in the North American market between 1958 and 1976. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (809x1129, 244 KB) Summary Author: Martyn L. Schorr Source: scan of an Article from 1964 written by Martyn L. Schorr Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (809x1129, 244 KB) Summary Author: Martyn L. Schorr Source: scan of an Article from 1964 written by Martyn L. Schorr Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the... The Alexander Brothers are an easy-listening folk-music duo from Scotland, who have been performing since the 1950s. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1640x1128, 504 KB) Summary Author: Martyn L. Schorr Source: scan of an Article from 1964 written by Martyn L. Schorr Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1640x1128, 504 KB) Summary Author: Martyn L. Schorr Source: scan of an Article from 1964 written by Martyn L. Schorr Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1645x1128, 457 KB) Summary Author: Martyn L. Schorr Source: scan of an Article from 1964 written by Martyn L. Schorr Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1645x1128, 457 KB) Summary Author: Martyn L. Schorr Source: scan of an Article from 1964 written by Martyn L. Schorr Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the... The Buick Riviera was an automobile produced by Buick in the United States from the 1963 to 1999 model years, with 1,127,261 produced. ... The Pontiac Grand Prix is an automobile produced by the Pontiac division of General Motors. ...

The revised 'bird was initially offered as a hardtop, a convertible, or Landau, with vinyl roof and simulated landau irons. The tonneau cover and wire wheels of the Sports Roadster remained available as a dealer-installed option, although only 50 were sold. Total 1964 sales were excellent: 92,465, up nearly 50% from the previous year.

Several features intended for the new generation were delayed until 1965, when front disc brakes became standard equipment and sequential turn signals were added. The latter feature flashed the individual segments of the broad, horizontal tail lights in sequences from inside to outside to indicate a turn. The delay resulted from legal difficulties with various U.S. state laws on vehicle lighting. Sales, impacted by increasing competition (including from Ford's own Mustang), dipped to 74,972. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Vehicle brake. ... Sequential signal retrofitted to a Pontiac Fiero by www. ... For other Ford Mustang models and concepts, see Ford Mustang Variants. ...

For 1966 the larger, 428 cu. in. (7.0 L) V-8 became optional, rated at 345 gross horsepower (257.4 kW) and providing a notable improvement in 0-60 acceleration (to about 9 seconds). A new Town Hardtop model was offered, featured a roof with blind quarter panels for a more 'formal' look (at the cost of rear visibility). The Landau model was replaced by the Town Landau, which retained the previous model's padded roof and landau S-bars, but applied them to the Town Hardtop's formal roof. The Town Landau was by far the best-selling model, accounting for 35,105 of the 1966 model's 69,176 sales. For other uses, see Watt (disambiguation). ...

There was a very rare special order 427 available through certain ford dealers for 1963-1965 Thunderbirds, 120 of these 'high performance' T-birds were made. Only 6 are still known to exist today. See the articles on the left of a 427 T-Bird, it is documented that Bob Tasca, a well known drag racer of the 60's, ordered a factory fitted 427 1964 T-bird that was said to do 0-60 mph in 6 seconds flat with a top speed of 135 mph (217 km/h). There is a link at the bottom of this page to another 427 T-bird.

A black 1964 "Flair 'Bird" convertible later had a major role in the TV series Highlander: The Series as protagonist Duncan Macleod’s main mode of transportation.

A green 1966 Thunderbird convertible was prominently featured in the 1991 film Thelma & Louise, starring Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis, and directed by Ridley Scott. Thelma & Louise is a road movie from 1991 conceived and written by Callie Khouri, co-produced and directed by Ridley Scott, and starring Geena Davis as Thelma, Susan Sarandon as Louise, and Harvey Keitel as a sympathetic detective trying to solve crimes that the two women find easier and easier... Susan Sarandon (born October 4, 1946) is an Academy Award-winning American actress. ... Virginia Elizabeth Geena Davis (born January 21, 1956) is an Academy Award- and Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated American actress and former fashion model. ... Sir Ridley Scott (born November 30, 1937 in South Shields, South Tyneside) is a British film director and producer. ...

1967-1971 "Glamour Birds"

This fifth generation saw the second major change of direction for the Thunderbird. The Thunderbird had fundamentally remained the same in concept through 1966, even though the styling had been updated twice. The introduction of the Ford Mustang in early 1964 had, however, challenged the Thunderbird's market positioning. It, like the Thunderbird, was a small, two-door, four-seater with sporting pretensions, but it was substantially cheaper. The Thunderbird's sales suffered. Ford's response was to move the Thunderbird upmarket, while some fans of the classic Thunderbird consider 1966 to be the last year of interest. Download high resolution version (2304x1728, 1406 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wixom is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... 1995 Buick Riviera coupe A coupÃ© (from the French for cut) or coupe is a two or four-seater car with a fixed roof and two doors. ... A landau (named after the German city) is a coachbuilding term for a specific body style. ... The Ford FE engine was a Ford V8 engine used in vehicles sold in the North American market between 1958 and 1976. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... The Ford FE engine was a Ford V8 engine used in vehicles sold in the North American market between 1958 and 1976. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... Boss 429 engine The Ford 385 engine family was the American Ford Motor Companys final big block V8 engine design, replacing the Ford MEL engine and gradually superseding the Ford FE engine family. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... 1970 Lincoln Continental Mark III. See Lincoln Mark for a complete overview of the Lincoln Mark Series. ... For other Ford Mustang models and concepts, see Ford Mustang Variants. ...

For 1967 the Thunderbird would be a larger car, moving it closer to Lincoln as the company chose to emphasise the "luxury" part of the "personal luxury car" designation. Ford chose to abandon the Thunderbird's traditional unibody construction for this larger car, turning to a body-on-frame method with sophisticated rubber mountings between the two to reduce vibration and noise. Lincoln is an American luxury automobile brand, operated under the Ford Motor Company. ... A luxury car is a relatively expensive car. ... Monocoque (French for single shell) or unibody is a construction technique that uses the external skin of an object to support some or most of the load on the structure. ...

The convertible, increasingly a slow seller, was dropped. Instead, the company introduced a four-door model. The rear doors were backward-opening suicide doors as on the 1960s Lincoln Continental. The four-door would remain available through 1971 but never generated substantial sales. Rear suicide door on a 1967 Ford Thunderbird Front suicide door on a Fiat Multipla 600 Lloyd LT 600 van with front suicide door Suicide doors are automobile doors that are hinged on the trailing edge; the edge closer to the rear of the vehicle. ... The Lincoln Continental, an automobile produced by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company, began for the 1939 model year. ...

The new 1968 Lincoln Continental Mark III was based on the four-door Thunderbird chassis, and from that point until the late Nineties, Thunderbirds and Continental Marks were generally related cars, the Thunderbird following the Mark's growth to enormity in the 1972 model year. The Mercury Cougar also often shared components. 1970 Lincoln Continental Mark III. See Lincoln Mark for a complete overview of the Lincoln Mark Series. ... The Mercury Cougar was an automobile sold under the Mercury brand of the Ford Motor Companys Lincoln-Mercury Division. ...

The 1967 styling would be radically different from what came before. Ford's stylists delivered a radical shape that in many ways anticipated the styling trends of the next five years. A gaping wide "fishmouth" front grille that incorporated hidden headlights was the most obvious new feature. The look was clearly influenced by the intakes on jet fighters such as the F-100 Super Sabre, and was enhanced by the flush-fitting front bumper incorporating the bottom "lip" of the "mouth". The sides were the barrel-like "fuselage" style that was very popular during this period. The belt line kicked up "coke-bottle" style after the rear windows, again a styling trait that would prove ubiquitous. Large C-pillars (and a small "formal" rear window on the 4-door) meant poor rear visibility but were the fashion of the time. The taillights spanned the full width of the car, and featured, as in previous Thunderbird models, sequential turn signals. F-100A Super Sabre The North American F-100 Super Sabre was a jet fighter aircraft that served with the USAF from 1954 to 1971 and with the ANG until 1979. ... Sequential signal retrofitted to a Pontiac Fiero by www. ...

1970: Although sharing the same platform and many of the same parts of the 1967-69 models the 1970 Thunderbird saw a major change to its style: a big eagle's beak out front! Offered in coupe or sports-back models, all 1970-1971 Thunderbirds had prominent angular lines on the hood leading to a jutting tip, that also formed the center of the grill work, that was not a too thinly disguised bird beak. The T-bird for these two years had its most animalistic look that was fairly aggressive in appearance. Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen, the former GM man now President of Ford, is said to be responsible for this dramatic change, as a result some have come to call the 1970/71 models 'Bunkie Beak Birds'. As with the 1967-69 models, the 1970-71 models had sequential turn signals incorporated into the full panel tail lights in the rear of the vehicle. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Semon Bunkie Knudsen, October 2, 1912-July 6, 1998, was a prominent automobile executive. ...

In 1971, Neiman Marcus offered "his and hers" Thunderbirds in its catalog, with telephones, tape recorders and other niceties. They retailed for US$25,000 for the pair. Categories: Stub | Retail companies of the United States ... USD redirects here. ...

1972-1976 "Big Birds"

These were the biggest Thunderbirds produced. They housed massive 429 in³ (7.0 L) or 460 in³ (7.5 L) V8 engines. These cars weighed in at around 5000 lb (2250 kg). They were the kings of the road^{[citation needed]}. Unfortunately, due to their enormous proportions and large engines gas mileage was abysmal. These cars averaged anywhere from 8 to 12 miles per gallon (29.4 to 19.6 L/100 km) depending on driving conditions. With the 1973 oil crisis taking its toll on the United States, automobiles where forced to downsize and become more efficient. Download high resolution version (2082x1511, 770 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wixom is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... 1995 Buick Riviera coupe A coupÃ© (from the French for cut) or coupe is a two or four-seater car with a fixed roof and two doors. ... Boss 429 engine The Ford 385 engine family was the American Ford Motor Companys final big block V8 engine design, replacing the Ford MEL engine and gradually superseding the Ford FE engine family. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... Boss 429 engine The Ford 385 engine family was the American Ford Motor Companys final big block V8 engine design, replacing the Ford MEL engine and gradually superseding the Ford FE engine family. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... The Lincoln Continental Mark IV automobile, sold between 1972 and 1976 inclusive, was the replacement for the Mark III. It was longer and wider than the Mark it replaced, but weighed 221 pounds (100 kg) less. ... The Mercury Cougar was an automobile sold under the Mercury brand of the Ford Motor Companys Lincoln-Mercury Division. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration, although modern automotive versions use a 90 degree block angle. ... The 1973 oil crisis began in earnest on October 17, 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC, consisting of the Arab members of OPEC plus Egypt and Syria) announced, as a result of the ongoing Yom Kippur War, that they would no longer ship petroleum...

1977-1979 "Torino Birds"

For the 1977 through 1979 model years, the Thunderbird nameplate was shifted to the smaller 114" wheelbase chassis that underpinned the 1972-76 Ford Torino and its replacement, the concurrent 1977-79 LTD II, as Ford's first effort at downsizing the car. The squarer, sharper styling was popular, and this generation of Thunderbird sold well. Helped by a $2,700 drop in price from 1976, this generation was by far the most popular in Thunderbird history, with sales in excess of 300,000 units in both 1977 and 1978. In essence, this generation was really a continuation of the 1974-76 Ford Elite, Ford's successful first attempt at competing in the market created by the Pontiac Grand Prix and Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 374 pixelsFull resolution (1127 Ã— 527 pixel, file size: 86 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Wixom is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... 1995 Buick Riviera coupe A coupÃ© (from the French for cut) or coupe is a two or four-seater car with a fixed roof and two doors. ... The Windsor engine is a 90-degree small-block V8 from Ford Motor Company. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... The Ford 335 engine family were a group of small-block V8 engines built by the Ford Motor Company between 1970 and 1982. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... The Ford 335 engine family were a group of small-block V8 engines built by the Ford Motor Company between 1970 and 1982. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... The Ford LTD II was a mid-size car built by the Ford Motor Company between 1977 and 1979 for the North American market. ... Categories: Stub | Lincoln vehicles ... The Mercury Cougar was an automobile sold under the Mercury brand of the Ford Motor Companys Lincoln-Mercury Division. ... The Ford Torino was an intermediate sized car produced by the Ford Motor Company for the North American market between 1968 and 1976. ... The Ford LTD II was a mid-size car built by the Ford Motor Company between 1977 and 1979 for the North American market. ... Ford Elite. ... The Pontiac Grand Prix is an automobile produced by the Pontiac division of General Motors. ... The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was an American mid-size car. ...

Compared to the enormous 1972-1976 T-Birds, the car lost 10 inches (254 mm) of length and 900 lb (408 kg) of weight, while height and width were essentially unchanged. A substantial part of the weight reduction was in the drivetrain, where a small-block V8 replaced the heavy big-block V8 of previous years. For other uses of the term, see Small block (disambiguation). ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... A big-block engine is a North American V8 in a family of engines which generally have greater than 6 litres (360 cubic inches) of displacement; factory engine sizes reached a peak of 8. ...

The standard engine outside of California was the Ford 302 Windsor (5.0 L), while the larger 351M (5.8 L) or 400 (6.6 L) were available as options along with the 351 W. In California, the 351 was the only engine available. Although power was definitely down by 1977, the lighter car did compensate. Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area Ranked 3rd - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 kmÂ²) - Width 250 miles (400 km) - Length 770 miles (1,240 km) - % water 4. ... The Windsor engine is a 90-degree small-block V8 from Ford Motor Company. ... The Ford 335 engine family were a group of small-block V8 engines built by the Ford Motor Company between 1970 and 1982. ... The Ford 335 engine family were a group of small-block V8 engines built by the Ford Motor Company between 1970 and 1982. ...

1980-1982 "Box Birds"

For a post-fuel-crisis America. 1980 saw a new downsized Thunderbird that was an upmarket derivative of the Ford Fairmont sedan with nicer trim. The 1980 Thunderbird was a unibody car, weighing 800 lb (363 kg) less than the 1979 model, and was 17 in. (432 mm) shorter. It was based on the Fox platform, and the lighter weight resulted in better gas mileage. Location within the state of Ohio Coordinates: , Country State County Lorain Founded 1807 Government - Mayor John Romoser (R) Area - City 24. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... 1995 Buick Riviera coupe A coupÃ© (from the French for cut) or coupe is a two or four-seater car with a fixed roof and two doors. ... An automobile platform is a shared set of components common to a number of different automobiles. ... The Ford Fox platform was a rear wheel drive, unibody automobile architecture that Ford used for over 25 years in the North American market. ... Ford Fairmont is a name that has been used for two unrelated models of automobile; one in Australia and one in North America. ... For other Ford Mustang models and concepts, see Ford Mustang Variants. ... The name Mercury Capri has been used for several different cars over the years. ... The Mercury Cougar was an automobile sold under the Mercury brand of the Ford Motor Companys Lincoln-Mercury Division. ... The Mercury Zephyr was a compact car sold by the Lincoln-Mercury division of Ford Motor Company in the North American market from 1978 to 1983. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... Ford Fairmont is a name that has been used for two unrelated models of automobile; one in Australia and one in North America. ... A notchback full-size luxury sedan. ... Monocoque (French for single shell) or unibody is a construction technique that uses the external skin of an object to support some or most of the load on the structure. ... The Ford Fox platform was a rear wheel drive, unibody automobile architecture that Ford used for over 25 years in the North American market. ...

The Box Birds were not well received by the general public, and sales dropped off dramatically after 1980. T-Bird didn't come with aggressive engine options. It had a base 3.8 L V6 with an optional 4.2 L V8, or a 130 horsepower (97 kW) 5.0 L V8. Mercury's version of this car was the Cougar XR-7. The squarish upright lines favored by Ford design vice-president Eugene Bordinat, similar to the popular 1977-79 models, didn't translate well to the smaller platform. Mercury is an automobile marque of the Ford Motor Company founded in 1939 to market near-luxury cars slotted between entry-level Ford and luxury Lincoln models, similar to General Motors Buick (and former Oldsmobile) brand and Chryslers Chrysler brand. ... The Mercury Cougar was an automobile sold under the Mercury brand of the Ford Motor Companys Lincoln-Mercury Division. ...

They were luxuriously appointed, and fuel efficient for their size. The six cylinder models were known to get up to 30 US mpg with the 5.0L V8 models getting 25 US mpg with the Ford AOD transmission and 3.08 rear axle ratio. The 1980–1982 Thunderbirds offered vacuum operated flip-up headlights, and were the only Fox-body cars to have them. Digital instrumentation was also available, along with a variety of trim packages. Recaro bucket seats were optional, and power windows were available. Though somewhat underpowered, they drove well, could easily keep pace with traffic on the open road, and offered considerable luxury in their size class. The AOD (for automatic overdrive) was a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. ... Recaro is a German company based in Kirchheim unter Teck in the vicinity of Stuttgart, well known for their bucket seats and commonly contracted to produce upgraded racing style seats for all the sporty cars built by the Volkswagen Group as well as many other manufacturers. ...

Power was somewhat scarce due to the new emissions control laws coming into effect in the late 1970s, resulting in the biggest engine, the 5.0L V8, making only 130 horsepower (97 kW).

1983-1988 "Aero Birds"

1983 saw a much improved and aerodynamic car and the launch of the Turbo Coupe, and a much sportier image. Reputedly, in 1980 following a change in leadership, the new chief designer Jack Telnack was asked by executive Don Petersen "is this what you would want in your driveway?" Telnack's negative response prompted a redesign of the Thunderbird with the aero style that subsequently flowed on through the Taurus and various Lincolns. In 1987, the Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe was redesigned and came with such notable features as automatic ride control, anti-lock brakes, and the intercooled turbocharged engine similar to that of the Ford Mustang SVO. All this resulted in a personal luxury car that produced 190 horsepower (142 kW) from a 2.3 L 4-cylinder engine and had a 146 mph (235 km/h) top speed. The Turbo Coupe was Motor Trend's Car of the Year for 1987. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 327 pixelsFull resolution (1450 Ã— 592 pixel, file size: 219 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Ford Thunderbird 1983-1987 Aero Bird File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Location within the state of Ohio Coordinates: , Country State County Lorain Founded 1807 Government - Mayor John Romoser (R) Area - City 24. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... 1995 Buick Riviera coupe A coupÃ© (from the French for cut) or coupe is a two or four-seater car with a fixed roof and two doors. ... An automobile platform is a shared set of components common to a number of different automobiles. ... The Ford Fox platform was a rear wheel drive, unibody automobile architecture that Ford used for over 25 years in the North American market. ... The Ford Pinto engine is the unofficial but ubiquitous nickname for a 4 cylinder internal combustion engine built by the Ford Motor Company in Europe. ... The straight-4 or inline-4 is an internal combustion engine with four cylinders aligned in one row. ... Turbocharger Cut-away A turbocharger is a device used in internal-combustion engines to increase the power output of the engine by increasing the mass of oxygen and fuel entering the engine. ... The Canadian Essex (90 Degree V) engine was a V6 engine family built by Ford Motor Company in Windsor, Ontario. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... The Windsor engine is a 90-degree small-block V8 from Ford Motor Company. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... â€œGearboxâ€ redirects here. ... The automatic gear selector in a Ford Five Hundred vehicle An automatic transmission (commonly abbreviated as AT) is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually (similar but larger devices are also used for railroad... A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... For other Ford Mustang models and concepts, see Ford Mustang Variants. ... See Lincoln Mark for a complete overview of the Lincoln Mark Series. ... The name Mercury Capri has been used for several different cars over the years. ... The Mercury Cougar was an automobile sold under the Mercury brand of the Ford Motor Companys Lincoln-Mercury Division. ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Automotive design. ... Jack Telnack (born as John J. Telnack in 1937) was the former global Vice President of Design of the Ford Motor Company from 1987 to 1997. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 469 pixel Image in higher resolution (1016 Ã— 596 pixel, file size: 86 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ford Thunderbird Metadata... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 469 pixel Image in higher resolution (1016 Ã— 596 pixel, file size: 86 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ford Thunderbird Metadata... Jack Telnack (born as John J. Telnack in 1937) was the former global Vice President of Design of the Ford Motor Company from 1987 to 1997. ... Lincoln is an American luxury automobile brand, operated under the Ford Motor Company. ... The 1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe Ford Motor Company, like the Chrysler Corporation was hit hard by the recession in the late 1970s and early 1980s. ... For other Ford Mustang models and concepts, see Ford Mustang Variants. ... This article is about a unit of measurement. ... The straight-4 or inline-4 is an internal combustion engine with four cylinders aligned in one row. ... Motor Trend magazine was the first to give a Car of the Year award, doing so to a Chrysler in 1949. ...

The 1983 Ford Thunderbird was built on the same "Fox platform" as many other Ford products including the 1980-82 Thunderbird and the Ford Mustang. Unlike the previous generation T-Bird, the new-for-1983 model was redesigned with a more aerodynamic look. The drag coefficient of this body style was a mere 0.35. The 1983 T-Bird came in base, Heritage, and Turbo Coupe models. Both the base and the Heritage came standard with a 3.8 L (232 in³) Essex V6 that produced 110 horsepower (82 kW) mated to a 3 speed automatic. A new 5.0 L (302 in³) Windsor V8 with 140 horsepower (104 kW) was available with the former two models as well. The Turbo Coupe, the top-of-the-line model was special for several reasons. It used a 2.3 L (140 in³) turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with Ford's EEC-IV electronic engine control system. Unlike the other models, the Turbo Coupe came with a standard 5-speed manual transmission. Other improvements included a limited-slip differential (called "Traction-Lok"), larger tires and wheels, and a sportier interior complete with analog gauges. The Ford Fox platform was a rear wheel drive, unibody automobile architecture that Ford used for over 25 years in the North American market. ... For other Ford Mustang models and concepts, see Ford Mustang Variants. ... Aerodynamics is a branch of fluid dynamics concerned with the study of gas flows, first analysed by George Cayley in the 1800s. ... The drag coefficient (Cd, Cx or Cw, depending on the country) is a dimensionless quantity that describes a characteristic amount of aerodynamic drag caused by fluid flow, used in the drag equation. ... The Canadian Essex (90 Degree V) engine was a V6 engine family built by Ford Motor Company in Windsor, Ontario. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... The automatic gear selector in a Ford Five Hundred vehicle An automatic transmission (commonly abbreviated as AT) is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually (similar but larger devices are also used for railroad... The Windsor engine is a 90-degree small-block V8 from Ford Motor Company. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... The Ford Pinto engine is the unofficial but ubiquitous nickname for a 4 cylinder internal combustion engine built by the Ford Motor Company in Europe. ... A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ...

For 1984, the Thunderbird few changes were made. The Turbo Coupe gained a 3-speed automatic transmission as an option. A "FILA" model was available, which featured unique paint and wheel choices, as well as badging to provide the car a more European feel. FILA stands for the Franco-Indian Lawyers Association, founded in December 2004 to create links between the legal communities of France and India. ...

By 1985, the Turbo Coupe gained power to 155 horsepower (116 kW), and all models received a new interior. A 30th Anniversary Edition model was offered, that featured unique blue paint and stripes, and came very well loaded with options. It was loosely based on the Elan model and most models came with the V8.

By 1986, Ford was already hard at work on the so-called "MN12" project. Supposed to compete against the BMW 6-Series, Ford believed that the new Thunderbird would be too big a change for the public and still wanted to capitalize on the success that the "Aero-Bird" brought. So for 1987, replacing the Elan were new LX and Sport models. The latter came with the V8 while the LX came with the V6. The Turbo Coupe earned the honor of being the Motor Trend Car of the Year for 1987. The 2.3 L turbo-4 now included the air-to-air intercooler that was found in the Ford Mustang SVO and boosted power up to 190 horsepower (142 kW) for the 5-speed manual transmission. New for the Turbo Coupe was a 4-speed automatic rated at 150 horsepower (112 kW). The automatic had detuned turbo boost of 9.5 lbf/in² (65.5 kPa or 0.655 bar) instead of 10 to 15 lbf/in² (70 to 100 kPa or 0.69 to 1.03 bar). Ford's rationale for that was "transmission durability". Otherwise, the Turbo Coupe also came with anti-lock 4-wheel disc brakes, Automatic Ride Control, and 16-inch 225/60VR performance tires. The MN12 was a Mid-size North America Project #12, a car platform formerly used by the Ford Motor Company from 1989 to 1997 for the Ford Thunderbird and Mercury Cougar. ... BMW 6-Series Manufacturer: BMW Class: Grand tourer E24 Production: August, 1976–1989 Body Style: Coupé E63 Categories: BMW vehicles | Rear wheel drive vehicles | Automobile stubs ... Motor Trend magazine was the first to give a Car of the Year award, doing so to a Chrysler in 1949. ... The Mustang SVO was a limited-production version of the Ford Mustang sold from 1984 to 1986, during which time it was the fastest, most expensive version of the Mustang available. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

1988, the final year for the Turbo Coupe, saw only a minor change. The 5-speed manual transmission now allowed the full 15 lbf/in² of boost in all forward gears (as opposed to excluding the first two gears). The Turbo Coupe was replaced in 1989 by the Super Coupe which had a 3.8 L supercharged V6 engine—a radical departure from the old turbo-4. The Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe production numbers were: Production Year, Automatic, Manual 1989 4,768 8,041 1989 XR7 2,225 2,238 1990 15,742 6,067 35th Anniversary Edition 3,371 1990 XR7 3,288 841 1991 5,134 1,905 1992 2,956 1,256 1993 2... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ...

1989-1997 "Super Birds"

In 1989, the new, much-anticipated Thunderbird model premiered. Classified as the MN-12 (Mid-Size North American Project 12), the Thunderbird now had four-wheel independent suspension and a slightly smaller, more aerodynamic body. Engine options fell to only two for 1989 as Ford dropped the V8 option for the new T-bird. The base and LX models were powered by the 140 hp (104 kW) 3.8L OHV V6, which many felt was underpowered for the almost 3800 lb (1725 kg) car. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2216x1056, 234 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ford Thunderbird Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Location within the state of Ohio Coordinates: , Country State County Lorain Founded 1807 Government - Mayor John Romoser (R) Area - City 24. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... 1995 Buick Riviera coupe A coupÃ© (from the French for cut) or coupe is a two or four-seater car with a fixed roof and two doors. ... An automobile platform is a shared set of components common to a number of different automobiles. ... The MN12 was a Mid-size North America Project #12, a car platform formerly used by the Ford Motor Company from 1989 to 1997 for the Ford Thunderbird and Mercury Cougar. ... The Canadian Essex (90 Degree V) engine was a V6 engine family built by Ford Motor Company in Windsor, Ontario. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... A naturally-aspirated engine (NA - aspiration meaning breathing) refers to an internal combustion engine (normally petrol or diesel powered) that is neither turbocharged nor supercharged. ... A supercharger (also known as a blower) is an air compressor used to force more air (and hence more oxygen) into the combustion chamber(s) of an internal combustion engine than can be achieved at ambient atmospheric pressure (natural aspiration). ... The Windsor engine is a 90-degree small-block V8 from Ford Motor Company. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... The Modular engine is Ford Motor Companys modern overhead camshaft (OHC) V8 and V10 engine family. ... â€œGearboxâ€ redirects here. ... The automatic gear selector in a Ford Five Hundred vehicle An automatic transmission (commonly abbreviated as AT) is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually (similar but larger devices are also used for railroad... The AOD (for automatic overdrive) was a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. ... The AOD (for automatic overdrive) was a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Kerb (sometimes mis-spelled as curb by Americans) weight is the total weight of a vehicle with standard equipment, all necessary operating consumables (such as motor oil and coolant), a full tank of fuel and not loaded with either passengers or cargo. ... A 1994 Lincoln Mark VIII(black) and a 1997 Lincoln Mark VIII LSC(Toreador Red). ... The Mercury Cougar was an automobile sold under the Mercury brand of the Ford Motor Companys Lincoln-Mercury Division. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2536x1212, 249 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ford Thunderbird Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2536x1212, 249 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ford Thunderbird Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... The MN12 was a Mid-size North America Project #12, a car platform formerly used by the Ford Motor Company from 1989 to 1997 for the Ford Thunderbird and Mercury Cougar. ... The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of fuel and an oxidizer (typically air) occurs in a confined space called a combustion chamber. ...

A 210 hp (157 kW), 315 ft·lbf (427 N·m) torque supercharged and intercooled version of the 3.8 L V6 was included in the top-of-the-line Super Coupe. The Super Coupe was available with a 5-speed Mazda-derived manual transmission as well as Ford's own AOD 4-speed automatic transmission. The base and LX Thunderbirds could only be ordered with the AOD. The Thunderbird SC was Motor Trend's Car of the Year for 1989. The 8.2 to 1 compression ratio was combined with six computer controlled, sequential fuel injectors. When running at a maximum 5,600 rpm, the supercharger provided 12 psi of boost, producing 210 bhp (157 kW) at 4000 rpm and 315 ft·lbf (427 N·m) of torque at 2600 rpm. For other meanings, see supercharger (disambiguation) A supercharger (sometimes called a blower), a positive displacement or centrifugal pump, is a gas compressor used to pump air into the cylinders of an internal combustion engine. ... For the Australian rock group, see Intercooler_(band). ... The M5OD is a line of transmissions produced by Mazda and used in Mazda and Ford trucks. ... The AOD (for automatic overdrive) was a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. ... The automatic gear selector in a Ford Five Hundred vehicle An automatic transmission (commonly abbreviated as AT) is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually (similar but larger devices are also used for railroad... Motor Trend is one of the oldest automotive magazines still publishing. ... Car of the Year is a phrase usually considered to have been invented by Motor Trend magazine in the 1950s for their annual award for best automobile. ...

In spite of this the car was considered a failure by some in management; it badly missed its weight and cost targets, and the higher price needed to pay for the improved features resulted in a big decrease in production volume compared with the previous model. The program manager was publicly criticized by Ford Chairman Harold A. Poling at the company's internal celebration of the Car of the Year award, and he resigned a short time later. The Lorain Assembly Plant reduced line speed from over 70 per hour to 40 per hour because of the reduced demand. Harold Red Arthur Poling (born 1925) is a U.S. automobile businessman. ...

In 1994, the Thunderbird received some minor exterior updates and a redesigned interior that featured new sweeping curves on the door panels and dashboard areas, but the most dramatic change was the new 205 hp (153 kW) 4.6L SOHC V8 which replaced the iconic and much-loved 5.0. The 4.6 brought with it an updated electronic control system (EEC-V), and an electronically-controlled 4R70W automatic transmission. The Super Coupe continued on in 1994 with the same supercharged V6 as before, but now with 230 hp (172 kW) and 330 ft·lbf (447 N·m) of torque. This was made possible due to a number of changes. The M90 supercharger was given a larger square style inlet, a larger attaching inlet plenum, and teflon coated rotors. The engine received larger fuel injectors and an increase in compression to 8.6:1. These increases in output would be short-lived, however, as the Thunderbird Super Coupe was discontinued after the 1995 model year. The Modular engine is Ford Motor Companys modern overhead camshaft (OHC) V8 and V10 engine family. ... Single overhead cam (also SOHC) refers to the internal combustion engine design where one camshaft is located above the valves. ... The AOD (for automatic overdrive) was a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. ...

In 1996, the Thunderbird received its last styling update. Available in LX (V6 or V8) or Sport (V8 only) trims, both featured redesigned headlights and taillights, smoother re-styled front and rear fascias, body side cladding, new wheels (15 inch on LX, 16 inch on Sport), and a slight hood bulge, which was necessary to fit the updated 4.6L engine's taller intake manifold, now composite. V8 models still made 205 hp (153 kW), but now made 280 ft·lbf (380 N·m) of torque, an increase of 15 ft·lbf (20 N·m). Unfortunately for owners, the composite intake had a tendency to crack and leak antifreeze. The base LX model continued to use the 3.8L V6 as its engine but now made use of the EEC-V computer which before was only found in 4.6L V8-equipped models. Torque output from the V6 remained the same as before but horsepower increased to 145 for 1996. In 1997, Ford made few notable changes, trying to save as much money as they could on the floundering coupe. As a result, the 1997 Thunderbird's appeal suffered even more, as the only options available were power sunroof, power driver seat, remote keyless entry, and a CD player. A low drag coefficient contributed to an impressive and consistent 24-28 mpg on the highway. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2428x1314, 264 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ford Thunderbird Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2428x1314, 264 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ford Thunderbird Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... A compact disc player or CD player is an electronic device to play audio from compact discs. ...

In 1997 high performance Thunderbirds were released. The four prototypes produced by Ford's Special Vehicle Engineering division came with Cobra "R" brakes and wheels, a Tremec 5-speed manual transmission, and featured a 4.6 liter, DOHC V8 engine similar to that found in the SVT Mustang Cobra. The SVE Thunderbirds also came with a cowl hood to accommodate the Eaton supercharger sitting atop the modular motor. However, this high-performance Thunderbird was not to be, as Ford not only pulled the plug on this project, but on the entire Thunderbird/Cougar line to close the 1997 model year. The last MN-12 Thunderbird rolled off the assembly line in Lorain, Ohio, on September 4, 1997. A double overhead cam (also called a dual overhead cam, DOHC, or twincam) engine is a type of internal combustion engine where the camshafts that operate the intake and exhaust valves are mounted above the cylinders, and where there are separate camshafts for inlet and exhaust valves. ... Location within the state of Ohio Coordinates: , Country State County Lorain Founded 1807 Government - Mayor John Romoser (R) Area - City 24. ... is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ...

2002-2005 "Retro Birds"

However, 2002 saw a new Thunderbird launched; this Retro Bird was again a two-seater and received the model's fourth Motor Trend Car of the Year honor. It was also nominated for the North American Car of the Year award that year. Download high resolution version (1860x955, 218 KB)Recent model Ford Thunderbird, Photo by rmhermen File links The following pages link to this file: Ford Thunderbird Categories: GFDL images | NowCommons ... Wixom is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... Saab 900 Convertible 1962 Rambler American 1981 AMC Eagle 4-WD convertible Convertible can also refer to a convertible security A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof (aka soft top or top in USA, hood in UK). ... A hardtop is a term for a rigid, rather than canvas, automobile roof. ... An automobile platform is a shared set of components common to a number of different automobiles. ... DEW (or DEW98) is Ford Motor Companys midsize rear wheel drive automobile platform. ... The Jaguar AJ-V8 is a compact V8 piston engine used in many Jaguar vehicles. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... â€œGearboxâ€ redirects here. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Facelifted Jaguar S-Type The Jaguar S-Type is a mid-size luxury / executive car introduced for the 2000 model year by the British marque Jaguar of the Ford Motor Company. ... The Lincoln LS (for Luxury Sport) was a mid-size, rear wheel drive entry-level luxury car from Lincoln. ... Motor Trend is one of the oldest automotive magazines still publishing. ... Car of the Year is a phrase usually considered to have been invented by Motor Trend magazine in the 1950s for their annual award for best automobile. ... The North American Car of the Year is an automobile award voted annually in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. ...

The new Thunderbird was based on the Ford DEW platform, shared with the Lincoln LS. It followed the recent trend for nostalgic recreations of old-fashioned (or "retro") styling (see Volkswagen New Beetle, Chrysler PT Cruiser), being a recreation of the 1955-1957 two-seat Thunderbird in a modern style. Available only as a convertible with a removable hardtop and, according to automotive writer Jerry Flint, the new Thunderbird "turned heads wherever it went." DEW (or DEW98) is Ford Motor Companys mid-size rear wheel drive automobile platform. ... The Lincoln LS (for Luxury Sport) was a mid-size, rear wheel drive entry-level luxury car from Lincoln. ... Retro is a term used to describe the culture of the past. ... The Volkswagen New Beetle is a compact car introduced by Volkswagen in 1998, drawing heavily on the design cues of the original Beetle. ... The Chrysler PT Cruiser is a typically American retro-styled station wagon or hatchback built by Chrysler, launched in 2000 as the entry-level Chrysler. ... Jerry Flint is a senior automotive editor for Forbes Magazine. ...

The car had been intended for introduction during the 2001 model year, but instead was delayed for a year. The 40,000 USD price tag was considered steep, given the car's somewhat average handling and power (although the handling and power were both commensurate with that of the original 2-seater Thunderbird).

Ford expected sales of 25,000 units per year, but despite strong sales during its initial launch which saw dealers charging well over MSRP, this goal was never met. The 2002 Thunderbird sold 19,085 units and sales declined each subsequent year until its cancellation.

Forbes magazine writer Jerry Flint wrote this about the demise of the latest generation Thunderbird: "Ford dealers have been successful selling 35,000-45,000 USD trucks but have little experience selling automobiles in the near-luxury price range. If there was a marketing effort by Ford Motor, I wasn't aware of it. Naturally, sales didn't meet expectations." This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ...

Though the Retro Bird body styling never changed, exterior and interior color packaging was changed year to year. For 2002, the car was available in bright red ("torch red"), bright yellow ("inspiration yellow"), and turquoise ("Thunderbird blue"), all reminiscent of 1950s colors. Furthermore, "retro" two-tone interiors (black and the color matching the exterior), were paired with these exterior colors.

"Whisper white" and "evening black" exteriors were also available in 2002, with matching solid color interiors or the two-tone red interior. The black and red proved to be the models for the remaining years. Beginning with 2003, the two-tone "retro" interiors were sacked with the exception of red and a limited white, in favor of all-black (or other one-color) interiors. Gone were the bright yellow and turquoise exteriors, replaced with more subdued colors: "mountain shadow grey," "desert sky blue," and coral. Exterior and interior colors added for both the 2004 and 2005 model years remained subdued and white was replaced by platinum silver.

If Ford's tinkering with the exterior/interior packages were designed to boost sales, it didn't work, as sales continued to fall short of the company's hopes. Just 11,998 were sold in 2004. The Ford Motor Company announced in March 2005 that the Thunderbird would again be discontinued in July of that year, with 9,548 sold for 2005. Unlike previous T-birds, a 2nd row of seats were not added which might have widened its appeal, though Lincoln had the LS rather than an upscale Mark based on a thunderbird platform.

The Thunderbird also shares the same odometer equipment as the Lincoln LS, a system which has caused confusion amongst the buying market. The LS odometer system utilizes a six-digit display including the 1/10 mile indicator. Upon initial inspection it appears as if Ford were returning to old fashioned odometers that simply reset after 99,999.9 miles, but instead the 1/10 mile indicator disappears and becomes a fraction-less odometer reading 100,000 thus forth.

There was also talk of a performance edition from Ford's SVT. Ford ultimately decided it was not necessary, though some Thunderbird fans believe it could have saved the car, both by improving performance and hearkening back to the Thunderbird's roots. The original 55-57 Thunderbirds came with several engine upgrades and was considered a high performance car of the day. Ford made no effort to give a performance image to the new Thunderbirds, and while the V-8 in the "Retro-birds" was competitively powered (280 hp (209 kW), 286 ft·lbf (388 N·m)), its relatively heavy weight of over 3700 lb (1678 kg), widely spaced gears, and suspension that favored comfort over handling made it feel more akin to a large luxury car than a true sport coupe. SVT, short for Special Vehicles Team, is an arm of Ford Motor Company responsible for the development of the companys highest-performance vehicles, much like Mercedes-AMG, BMW M, Chryslers SRT division and GMs Performance Division. ... 1995 Buick Riviera coupe A coupÃ© (from the French for cut) or coupe is a two or four-seater car with a fixed roof and two doors. ...

Ford plans to release a new Thunderbird sometime in the years to come, but an exact date has not been specified^{[citation needed]}.

In the last 50 years, some 4.2 million Thunderbirds have been sold^{[citation needed]}.

Sources

May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 112th day of the year (113th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Racing

During the 1980-1990s, the aerodynamically clean Thunderbirds were quite successful in NASCAR stock car racing before they were replaced by Taurus-based bodies. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (898x334, 167 KB) Summary I took this pic myself. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (898x334, 167 KB) Summary I took this pic myself. ... Jeff Burton (99), Elliott Sadler (38), Ricky Rudd (21), Dale Jarrett (88), Sterling Marlin (40), Jimmie Johnson (48), and Casey Mears (41) practice for the 2004 Daytona 500 The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States. ...

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