I currently have a 1964 convertible that has been completely restored. I also have a 1970 2 door sports roof landau that my parents bought new. When I was younger, I also a 1964 hardtop, 1965 landau, 1966 hardtop, 1979 hardtop, 1986 Turbo Coupe, and a 1994 V8. The 64 convertible is my favorite. I had been my dream car for 40 years before I finally bought one. She turns heads everywhere. Thanks for the video.
I'm an owner of a 1966 Thunderbird. Glad to have found the same type of car I had in highschool. The car has been a whole lot of work. Hopefully it doesn't get stolen.
As others have noted, the case of bloat that the Thunderbird demonstrated must have been one of the most tragic ever. It began as a competitor to the Corvette, if I understand it, but within five years in production was becoming obese and lost to its original concept. Not to say it didn't remain another fascinating and exciting automobile, but certainly this is a classic case of American carmaker's often-odd corporate strategies.
* My dad was an engineer for Ford. We had every other year TBird from 55 to 70 . He used to get his from his buddys at the Ford proving ground who experimented on them by putting newer engine in r+d into them. So we had some pretty wild TBirds ! Until the 1970 fastback that he died in getting in a head on with another car that was trying to pass without enough room. 😔
You’re really kicking out some great content and doing so quickly! I think once the Thunderbird got to the point it became the Ford version of the Lincoln Marks, it began to have an identity crisis. I had a ‘79 as a company car and really the only thing that made it a “Thunderbird” was the badging. The ‘57 has always been my favorite. Thanks for a thorough review and great photos, as usual. 👍👍👍
@@thehopelesscarguy They were attractive and road well, for sure. But in terms of luxury and standard equipment, they were a shadow of their former self. I had a good friend who bought a downsized 1980 and it was truly a horrible and problem-plagued car. He dumped it in less than a year. Cheers!
I remember seeing the actor Deforest Kelley in a parking lot in Encino in 1987 get into and driving off in a baby blue c. 1964 Thunderbird....that car was immaculate!
My dad always wanted a T-Bird and finally got one in 1977. 302, Champagne paint, white leather, brown carpet and landau roof. It was on the floor when we went shopping with him and we all feel in love with it. Dad said I'll take this one...
I was 10 in 1960 when a classmate of mine invited me to go to the Detroit Auto Show, showing next year's models. I remember his Dad, on the way home ,muttering to himself, "They've ruined the Thunderbird." I've always felt the 1957 was the last true Thunderbird.
Ford started with a beautiful aerodynamic design and over the years turned it into something very gaudy. The 1966 model reminds of the Batmobile from the Batman TV show starring Adam West.
Once again a excellent job. I was impressed and you doing a good job with the footage and of photos and videos. The last Thunderbird shared its instrumentation panel with the Lincoln LS which was on the same platform with the Jaguar. They all three shared a lot parts. You really went through the series indeed. I thought the ones 1983-1988 were a little over 200 inches long. I think they were. It did drop down to 198 in 1989. I recall the ones from the early 70's to the 1976 model year were so much like Lincoln Mark IV. They shared a lot of parts. You could see it especially on the exterior. Thank you for taking the time to put this video together. The 1977-1979 models were highly successful. I thought the bullet Birds 1961-1963 were successful. I guess I had that one wrong. You live and learn by watching. Maybe it was the ones afterwards 1964-1966. I look forward to your next video and hope to see more.
Dad had a 1961. Garage for 40 yrs.. only took it to car show and drive out east. Very little miles. Sent generator to auto parts to get it rebuilt. Somebody at rebuild place stole it. Made the auto parts replace it.
8:10 my exact '80 T-Bird paint job!! Got it used '89. I'm one of very few loving that era (e.g. best seats of my 24+ cars.) It then was 1st car for a Cambodian refugee to Canada. We both miss it.
I was always very much a fan of the Thunderbird. as you said, each iteration had its admirers. I've had several over the years. I had a 1964 (which is actually my favorite year), and currently have 2 1966 (convertible and Town Landau), 1980 Silver Anniversary edition (another of my favorite years; when the "aero" look came out in 1983, I stopped buying Thunderbirds and went to Pontiac Trans Ams), 1994 LX with the V-8 (previously owned a 1991 with the 5.0L) and a 2004 Premium edition. I really don't consider the retro T-Bird a flop. In its price range, it would never have been a high volume seller, and unconscionable dealer markups limited sales.
My best friend bought his dads 65 Lt Blue Convertible. Man with the top down the girls lined up and around the block to be seen in this car in high school. We did our best to accommodate all fine ones.
The first time I drove a car with an automatic transmission was a 1963 red Ford Thunderbird along Dewey Blvd in Manila,Philippines. The owner of that car,Jimmy Cabasada and I were chemical engineering students at Mapua Institute of Technology,class of 1965.
Of the older ones, I really like the 1966 for some reason. I think the design of the interior is why I like it. Most cars you envision from the outside. But the interior including the back seat look like a cool place to be in 1966. I talked to a guy that restored one at a swap meet. He said the hard part on these cars is all the pneumatic controls.
The first gen is one of those most stunningly beautiful cars of all time. Esp the 57. Also love the 61-63. I think the last good looking Bird was the 66. HATE the 70s barges and 80s aero coupes
I've always been a nostalgic fan of the T-bird and can find something to like in most generations - though not the 77-79 (and I've driven those with no change of opinion) nor the 80-82 Fairmonts, though it would be interesting to drive a TRX 302 back to back with the then current GM coupes). The print ads from the 60's were generally beautifully done, and there was even some flair left into the Mark years.
🎵Mem-rees🎶My piano teacher's hubby griped a lot at their kids for using up gas in his '73. Then the kids left home, escaped blame, and the Bird's 460 motor was 'found out'. He soon traded.
Ford did the right thing at the time the Thunderbird out ran the Corvette from 55-57 and out sold it, but sold more cars in 58 and they made a segment called the "true" personal luxury cars and GM didn't catch up to Ford until 63 with Buick Riviera and they still had a stranglehold on the game. So I thought Ford won
I loved the 1950's through the 1960's Thunderbirds. My father owned a 1966 T-Bird that I highly enjoyed driving. (circa 1973-1975) What a 'Chic-Magnet' LOL The Thunderbirds from the 1970's until its ending in my opinion were ugly as sin.
I have a ford Thunderbird 1981 with an immuculate what is the Market price if I would sell it and how do I go about the process of selling it I can send you photos
Big moans arose with '67-era 'glorified Galaxie' T-Birds; but Ford was solving a crisis of its own surprise making. Mustang's wild success made essential a less sporty, more classy T-Bird niche.
What a sad commentary on Ford's styling of a classic model. It is almost as if some designer said "I hate Thunderbirds, let's make them plain or ugly and see if they sell." in the final 2 decade of the production. Somewhere they took a wrong turn. the 60' were the best! A '67 was the first car I drove (of my father's) when I got my license.
One always has to wonder where the Tbird would've gone had Ford kept using it to compete against the Corvette instead of turning it into a big heavy land yacht. Would we have 2 affordable American supercars? Surely, they would regularly compete against each other on the track. Ford definitely dropped the ball on this one, while Corvette will always remain the best bang for the go fast buck. Just goes to show that Ford designers couldn't keep up with the Corvette and just gave up.