Reaction to the new sports car was enthusiastic, with thousands of people eager to buy the new car as soon as they could get it. The automotive showcase, independent of the annual auto show at that same time of year, was held at New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Although people collect cars from many series depending on what they prefer, the “little birds” of 1955-57 remain the most sought after of all the Thunderbirds Ford ever produced.January 17, 1953: Corvette takes the stage for the first timeĬorvette made its debut as a prototype concept vehicle at General Motors’ own Motorama in New York City on January 17, 1953. It appeared in many make cars over the years, known under various names – Merc-o-matic, Cruise-o-matic, Turbo Drive, Flight-o-matic – used by AMC, International and Studebaker along with Ford products.įrom “personal” car to “personal luxury” car, Thunderbird has gone through numerous design series over the years. The Ford-o-matic automatic was designed by Borg-Warner and built by Ford under agreement. Growth potential was limited due to the small block design, and this would lead to Ford introducing a big block in 1958. engines were referred to as Y-blocks because the engine block was Y shaped, deep skirted, and heavy. 1956 added cowl vents to try to eliminate engine heat, a continental kit and exhaust tips through the rear bumper as well as the previously mentioned window portholes and 12-volt electrics. Power steering, power brakes, power seat, and automatic transmission were options. So 1957 saw the last of the “little birds,” 1958 introducing a rear seat and the beginning of “personal luxury” designation for the T-bird.ġ955 Thunderbirds came standard with a 150 mph. In spite of 1957 sales being the best yet, Ford felt they could be much higher. would become the standard engine for 1957, which also saw design changes in the grille area, and larger tailfins. 1956 would also make the switch to 12-volt electrical systems. engine which produced 215 hp with standard transmission, 225 hp with Ford-o-matic automatic. 1956 added small portholes to tops, but they didn’t improve visibility by any great amount. Cars had removable fibreglass tops, and there were lots of complaints on poor visibility with tops installed. Y-block engine taken directly from Ford’s Mercury division, headlights and tail lights from Ford’s regular passenger cars, one look told everyone what company had built the car. 1957 would see the best year for sales of the “little bird” with over 21,000 sold.īased on a standard 1955 Ford, it used the same frame slightly shortened, and lots of regular Ford styling cues. Impressive sales continued in 1956 although down slightly to approximately 15 and half thousand. Enjoying immediate success, over 16,000 were sold in 1955, far outselling Corvette. Thunderbird hit the market in October 1954 as a 1955 model. Bill Boyer is credited as lead stylist, and final design approval came from Henry Ford II in 1953. Thunderbird – the name which was finally chosen for Ford’s new “personal” car, got its name from a supernatural mythical creature in Indigenous culture believed to be responsible for thunder and lightning. Sales this time were disappointing and the idea was shelved a few years later. So popular are they that Ford tried a re-introduction of sorts in 2002, again a two seater. It would prove to be much more popular in sales, but the 1955-57 “little birds” remain more popular with collectors today. Thunderbird would follow suit with a rear seat in 1958 – the “little bird” would be gone and what people referred to as the “big birds” would take over. 1956 would add a third “sporty” car to the mix when Studebaker introduced its Golden Hawk – this time with a rear seat and room for five. While early Corvettes came closer to being true sports cars, Ford never advertised the Thunderbird as a sports car, rather referring to it as a “personal” car. Suddenly, enthusiasts had two home grown sports (or sporty) cars to pick from. But no doubt the rush for an answer was on. Ford had begun work on its own two seater in the early 1950s, so the plan to introduce one was already there when Corvette hit the market. Ford was well aware of the market, as more and more university students from well-to-do families were seen driving European two seaters. After all, it was no secret in the auto industry that GM would introduce an answer to the foreign “sports cars” that were appearing on the scene in the early 1950s. Was it a reaction to GM’s introduction of the Corvette in 1953 that led to the birth of the Thunderbird? Not likely, but it certainly sped up the process. Written by Clifford Collins / Illustrated by Barrie Fraser
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