The Ford Thunderbird was redesigned in 1961, retaining its four-seat configuration and basic dimensions but trading the Square Bird’s angular lines for a streamlined fighter-jet look developed by stylist Alex Tremulis. The most stunning interior features are the round, black on white gauges with bright orange pointers and gold centers. The Square ‘Bird featured front bucket seats and a console, making it one of the first American cars to do so. The Softextured Vinyl used on the 1958 Thunderbirds had a horizontally-pleated design on the inserts, and the seats featured a silver tinsel welt that separated the bolster from the inserts. The interior was fit for four passengers with two bucket seats at the front and a rare, optional sunroof and Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels.
In ’80, Ford used another anniversary gimmick for the T-Bird’s 25th birthday, offering owners the option to sink into “velvetlike knit velour”. The new “Birds” were considerably larger than their forebears, featuring unitary construction and many convenience and luxury touches. The 1964/1965 Thunderbirds offered a cockpit-style passenger compartment with bucket seats, and Ford advertising dubbed the interior “The Private”. The 1964-66 Thunderbirds had a wraparound rear seat and front buckets like a galaxie XL, while the 58-60 Thunderbird had a wraparound rear but slightly different.
📹 55 ford T-Bird full custom interior
Full one off streetrod interior in a 1955 ford T-bird. •Wrapped in full italian leather. •custom trunk with floor access to fuel pump and …
How many 1955 Ford Thunderbirds were made?
This article examines the inaugural iteration of the Ford Thunderbird automobile, which was manufactured at the Ford River Rouge Complex in Dearborn, Michigan, and subsequently made available for purchase in the United States. The article addresses the Fordomatic automatic transmission, the manual transmission with three forward speeds, and the manual transmission with three forward speeds and overdrive.
How many 1956 Thunderbirds still exist?
The Ford Motor Company manufactured a limited number of 1956 Thunderbirds with right-side steering, producing only six of the 1956 T-Birds. The total sales reached 15, 631 units, with an optional 312 Y-block V8 engine available for those seeking enhanced performance.
What did the T Bird car look like?
The Ford Thunderbird was a two-seat coupe/convertible car that was introduced in 1953 as a response to Chevrolet’s Corvette. It had a two-seat coupe/convertible layout and was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show on February 20, 1954. The Thunderbird was designed with a sleeker, more athletic shape and features like a hood scoop and a 150 mph speedometer, hinting at higher performance. Mechanically, the Thunderbird could trace its roots to other mainstream Fords, with a 102. 0 inches wheelbase frame and a standard 292 cu in (4. 8 L) Y-Block V8 from Ford’s Mercury division.
Despite being inspired by the Corvette, Ford billed the Thunderbird as a personal luxury car, emphasizing comfort and convenience features over sportiness. In its first year, the Thunderbird outsold the Corvette by more than 23-to-one, selling 16, 155 Thunderbirds against 700 Corvettes.
In 1956, few changes were made to the car, with the most notable change being moving the spare tire to a continental-style rear bumper for more trunk storage. The Thunderbird also featured new paint colors, circular porthole windows, and a 312 cu in (5. 1 L) Y-block V8 engine. The engine produced 245 horsepower when mated to a 3-speed manual transmission or 225 horsepower when mated to a Ford-O-Matic 2-speed automatic transmission.
For 1957, the Thunderbird was revised with a reshaped front bumper, larger grille and tailfins, and larger tail lamps. The instrument panel was heavily restyled with round gauges in a single pod, and the rear of the car was lenghted, allowing the spare tire to be positioned back in the trunk.
What year is the most desirable Thunderbird?
The pre-boomer market share of the 2002-2005 Thunderbirds is declining, yet the vehicle remains a popular choice among this demographic, outperforming the original 1955-1957 Thunderbird. Special editions have garnered the most attention across all age groups.
Are T-Bird cars still around today?
The Thunderbird, a staple in Ford’s lineup, lasted 11 generations before ending its run in 2005. The mid-1950s Thunderbird is a quintessentially American car-design history, recognized worldwide as an example of good design. However, by the 1970s, the Thunderbird’s design became stale, with fins and chrome being replaced with straight, boxy cars with hoods long enough to land a helicopter. This transformation was not unique to the Thunderbird, but it was the most egregious among American cars during a dismal time for American cars.
Are Ford Thunderbirds fast?
In 1994, the Thunderbird introduced a new 4. 6 L Modular SOHC V8 engine, replacing the “5. 0” small block engine. The engine was rated at 205 horsepower and 265 lb⋅ft (359 N⋅m) of torque at 3, 200 rpm. It also featured an updated powertrain control module, the EEC-V, and an electronically controlled 4R70W 4-speed automatic transmission. The 4. 6 L V8 achieved a 0 to 60 mph acceleration time of 8. 1 seconds and a quarter-mile completion time of 16. 3 seconds at 87 mph (140 km/h).
The Super Coupe continued with the same supercharged 3. 8 L V6 engine, now with 230 horsepower (170 kW) at 4, 400 rpm and 330 lb⋅ft (447 N⋅m) of torque at 2, 500 rpm. This was made possible by several changes, including a larger Eaton M90 roots-type supercharger, larger fuel injectors, and an increase in compression to 8. 6:1. Motor Trend magazine conducted a comparison test of the 1995 Thunderbird Super Coupe against the front-wheel drive Chevrolet Monte Carlo Z34 and a Buick Regal Gran Sport, finding the Super Coupe as the best overall performance.
However, the improvements in output and performance over earlier Super Coupes were short-lived, as the Thunderbird Super Coupe was discontinued after the 1995 model year due to slowing sales. In 1996, the Thunderbird was offered only as an LX model, with a honeycomb mesh grille, revised Thunderbird emblem, clear lenses, and wide body-colored cladding. The lower tail lamp trim changed from black to red reflectors, and the “Thunderbird LX” badge was relocated to the upper-left of the decklid in a new script font.
When did Ford stop making the T bird?
Ford discontinued the eleventh-generation Thunderbird after its first model year due to a significant drop in sales. The final vehicle was manufactured on July 1, 2005, and the model line has not been returned to the market. The Thunderbird was offered as a soft-top convertible from 1958 through 1966, sharing its convertible top retraction mechanism with the Ford Skyliner retractable-hardtop convertible and the 1960s Lincoln Continental convertible.
The convertibles combined trunk opening and closing within the convertible top operating system, which could present challenges for troubleshooting a convertible top malfunction. The system consists of solenoids, relays, limit switches, electric motors, a hydraulic pump/reservoir, and several hydraulic directional valves and cylinders. Electrical relays are known to fail, and any malfunction of any of the numerous relays, motors, or limit switches prevents the convertible system from completing the cycle.
How many people died in Thunderbirds?
The Thunderbirds have a history of 21 fatal crashes, with only three occurring during air shows. The first was the death of Major Joe Howard, flying Thunderbird No. 3 (F-4E s/n 66-0321) on 4 June 1972 at Dulles Airport, during Transpo 72. His Phantom experienced a structural failure of the horizontal stabilizer, and Major Howard ejected as the aircraft fell back to earth tail first from about 1, 500 feet and descended under a good canopy. He landed in the aircraft fireball and did not survive.
The second death occurred on 9 May 1981 at Hill AFB, Utah, when Captain David “Nick” Hauck flying Thunderbird No. 6 (T-38A) crashed while performing the hi-lo Maneuver. Hauck crashed while attempting to land his ailing T-38 after an engine malfunctioned and caught fire. The aircraft continued to stay airborne for about half a mile before hitting a large oak tree and a barn, then sliding across a field and flipping as it traversed an irrigation canal—ultimately erupting into a fireball just a few hundred feet from the runway’s end. No one on the ground was injured, even though the accident occurred adjacent to a roadway packed with onlookers.
TSgt John Lesso of the Thunderbirds C-123 crew was killed when a USAF C-123 carrying the Army Golden Knights, on which he was flight engineer, crashed during takeoff at an airshow in Wilmington, North Carolina. Major Joe Howard, flying Thunderbird No. 3, was killed during the Transpo ’72 airshow at Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia.
In 2003, Captain Chris Stricklin, flying Thunderbird No. 6, crashed during an airshow at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. He attempted a “Split S” maneuver based on an incorrect mean sea level (MSL) elevation of the airfield, climbing to only 1, 670 ft (510 m) above ground level instead of 2, 500 ft (760 m). Stricklin survived with only minor injuries and no one on the ground was injured, but the $20 million aircraft was completely destroyed.
Official procedure for demonstration “split S” maneuvers was changed, and the USAF now requires Thunderbird pilots and airshow ground controllers to both work in above-MSL altitudes, as opposed to ground control working in AGL (above-ground-level) and pilots in MSL.
What is the rarest Ford Thunderbird?
The Thunderbird, with an approximate weight of 4, 300 lbs, is equipped with a 3-speed cruisomatic automatic transmission and achieves 0-60 in 8. 5 seconds, with a top speed of 125.
Why did Thunderbirds stop?
Thunderbirds is a British science fiction television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, filmed by AP Films (APF) and distributed by ITC Entertainment. The series, set in the 2060s, follows the exploits of International Rescue, a life-saving organization with a secret base on an island in the Pacific Ocean. The series features a fleet of technologically-advanced rescue vehicles, headed by five Thunderbird machines. The main characters are ex-astronaut Jeff Tracy and his five adult sons who pilot the Thunderbirds.
Starting in September 1965 on the ITV network, Thunderbirds has aired in at least 66 countries and has been adapted for radio in the 1990s. Other adaptations include an anime reimagining (Thunderbirds 2086), a live-action film (Thunderbirds), and a part-CGI, part-live-action remake (Thunderbirds Are Go). Three supplementary episodes, based on tie-in audio plays and using the same puppet techniques as the original, have also been produced.
Is a Ford Thunderbird a muscle car?
The Ford Thunderbird, an iconic muscle car from the muscle car era, has also achieved a degree of celebrity status in its own right, featuring in numerous films and television programmes. The vehicle has been manufactured in excess of four million units. With a production run of four million units, the sporty, sophisticated, and elegant Thunderbird established a distinct market segment within the personal luxury car category.
📹 What’s the Most Over-the-Top Ford Interior of All Time? 1971 Ford Thunderbird Brougham
See if you agree with me in assessing the 1971 Thunderbird Brougham interior as the most over-the-top Ford interior of all time.
Yo! You stole one of my bucklist cars…I love the 70-71 beak bird brougham 4 door! Just fabulous. The 2 door with its curved rear seat is just as awesome. I was a lot boy back when these were 2nd owner used cars, got to drive both a 2 door and a 4 door and they surprised this 17 year old kid with their quality, style, and performance
I was 10 in 1966 when my dad bought a 4-door landau Thunderbird. It was exactly like the car shown at the 2:00 minute mark, except it had the wheel covers of the silver 2-door shown at 2:10. A couple years later, when I was 13, my mom had an accident in the car. My first question wasn’t “Is Mom ok?” It was “Is the T-bird ok?” Typical teenager! By the way, Adam, I must respectfully disagree: I actually like the ‘71 Brougham interior and don’t consider it over-the-top at all. If it had appeared on an Asian product, people would probably be lauding its charms. I’ll take this interior over any Asian vehicle on the market today—and it was a better car by far, too. We never had any trouble with that car in the 13 years my folks owned it, not even the summer we drove it all over Europe on vacation.
I guess the term, “over the top” is very subjective. I think the 1970 & 71 Thunderbird Brougham interiors are very nice, i wouldn’t say they were the most over the top interiors that Ford produced. Just as with the GM cars, the era from 1975-1978 offered some of the most beautiful and elegant interiors in my opinion. Sticking to only Fords, i would say the Diamond Jubilee edition Thunderbirds or the Ford LTD Landaus with the optional Luxury interior package(basically the Mercury Grand Marquis interiors) were the most over the top. Having been in a family that owned one of those cars, i find those interiors to be much more eye popping.
Good pick, Adam! Those 1971’s also had the distinctive, “Bunkie Beak” on the front end – named for Bunkie Knudson, whom Ford stole from the executive ranks at GM in late 1968. Bunkie, son of legendary “Big Bill” Knudson was GM royalty and the man who revived Pontiac as General Manager in the 1950’s and early 1960’s with wide track, the Grand Prix, GTO and – wait for it – the Pontiac “beak” on the front end. Reportedly, Mr. Knudson came into the Thunderbird design studio and insisted that the beak be incorporated into the 1971 design at the 11th hour and at great tooling expense. It was one of the things that made Henry Ford II fire him after only a year or so at FOMOCO, telling him, “It’s just one of those things,” as reason for his dismissal. No wonder these great old cars have so much personality – just look at the men who were behind them.
When I was a kid, my uncle had a 1977 Chrysler New Yorker Brougham with tan buttoned leather seats, and Dad used to say that the seats looked like rows of bare bums. I thought that was hilarious… Fun Fact: the last production American sedan with reverse-hinged doors was the ’71 Thunderbird. Many people think it was the ’69 Lincoln. I always enjoy your vids and share your taste in cars; my hat’s off to you for preserving some of them!
Thank you so much for focusing on these wonderful Thunderbirds. I have always loved these. I mainly love the 67-69 models, but 70 and 71 are pretty great as well. My aunt bought a new 69 four-door in Indian Fire Metallic with black top and black Brougham cloth and vinyl interior. Power everything. It is the car that turned me into the car nut I am today. For a 7 year old, that Thunderbird was just mind-blowing! The steering wheel swinging up and over when the door was opened, the lights in the roof, the stereo that, to my young ears, sounded like a concert hall. I would beg my aunt to come over so I could wash it, and on more than one occasion, I would need to put the battery charger on it, because I would have the doors open on it and the many interior lights would run the battery down. I bought that car from her in the 80s and drove it until the late 90s. Such a high quality, wonderful car, and the vacuum and hydraulic powered accessories were never problematic. The power window motors, on the other hand, were not very good.
Speaking of nice plush interiors, the brochure for the 1974 LTD shows something called a “Brougham Luxury Group” that’s available for the ’74 LTD Brougham. Really nice, thick looking velour upholstery with thick carpeting. I’ve never been able to find any pictures or articles of an LTD with this particular option. Would be a nice find, but may be a unicorn at this point.
My parents bought a 1970 new when I was a toddler. It’s a 2-door landau, red with a white top and the standard ivory interior. I love the car. They gave it to me 20 years ago and my son will inherit it next. The build quality is outstanding and that 429 is a beast–it turns almost as many heads as my red 64 convertible. Thanks for doing a article on this generation of bird. I’m going to go take mine for a spin.
I think the 1971 T-bird in the 4-door iteration really unusual (rare?) and I’d love to get my hands on one! By the way, Adam, I totally disagree with your description of the black interior as “over-the-top”. Compared to a Talisman or Electra of a couple years later, this black interior I’d even call “subtle”…
As a teen, my best friend in high school’s mom had one of these. A beautiful blue color. From the back seat (hey, we were kids), I remember the dash lighting being nice, and I really liked the “all the way across” tail lights. I’ve always had a soft spot for “suicide doors,” too. Thank you for your reviews 🙂
One of the most overlooked T-Bird’s. I had a 70 two door with the “Hopsack” bucket’s in black. Had the alligator grain vinyl top. Loved the car. Very reliable and easy to get mechanical parts. Body parts were next to impossible. Great article and you are right on mark with the facts about these forgotten Ford’s
The Mercury XLs of the same era or slightly earlier with the diamond pattern vinyl on almost every surface might more over the top. I find the T-Bird interiors to be quite tasteful, and the nylon cloth particularly nice. We had a 68 with the green interior. I’d love to see more about the T-birds of 67 on – where they were placed in the Ford/Mercury lineup and just more about them. Very interesting cars.
Not a ’71 but … Adam, you seem to be taking me down memory lane this week. I guess that’s not really a new thing … This segment brought me back to Dick Herriman Ford in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia where I was turning wrenches in 1973. It was one of those wickedly hot summer days – like 98 degrees with a humidity number to match. This customer rolled into the Service Lane in … I think it was a 1968 or 69 T-Bird. It was equipped with Automatic Temperature Control and the unit had malfunctioned in some way. ATC had a default mode that went to full heat, full fan and full defrost. When the guy got out of the car, he looked like he’d just walked through a soaking rainstorm. Standing there, dripping, he looked at the Service Advisory and pleaded, “Just make it stop!!!”
All of us that remember these cars are like myself, between estrogen and death ! We are all with one foot in the grave. I am still a Citroen driver and originally from Europe but live in YVR for the last almost 50 years. I met so many “snotty” Europeans, like Jeremy Clarkson that never had anything good to say about American cars. The big T Birds, LTD Crown Vics and large Chryslers were the utmost comfortable cars for driving in Canada and the US. Nothing from Europe came close. They were quiet, easy, floaty and roomy, lots of room. Plus Boys and Girls, up to this day, Euro Air conditioners in cars suck. 5 Adults in a Lincoln Town Car, from Vancouver through Dead Valley in the summer, with luggage, no problem. They deserve way more credit. Thanks fir this article, I wish there was a modern car with the room like these. Greetings to all.
The interior highlighted in this article is certainly unusual and over-the-top, but in a very high quality way. The intricate upholstery is of such beautiful quality, and the fabrics used were lovely and very durable. It wasn’t just a bunch of velour thrown at the car. I think the interior truly comparable to the garish velour interiors of the Cadillac Talisman and the Buick Park Avenue Limited is the Versailles Option interior for the 1976 Mark IV and 77 Mark V. But even that interior is masterfully upholstered, as opposed to the sloppy loose velour of the GM makes.
Neighbors of ours in the early seventies had a 1970 Thunderbird coupe in a dark pine green, a very nice car. Unfortunately, I don’t remember what the interior was like on it, but these interiors strike me different than they do you. Maybe because there was a lot of office furniture with that kind of flat tufting and stitching to the upholstery at the time, these interiors strike me as almost bland, like sitting in an early seventies corporate boardroom. If we’re talking about just Ford Division when we say Ford, I might have chosen the next generation Thunderbird’s 1974-76 special edition interiors like “White and Gold Edition, Burgundy Edition, Bordeaux Edition, Lipstick Edition,” etc, as the most potentially excessive-looking because of all the mid-seventies velour and two-tone leather on slightly overstuffed-looking upholstery, which I suspect also doesn’t appeal to you. it does appeal to me and I don’t find it over the top, but compared to these early seventies Birds, the mid-seventies editions mentioned stand out more in my mind. (And if we’re talking about all of Ford Motor Company when we say Ford, I pick the Lincoln Mark IV and Mark V designer editions of ’76-’79 as the most potentially excessive-looking, especially the Bill Blass ones.)
One of my All time Favorite T-Birds. I seen this model for the first time in 1988 Atlantic City Auction in February at the convention center. Immaculate condition ‘71 Light Green Fast Back with a White perfect interior and Exterior drove up quiet as can be driven by a much older woman with 20K original miles. Sold for $3100. I never thought it would go so cheap. I fell in love with that car style and ever since. Love your website.
I loved these 4 door models as a kid growing up in the 60s even more so than the coupe. Just something about them. Neighbors down the street had a 67 silver with black top/black interior and I always admired it and bugging my dad that we should get one to no avail. Dad wasn’t a car guy in any way shape or form.
My 1st car was a 1972 Thunderbird that was a hand me down from my Dad, he kept cars 2 yrs and it made sense to him to give me a car that he knew the history of. Looking back it was probably not a good idea for me to have a better car than most of my teachers. Mine had a 429, but I learned from the internet that 460’s were in some. It was not a great car on corners. I had it for 2 trouble free yrs and would love to have one today.
Omg. My dad bought a bright yellow 4 door brougham in 71. Brown landau top and high rise brown leather seats. I loved that car. I was fortunate to turn 16 while he still had it. Cruising with friends Friday and Saturday nights was a blast in that car. It had a problem with starting that was never resolved. We could carry a rat tail comb to hold open the choke in order to get it to start. Saddest day was when he traded it for a very boring Buick. 50 years on, I miss that car, even with the bad starting.
As a kid growing up we lived next door to the sales manager for a Ford dealership and of course he would be bringing home “demonstrator” cars home every night. One night he brought home one of these 4-door T-Birds. I was friends with his daughter and I remember sitting inside the car with her playing with the power windows and power seats. I was fascinated with that car. I don’t know if it was the brougham interior but I do remember it had bucket seats and a big wide center console that flowed up into the dashboard.
I’m proud to say I must be a “bordello fellow,” because I do not find these interiors “over the top.” They look good to me. Although, I do prefer the headrests to the high back seats; other than that, I like the interiors you’ve shown. But then, I’ve always liked the baroque… God is in the details. 👍
Wow, this was a very well thought-out theme, Adam. I wondered if your, “over-the-top” could also cover the prominent ’70 to ’71 beak, and also the bizarre confluence of lines when trying to combine a basically elegant Coke-bottle shape with four doors…. Your review and excellent documentation photos make me want to ride in one! Keep up the excellent research & historical interest clips coming! Your work helps make the beautiful Autumn even nicer, Jr Massachusetts
Adam, I remember looking at and considered buying a ‘71 T Bird back in 1980 when I was 18. It was a white 2 door landau brougham with a dark red interior. The landau coupe didn’t have rear side windows and the top wrapped all the way around to the front doors. Now that interior was over the top because if I recall, the rear seat was curved and kind of wrapped around to the front since there was no side windows. It wasn’t a flat rear seat like the sedan. At least that’s what I recall. I didn’t buy it due to budget constraints as a 18 year old but I did love it. Great choice and article!
I feel like these articles about car interiors were made just for me. All my life I was the only one I ever knew that was way more interested in the interiors and dashes than the exterior styling. And I love every time you use that photo of the Blue Park Avenue With Velour seats. Its exactly like the one my Father had and I put that car as one of my favorite cars ever and I have had many high end cars. It was so comfortable and felt safe and quiet and it was also remarkably reliable.
I learned something new today. I did not know there was a Ford Thunderbird “Brougham”. This Ford is highly luxurious and over the top. I see how and why Lincoln Mark and Ford Thunderbird ran in step with each other over the years. Mercury Cougar joined the mix. That created low, medium, and high. I am still on how luxurious the interior is on this car. I see the Lincoln exterior mirrors too. Thank you Adam.
When I was shopping for my first car, I looked at a brown, 4 Dr T-Bird with the bordello interior just like the one you had up. I thought the interior was amazing and especially with the suicide doors! My dad did not approve even a little bit. Then I tried to sell him on the idea of an ice blue Lincoln mark III. But it was $2700 so that idea was also shot down. I wound up with a 1970 Pontiac bonneville coupe I bought from a retired teacher for $500.
7:36 You are mistaken that the quality was better in this model than the later 1972-1976 model years, many problems were eliminated. The car also shared the Mark IV platform and was the heaviest and smoothest riding Thunderbird ever built. The carpet and leather was extremely durable, literally, never wearing out.
The beak seems more over-the-top to my eyes than any of the interiors, but that’s half the fun of collectables. I’ve read that Lincoln used suicide doors on the ’61-’69 Continental only because the same platform was to be used for the 4 door convertible, but with the ’67 T-Bird, that didn’t seem to be a consideration. Maybe they just did it because the car looked cool, and it did. They deserve credit for leaving in the B-pillar, despite the frameless glass, making this sort of a “colonnade” design which must have been much more solid than a true hardtop would have been. I’d love to know how these T-Birds (and the structurally unrelated Lincoln) got so many anachronistic features, like hydraulic wipers and vacuum door locks; was similar hardware used on any other Ford product? I wonder if the hydraulic wipers were quieter than electric ones would have been.
I owned a 71 2 door back in the early eighties. Loved the wrap around Vegas strip club back seat… the seven speed windshield wipers not so much. Either the hydraulic motor or the power steering pump was not working 100% when someone rear ended me and totaled it. That 429, however, was outstanding! If I floored it, it would hold first to about 70 mph and second to between 110-120. I had it over 130 once and that was kinda scary. It would ping on regular gas so I kept the distributor loose enough so I could back off the timing when I could only get regular gas. That series of T-Birds from 67-71 also had a weird quirk that the dash lights and sometimes the headlights would start flashing about 65 mph. My friend and his dad had examples, 68 & 69, iirc, that all did this. Couldn’t afford the gas to drive one today unfortunately.
I never found this interior over the top. I never was a fan of the Knudsen nose on the 1970-1971 Thunderbird, but it was a heck of a lot better than the 1972-1976 Thunderbird. Now that design was over the top. As far as the Citroen, it may have had a good ride, but talk about getting hit with the ugly stick. I’d rather ride the bus.
I’m glad to see a tribute to the beautiful and rare (6,554 built) 1971 Thunderbird 4-door! I completely agree that its high-back, button and biscuit, seats are the main attraction of its opulent interior design! I have owned one since 1980 and still think it is one of Ford’s masterpiece designs. My car is black with the Brougham interior in black leather with dual 6-way power seats and reclining passenger seatback. It was ordered with every possible option except sunroof, automatic temperature control and Sure-Track braking. It’s most unusual option is the High-Level brake light system with auxiliary brake lights mounted in vertical enclosures fitted on each inside edge of the rear window. When the brake pedal is applied, four additional bulbs are illuminated bringing the total number up to ten! It is also equipped with speed-control, power antenna, door locks, trunk release and rare heated-rear-window defrost. Yes, it ride-quality is impressive as well as its high-compression, 429 C.I.D. ThunderJet engine which produces 360 horsepower! For the cost of a full-equipped 1971 Thunderbird, a buyer could have purchased a 1971 Sedan de Ville which no longer had a high-compression engine! Few American luxury cars in 1971 could rival the distinctive and exclusive Thunderbird 4-door! Interestingly, the 1967 to 1971 Thunderbird 4-doors shared the same frame, windshield and many components and design aspects of the Mark III. At the time, the Thunderbird was the only personal-luxury 4-door in America.
While I can understand why many fans of the original T-birds absolutely hate the 4-door models, these are still my favorite Thunderbirds. Admittedly I am easily seduced by “suicide doors”, but even so I think the way they were designed into the Thunderbird was simply clever and wonderful. As to the Brougham’s interior, compared to today’s cars it is over-the-top, but back then this was what was expected in luxury cars, starting in the 60s and throughout the 70s. And to be honest, I miss this opulence in cars. Compare the choice of fabrics, the colors, and so on with today’s cars (even family sedans back then could be ordered into lavish luxury cars!). While today’s cars are in many important ways much better than they were back then, I do miss the distinctive styling of each car. It seems to me that most current cars (along with their interiors) generally look the same. Oh well. Perhaps I’ve become an old fuddy-duddy🙂. Thanks for your interior articles. Car interiors are so often ignored.
The Thunderbird was my dream car when I was growing up in the ’50s and 60’s. To me the car reached its peak with that fifth generation in 1967, though I much prefer the ’67-’68s without the beak. They were truly like nothing else on the road and nothing else in Ford’s or Lincoln’s lineup. The Thunderbird also had the most interesting history and went through more transitions than any car on the U.S. market. Beginning as a 2-seat roadster, it later created and defined the “personal luxury” segment and as that segment faded into history the Thunderbird stuck around, transitioning into little more than a pleasant but undistinguished mid-size car. I’m still a little curious why Ford chose to bring it back for one last fling. As I see it they wanted to cash in on the retro fad that was going on (PT Cruiser, HHR, New Beetle, etc.) and perhaps wanted it to be present to mark its 50 year anniversary and give it a good send off before finally putting it out to pasture. I doubt the product planners actually thought it had a good long run ahead of it. I just can’t imagine we’ll see the personal luxury segment or a car like the Thunderbird ever coming back. More’s the pity.
They, along with the Mark III, had about the best flow-through ventilation system of any car of that era. I had a ’71 Mark III, which I understand furnished the chassis for the 4-door ‘Bird, with its vents both on the inside back window shelf and outside. When you opened the system going 60-70 MPH, you didn’t have a blast of air, just the sense of air moving through the car, keeping it from getting stuffy. This was nice when it was not warm enough for AC or cold enough for the heater.
That was great to see and interesting learn! In my opinion thats one of a select few 4 doors that look so so much better than its coupe counterpart, and not just from the outside looking in but from the inside looking out, and every viewing angle you might choose. Just a super solid looking, attention to detail taken, automotive piece of art. And Now I Need One !!
I loved the look of these when I was a kid. They were not everyone’s cup of tea. So about 1982 I started to look for a good one to restore. But by 1971 Ford had started de-contenting this and the Mark using a lot of the same manufacturing techniques as on a Torino, just more of it. I was very disappointed when I drove them. As for maintaining one – what is so complex? Dumb point ignition system. Carburetor. C6 3 speed tranny. The big issue I imagine will be the issue with these is electrical problems and rusted out frames. They were ok 50 years ago, but there is a reason they don’t make them anymore.
I always liked the Thunderbird despite growing up Mopar. A great sport luxury combination. I did own one, a 1990 TBird Super Coupe. A great car except for understeer and a coarse motor at high revs. Mine had electronic gremlins they never could resolve. I lean towards BMWs these days for the sport luxury combination. Next up should be Mopar, and the 74-78 Imperial/New Yorker interior would be my pick, especially in red or green velour.
Back in 1972, I had a girlfriend whose parents owned one of these, triple black with the Brougham interior option. I actually taught her to drive in that car, and once she got her license it became her car. I remember that it had vacuum power door locks that would actuate once the car reached 5-10 mph. I guess that they felt you wouldn’t be hurt that bad if you fell out the door going under that speed. What a fabulous car! Adam is too classy to say this, but in high school we said that luxury cars with that smooth-faced nylon upholstery were wearing panty cloth. What great memories!
I loved my 1967 2-door Thunderbird with a 390ci engine. It was sea foam green with a green interior both very pleasing to the eye. The sea green exterior was so muted it looked white from 10 feet away. The wrap around rear seat was very unique and the foldaway steering wheel was a trip. The hideaway headlights never gave me any trouble and the C-6 transmission was smooth and reliable. The car drank gas like there was no tomorrow but that was part of the price for such luxury.
I wonder if the LTD Landau Luxury Group would qualify – especially in the blue/cream combo. I actually think the Brough interior in luxury cloth was rather good looking, and probably more tasteful than, for example the 79 grand Prix LJ in full velour we once owned. Never understood the hopsack version though – I assumeit was intended to convey sport, but to me it always just looked cheap.
I owned a 1976 Continental Mk IV Bill Blass Designer Series that had the very plush Versailles velour interior. Even the headliner was velour. The door trim panels were very thick and plush as well with nice imitation wood trim across the top. I consider this interior to be more ‘over the top’ than the ’71 T-bird Brougham although I like it as well. The optional Versailles interior package was only available in 1976 on the Mk IV and 1977 on the Mk V. The Mk IV was more plush. I also owned a 1978 Diamond Jubilee Mk V in blue with the same interior as shown in your article. The ’76 Bill Blass was much nicer. Almost all ’76 Bill Blass Mk IV’s had leather interior. The Versailles velour option was a more expensive option. The ’76 Bill Blass also had blue tinted moonroof glass which did not even show as available in the dealer brochures. I still miss that beautiful machine. Years after I owned it the car showed up in the second season of the TV show Fargo. I knew it was mine because of the unique custom wheels I had put on it. It sold locally on a Facebook ad only about a year ago for only $1200 !! It was rusted and I am in no position now to restore cars.
Looked at the fastback version of these and seriously considered them but having found out about its fuel consumption (about twice as much as my Buick) i moved on and looked elsewhere. Still love the back end with that light bar. Loved this design from the moment i saw mr Wing drive away in one in diamonds are forever.
I stated in one of Adam’s other posts that my parents had two Birds: A ’67 4 door landau 428 (and I now realize it was a brougham..rich fabric coupled with high quality vinyl and lots of buttons, tufting and chrome lined panelling) and a 68 2 door coupe 429 (NO vinyl top thank God). The ’67 was Brittany Blue with the dark blue interior. It was sumptuous but not bordello-y. Much better in assembly than the 68. The 428 was silky, the 429 was a brute. Their wallowy suspensions were cured at the time by replacing the factory shocks with Sears Heavy Duty shocks. Best combination for those boats: soft suspensions coupled with heavy duty shocks…great, stable rides…no porpoising over bumps or dips. Both cars’s drivetrains were built to last, but the ’68’s interior was fragile. The ’67 was very well assembled and lasted.
The 4 door had odd exterior proportions – especially as it was updated from 67 to 71. Didn’t the older years (67, 68, 69) have a wrap-around back seat? That, if I’m recalling it correctly, was quite unusual. Compared to those poofy-pillow GM interiors of the mid-70’s, I’d say Ford’s was much more tasteful. And yes, the pre-smog 429 could most certainly get out of its own way.
I remember riding home from Milwaukee’s Mitchell Field Airport in a 1970 or 1971 Ford Thunderbird taxicab. It was Fall 1973 and we had just come back from a trip to Hawaii. The T-Bird was so swift and quiet compared to our family car, a 1968 Ford Mustang. Most cabs in Milwaukee at the time were intermediate or compact cars. But the City Veterans cabs were (I believe) operator owned and therefore sometimes nicer than the Checker or Yellow cabs. I agree that Ford went all-out for 1970 and 1971 with the Thunderbird Brougham interiors. There was almost a night and day difference between the Brougham interiors and the base interiors, even in the earlier 1967-69 cars. The base interiors were OK, but were all-vinyl and did not feel that luxurious, especially beginning in 1969, when the seat designs changed. It was as if Ford was trying to sell to two different customer markets.
ALL Five years of the 4 door Thunderbirds were stunning. However, in 1967 you could get the Thunderbird Apollo in either 2 door or 4 door in a beautiful metallic midnight blue. These had reclining front seats with automatically adjusting headrests and swivel front passenger seats with a central (middle of car) folding metal framed, hinged wooden topped table complete with twin moveable, extendable reading lights — NOW THAT really, really is OPPULENCE, above and beyond Lincolns or any other period Ford product.
Ahh, classic Thunderbirds. I’m intimately familiar with 1964, 1967, and 1976. My favorite interior is the 1964-1966. Highlights I remember from my family’s 1964 are: real bucket seats, the swing-away steering wheel, a functional console, the comfy curved back seat, excellent rear vent, a/c so powerful that would cause the outside of the windows to steam up in humid weather, the C4 transmission that could be set to start in 2nd gear to minimize wheel slippage in ice and snow, great acceleration (390cid/300hp), top speed higher than the speedometer would indicate, and relatively capacious trunk. The 1964’s downsides were many, some I remember are: a lot of stuff crammed into the low-profile engine compartment, it took two universal joints to remove the left rear spark plug (with the low-energy ignition, changing the spark plugs actually seemed to make a difference in the way the engine sounded), every system was over-stressed, the excitement of a high pressure hose on the linkage power steering starting to leak (strawberry sodapop everywhere), window motor reliability (the rear window motor required a cutting torch to replace). The fatal design flaw with the 1967 was the lack of holes in the bumper (compare the 1967 front to the 1968). The wonderful tilt-away steering wheel fatigued the steering column wiring harness with every car exit, requiring its untimely replacement. Then there was the loaded 1976. The mini vent windows were flawless and essential since the rear vent had been discontinued.
That Thunderbird interior especially look good in dark red. Funny, how you mentioned the hopsack interior. When my dad brought me, as a boy, to the showroom on ‘Introduction night’ of the new models, the laughed at the hopsack interior as it looked low class to him. (Potato sacks). ( We had a ’66 town landau at the time- it was quit luxurious inside too) Thanks so much for posting these articles! I thoroughly enjoy them! Greg in California
I am a auto worker for the last 27 years, I sure do miss those interiers. Soft seating, lush carpet. Now even top interiers have cheap thin leather,or the fake shit, and the cloth ones make horse blankets look comfy. Chrome plated plastic grills and wheels, how would you ever restore a modern car? Try finding a 30 year old ecm or sensor etc. That’s a shame, probably won’t have to worry greenie whiners will have out lawed everything by then. Hey if you ever get the chance go up in a WWII bomber And ride aboard a STEAM LOCOMOTIVE wonderful the B-17 I will never forget. Cars are great, but get you ass up in the air. do a biplane and have some fun !!!!
I don’t think I had paid much attention to the few 4 door Tbirds, to realize they still had suicide doors well into the 70’s. I remember a 64 Lincoln Continental that my cousin had, had the suicide doors. I thought they were the last. My neighbor has a 69Tbird still sitting behind his house that has had the 429 and tranny robbed out of it, stock factory he stuck it in a 72 F100 4×4 and would lay black marks with all 4 tires through second gear. Very torqy… We’ll give him some slack though, his actual aim was to put the 429 into his garage kept 61 Starliner, but found he was going to have to cut too much out of the firewall to get it to work. As always, nice walk down memory lane.
Didn’t the two door T’birds of that generation have a sort of wrap-around rear seat as well? The Cougar XR7ish toggle switches were in some of those cars too. And, is that a ’69-’70 Cougar roof on the The Two Door Landau with Special Brougham Option? I doubt it, but it does kind of look like it from that angle…
It’s so odd. I drove one of these from 1977 to 1982. I put about 70,000 miles on it over that time. The odd thing is that I have read about the wiper system on these since (and I do have a 61 Lincoln with variable speed hydraulic wipers) and my 70 had regular speed wipers. They were not varible. Im pretty sure they were still hydraulic though cuz they would occasionally just stop. But the dial had notched settings and all you got was 2-3 different speeds. Period. Also never had and carburetor problems. It was a silent fast cruiser & even back then got lots of attention.
Here in Australia we had 4 door car in 1968 to 1971 called a Brougham but it was a General Motors vehicle made and designed in Australia by GMH General Motors Holden This particular car was very lavish when it came to trim levels powered by a Chev 307 and later Australias own Engine the 308 V8 and believe also available with the Chev 350 ci
My Dad had a 67 4dr. There were certainly things to like, but overall,… these were horrible cars to drive. Outward vison was poor, the brakes which were powerful, were hard to modulate, and the car was constantly having little things break. After 3 yrs he had had enough and traded it in on a 1970 Lincoln Mark III, basically the same car but much better. Outward vision was good, the brakes were easily controlled, handling was really good for such a large and heavy car, and it was built much better.
This model looks very much like the ‘61 to ‘69 Lincoln Continental, complete with the rear doors hinged at the back for easier access to the rear seat. I know that the ‘61 Continental was engineered as a stretched Thunderbird and they shared the same assembly facility and I believe the same basic unibody design. So the ‘71 T-Bird appears to be the final iteration of that wonderful design. (My parents had a ‘62 Continental for 13 years and 180,000 miles until upstate NewYork road salt rotted the unibody and we couldn’t find a mechanic to replace the crankshaft power steering pump)
First off, I always thought that Ford Thunderbird interiors from the 60s into the early 70s were unmatched by any of its competitors. I especially liked the way their rear seat backs curved into the side armrests, quite similar to an expensive couch. I actually prefer the four door version with the suicide doors that got no mention. Looking at the hubcaps, I’m more inclined to think that Ford wanted to compete against GMs Toronado, and Riviera, than their Corvette.
The 1967-71 Thunderbird is my second most favorite generation after the legendary Aerobird. These cars had a beautiful contemporary exterior design similar to the 1967-70 Eldorado, with a sporty and muscular touch. That interior looks like it was ahead of its time in style and would be found in a much more expensive European luxury car, such as Rolls Royce and Bentley.
I was in my teens the first time I sat inside of a ’56 Continental Mark II. The smell of the French leather upholstery, and the air conditioning venting from overhead I found to be amazing. A cousin had a new Rolls Royce, but the Continental was miles ahead of it in opulence, fit, and finish. The paint appeared to be liquid, and an deep.
I had a friend who owned a ’70 coupe back in the early ’80s. The Brougham interior was a little much but proved to be pretty durable compared to others of this era. Although it was a bit rusty, that 429 with the factory trailer towing package made the car seem ridiculously fast for it’s size. The exterior styling was also a bit over the top as well with the exaggerated ‘beak’ grill. All in all it was a very enjoyable ride for a work car/beater. He always regreted selling her…
Just to add, all of the birds did not have the auto temp control. Mine had the standard AC with Fresh/recirculate/heat/def and a sliding control for cold to hot. It still operated on vacuum but did not have the auto temp control box which adds complexity to the system. I bought my 71 two door landau with the dark blue brougham interior in 1973 at Stinson Chevy in Tulsa for $2200. The front seat was bench style and had the same design as the one in your article. It was very comfy, but yes it was pretty over the top. I later had a 70 Thunderbird with the cheapest interior available. It had a white vinyl bench seat and pretty plain door panels but I actually liked the looks better than the 71 interior. Thanks for these articles, as they bring back a lot of memories.
Excellent as always. I’m from Europe and have to react to your statement about the big Citroen’s engine. Big 4 cilinder engines were nothing special in Europe in those years. Petrol was already expensive when compared to the U.S.A. In France petrol was even more expensive and those big Citroen’s were relatively economical. But you are correct it was a rough engine that did not suit the car very well.
It’s disappointing that Ford failed to package the Thunderbird better. From being a personal sports car it grew into what would compete well with the Riviera but they failed to, as you mentioned, maintain any performance from the steering and suspension, which would have, obviously taken away from the ride. A car that truly never came into it’s own.
I’d still say the DJE/Collectors Mark V is more over the top than these. Though you didn’t mention the coolest interior touch on the 4 door Blubber birds, the way the Landau bar is mirrored on the interior rear quarter courtesy lamp. Though in general it’s a horrible styling theme I never understood, who wants their car to look like a hearse?
I had a perfect 1971 2 Door Black on Black model in high school. Loved that car and had to add fake lead until I could have the valves done for unleaded. Never had an issue and it had bucket seats with the full console and overhead panel with lights for low fuel, door open, and more. Wrap around rear seats, radio dial that flipped from AM to FM dial. I would attach a photo but I am not sure how to do that on this site.
Vehicles today drive very hard. I hate the modern suspension. I miss that old mushy ride. The old cars would glide over a pot hole and you barely felt it. Today you hit a pot hole and you need back surgery!!! Lol!!! And I miss the old sofa’s they use to put in cars years ago they were roomy and comfortable!!! 👍👍👍
In 71 my parents seriously considered a 4 Dr tbird . Ended up getting a green /forest green Lincoln 4 Dr. Much plainer inside but honest. Nice dash with good amount of gages. 73 brought a white town couple edition with wood trimmed doors and overstuffed touquise interior. Pictures don’t really show thick leather or padding these received. And bright tourquise blue. Back seat was huge but very hard to see out of
If over-the-top has negative connotations, and I think it usually does, I’m not sure this qualifies. It’s actually rather lovely, and is perhaps saved from the tastelessness tipping point by its monochromatic nature. The later Lincoln designer interiors with their explosions of color are far more jarring.
Check out the Ford Landau coupe from Australia. From 1973 to 1976. Only 1385 units. The finned hubcaps, front marker lights, door frame shape, seat shape, head light covers steering wheel and more were sourced and carried over from the USA. A Cleveland 351 with Cruisomatic, 4-wheel disc brakes and rear tramp rods make it unique.
It’s too bad Ford lost their way with the original intent of the Thunderbird. It was really Ford’s answer to the Corvette, and in that first generation it was definitely on par with the early 1st gen Corvettes. Then in ’58 when they made it a 4 seater and made it longer, that started the down hill slide into bordello-dom. Meanwhile, Corvette became a world class sports car that continues to get better to this day.
When I was in high school in the early 70’s, a friend of mine had use of her father’s 1968 4-door T-bird. I agree it was pretty quick ( though not so much as another friend’s 1963 Galaxie NASCAR homologation special!) and rode nicely, but your characterization of “nautical” handling is a bit too charitable; rarely have I been in a vehicle that wallowed like this one!
Over the top interior to go along with the over the top “Roman Nose.” I somewhat disagree Adam. The MOST over the top Ford interior of the era is easily the 1973/4 LTD Brougham with the Crushed Velour Interior option. Having seen one in person in a Ford dealer’s showroom when new. All I can say is UGH!
For the first time I have to COMPLETELY disagree with you. My father’s 1976 Lincoln Continental Mark IV Cartier Edition was far far worse. It had pillow tops, pillow tops!! on the seats, just like a pillow top mattress. It’s a wonder the old men who drove those cars didn’t all fall asleep at the wheel. youtube.com/watch?v=r3u5VW3BtbA
Boy, I never see this model. Never knew there was a 4 door. My least favorite T Bird. I do see and like an early 60s T Bird model. The ones after this were better. The black leather looks S & M like maybe some chrome handcuffs hanging from the mirror. Upolsterers advise against button tufted lowers. Very uncomfortable to sit on. I did my yacht with button tuffted backs. I always call the sail panel emblem a funeral emblem. I believe it is supposed to resemble external hinges found on early convertable tops. Silly. Suicide doors.