DIY Network

The Ford Thunderbird: History and Background From "Classic Car Restoration" episode DCR-301

In this segment, we explore the lengthy history of an enduring favorite from Ford -- the Thunderbird. We look at the background of our restoration project car -- the 1962 Thunderbird sports roadster -- as well as some of the T-birds that came before and after it. Over the course of its automotive evolution, the Thunderbird has morphed from a 2-seat sports-car to a long, sleek driving machine to a mid-sized luxury car.

The 1962 Ford Thunderbird sports roadster.

Among the car's unique features, the T-bird converts from a convertible to a 2-seat roadster by means of a removable tonneau cover.

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Figure A

The first T-bird rolled off Ford's assembly line in Dearborn, Michigan in September, 1954. Originally designed as a sports-car to compete with Chevy's Corvette, it was a 2-seater with clean styling and a powerful engine. Around 16,000 1955 T-birds (figure A) were eventually --sold with an original base-price of around $2700.
During the next two years, a round porthole window was added to the removable hard-top (figure B), a feature that was as popular at the time as it is with collectors today. The car also featured an exterior spare-tire compartment and extended bumper (figure C).

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

The 1956 and '57 model years offered some upgrades, including a 312 cubic-inch V8 as an option over the standard 292 cubic-inch power-plant. The larger engine could provide as much as 340 horsepower.

1957 was the last year of the first-generation Thunderbirds, which came to be nicknamed "Little Birds" or "Baby Birds." That year also marked the last of the two-seater design, which would be resurrected almost a half-century later, in 2002. The exception to that was the 1962 model year, as will be explained later.

	Figure E
	Figure F

In 1958, the T-bird was completely transformed into a 4-seater sedan with boxy lines a wide pillar roof. The bucket seats (figure D) and console interior were the first evidence of luxury styling, and would appear later in the muscle cares of the 1960s.

The second-generation models from 1958 through 1960 became nicknamed "Square Birds" and could be ordered with either a 352 cubic-inch, 300-horsepower V8 or a 430 cubic-inch, 350-horsepower V8. They were available in hardtop or convertible coupe (figure E).

The 1958 Thunderbird won Motor Trend magazine's car-of-the-year award (figure F). The car also took that title in 1987, 1989 and 2002 -- making the T-bird the only four-time winner of the coveted automotive-industry award.
The car was again restyled beginning in 1961. The third-generation series, nicknamed "Bullet Birds," featured a severely pointed front prow (figure G), quad headlights, modest fins and a softer roof contour on the hard-top models. These T-birds offered the first "swing-away" steering wheel (figure H) as well as optional power steering and power brakes.

The 1961 through 1963 Thunderbirds were available with a 390 cubic-inch V8 that produced an impressive 300 to 340-horsepower, and offered a smoother ride and better handling than their predecessors.

Figure G

Figure H

This era brings us to the project car featured in this restoration series -- the 1962 Thunderbird sports roadster (figures I and J). There were only 1,427 of these sports roadster models produced by ford in 1962, and only another 455 in 1963, so there were less than two thousand of them then -- and probably much fewer around today. For that reason, the "sports roadster" is a rare and valuable car. Because of its status as a collectible, the actual sports roadster has inspired some fakes -- regular convertible models that have been retrofitted with some sports roadster features. If you're thinking of buying a 1962 or 1963 sports roadster, it's important to inspect it well to verify authenticity.

Figure I

Figure J

With an original base price of over $5,000, sports roadsters were available in raven black, silver mink, castillian gold, rangoon red, diamond blue, sand-shell beige, chestnut and corinthian white -- the color of our project car. The model's most distinctive feature is a molded fiberglass tonneau cover with built-in padded headrests which convert this four-seat convertible into a two-seat roadster (figures K and L).

Figure K

Figure L

Figure M

1964 saw the era of the "jet bird" model line (figure M), featuring a stretched wheel-base and a shorter roof line giving the car an aerodynamic look.
The Thunderbird grew again when the 1967 through 1969 models were designed (figures N and O). The wheel-base was extended to 115 inches and overall length grew to over 206 inches. Passenger capacity was also increased to six. From 1967 through 1969, four-door models were produced and proved very popular with growing baby boom families.

Figure N

Figure O

The Thunderbird has continued to evolve through the years -- adding styling changes and creature comforts as the public demanded (figures P and Q).

Figure P

Figure Q

The 1970's (figures R and S) saw such enhancements as concealed windshield wipers, an opera window, a dense-grain vinyl roof, power mini-vent windows, quick-defrost windshields, a moon roof, power lumbar seats and, of course, an am/fm quadraphonic eight-track tape player.

Figure R

Figure S

Figure T

Although officially discontinued inn 1997, the thunderbird has made a comeback (figure T) with the 2001 concept car and the 2002 and 2003 production models.

In the segment that follows, Thunderbird expert Rob Duddy helps evaluate our project car and plan its restoration.

RESOURCES :

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Trouble-Free Car Care
Author: Dan Ramsey
ISBN: 0028635833
Alpha Books

Auto Repair for Dummies
Author: Deanna Sclar
ISBN: 0764550896

Car Care Q and A: The Auto Owner's Complete Problem Solver
0471544795
Mort Schultz
(April 1992)
To order this title from Amazon, click here.
John Wiley and Sons

T-birds.com
T-Birds.com
A website dedicated to the appreciation of 1961 through 1963 Ford Thunderbirds. Hard-to-find restoration parts and materials, including reconditioned original t-bird body parts, can be found through t-birds.com.

Thunderbird Restoration Guide, 1958-1966 (Motorbooks International Authentic Restoration Guides)
by William Wonder
Published by Motorbooks International, June 1997
ASIN: 0760303908
To order this book from Amazon.com, click here.

Illustrated Thunderbird Buyer's Guide (Motorbooks International Illustrated Buyer's Guide)
by Paul G. McLaughlin
Publisher: Motorbooks International (July 2000)
ASIN: 0879388706
To order this book from Amazon.com, click here.

Vintage Thunderbird Club International
www.vintagethunderbirdclub.org
The Vintage Thunderbird Club International (VTCI) is an organization dedicated to the restoration of Thunderbirds and is an excellent resource for many aspects of restorations. The organization establishes juding rules and offers technical advice and production data.

Motorbooks International
www.motorbooks.com
Motorbooks International is a enthusiast's source for automotive books and information. At their website, they carry more than 6,000 book titles, making them one the largest and most comprehensive auto-related bookstores online. Among the books they offer are many popular and hard-to-find automotive-related titles -- car manuals and books on auto history, auto restoration and repair.

Ford Motor Company
www.ford.com

Hemmings Motor News
www.hemmings.com
Hemmings Motor News publishes the world's largest collector-car magazine. Affectionately known as the "bible" of the collector-car hobby, Hemmings is considered the source where car and truck enthusiasts find the cars of their dreams, as well as the parts to keep them running.

T-Bird Sanctuary
Supplier of Thunderbird parts and supplies. www.tbirdsanctuary.com

Classic Car Restoration 300 Series also thanks:

Ford Motor Company
www.ford.com

Advance Auto Parts
www.advanceautoparts.com

Krause Publications
www.krause.com

3M Corporation
www.3m.com


Bend-Pak / Ranger Inc.
www.bendpak.com


G S Distributing Company
Knoxville, TN