Ford Thunderbird - Tbird

Ford Thunderbird - Tbird

The Ford Thunderbird is a car manufactured in the United States by the Ford Motor Company. The Ford Thunderbird entered production for the 1955 model year as a two-seater sporty car; 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 Ford Thunderbird gained a second row of seats. Succeeding generations became larger until the Ford Thunderbird 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 Ford Thunderbird was launched, which was available through the end of the 2005 model year

As standard, the 1955 Ford Thunderbird included a removable fiberglass top; a fabric convertible top was an option, although commonly specified. The Ford Thunderbird engine was a 292 Y-block V8. The Ford Thunderbird had fender skirts. The exhaust pipes exited through twin bumper guards, which are bolted to the rear bumper.

For the Ford Thunderbird 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. 1956 sales were 15,631, the lowest of all three 2-seater Ford Thunderbird model years.

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 second generation Ford Thunderbird, introduced for the 1958 model year, was designed as a four-seat car. The four-seat Ford 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.

from Wikipedia

Ford Thunderbird Diecast Models

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