Year of Ford Thunderbird




The Thunderbird has available a 3.8 liter 6 cylinder with 145 hp or a 4.6 liter 8 cylinder with 205 hp. ABS is optional and a 4 speed automatic transmission is standard.

Ford Thunderbird photos, specs - Car Pictures & Images

The Thunderbird is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States from 1955 through 2005 — through thirteen generations and various body types.

The name "Thunderbird" was inspired by the name of an exclusive housing development[citation needed] and recalls the mythological creature common to Indigenous peoples of North America.

The car entered production for the 1955 model year as a two-seater sporty car but unlike the Chevrolet Corvette, was never sold as a full-blown sports car. Ford named a new market segment by calling the Thunderbird a personal luxury car. In 1958, the Thunderbird gained a second row of seats. Succeeding generations became larger until the line was downsized in 1977, again in 1980, and once again in 1983. Sales were good until the 1990s, when large 2-door coupes became unpopular; production ceased after 1997. In 2002, a revived 2-seat model was launched, which was available through the end of the 2005 model year.

Used Ford Thunderbird

 Gallery
 Gallery
 Gallery
 Gallery
 Gallery
 Gallery
 Gallery

A smaller two-seater sports roadster was created at the behest of Henry Ford II in 1953 called the Vega. The completed one-off generated interest at the time, but had meager power, European looks, and a correspondingly high cost, so it never proceeded to production. The Thunderbird was similar in concept, but would be more American in style, more luxurious, and less sport-oriented.

Three men are generally credited with creating the original Thunderbird: Lewis D. Crusoe, a retired GM executive lured out of retirement by Henry Ford II; George Walker, chief stylist and a Ford vice-president; and Frank Hershey, a Ford designer. Crusoe and Walker met in France in October 1951. Walking in the Grand Palais in Paris, Crusoe pointed at a sports car and asked Walker, 'Why can’t we have something like that?' Some versions of the story claim that Walker replied by telling Crusoe, "oh, we're working on it"...although if anything existed at the time beyond casual dream-car sketches by members of the design staff, records of it have never come to light.

Walker promptly telephoned Ford's HQ in Dearborn and told designer Frank Hershey about the conversation with Crusoe. Hershey took the idea and began working on the vehicle. The concept was for a two-passenger open car, with a target weight of 2525lb (1145kg), an Interceptor V8 engine based on the forthcoming overhead-valve Ford V8 slated for 1954 model year introduction, and a top speed of over 100mph (160km/ h). Crusoe saw a painted clay model on May 18, 1953, which corresponded closely to the final car; he gave the car the go-ahead in September after comparing it with current European trends. After Henry Ford II returned from the Los Angeles Auto Show (Autorama) in 1953 he approved the final design concept to compete with the then new Corvette.

Unlike the Corvette, the Thunderbird was never a full-blown sporting vehicle; Ford's description was personal luxury car, and the company essentially created this market segment.



 » Read More About Ford Thunderbird

Ford Thunderbird Pictures by Years

2003
2003 ford thunderbird
1995
1995 ford thunderbird
1994
1994 ford thunderbird
1993
1993 ford thunderbird
1989
1989 ford thunderbird
1988
1988 ford thunderbird
1987
1987 ford thunderbird
Picture examples