(First published 1/8/2014) I was going through my photo stream and found pictures I took of this Ford Thunderbird four-door early last spring. I completely forgot I took these, but remember the car vividly. In fact, I’ve seen this exact car several times in my neck of the woods, most recently last August at a nearby mechanic’s garage. From the grille, I instantly recognized this formal-looking T-Bird as a 1967, the first year of both the model’s fifth generation and the sedan body style.
Ford had been gradually moving the Thunderbird upmarket since its 1955 introduction, and the 1967 continued the trend. Restyled with even more formal looks, the ’67 T-Bird could have easily been sold as a Lincoln. Switching to body-on-frame construction, it was larger, more comfortable, and more luxurious than prior versions.
From a styling standpoint, these ’67s introduced many features that would become increasingly popular during both the “Great Brougham Epoch” and the late ’60s/early ’70s in general. These included hidden headlights, curved lines, convex body sides, a “formal” roof line with landau roof, tufted seats, and vast amounts of interior wood grain trim.
The most radical change for 1967 however, was that for the first time, the Thunderbird was available as a four-door sedan. In a further nod to Ford’s upmarket ambitions, rear hinged “suicide doors,” similar to those on the Lincoln Continental, prominently featured. All sedans came standard with the vinyl roof and landau bars, resulting in the model’s official name of “Landau Sedan”. The Thunderbird’s traditional convertible model was concurrently dropped with the introduction of the sedan.
(1968 model)
With numerous standard features and luxury options, the 1967 Thunderbird was the most expensive vehicle in Ford’s lineup. In fact, its prices were higher than that of any Ford or Mercury vehicle, and the Landau Sedan was priced within $730 (about $5,000 adjusted for inflation) of the least expensive Lincoln Continental.
1967s were powered by a standard 390 cubic inch (6.4L) V8, or an available 428 cu in (7.0L) V8, making 315 and 345 horsepower, respectively. The car I found was equipped with bucket seats, covered in genuine leather hide – a T-Bird exclusive in the Ford lineup (’68 interior pictured directly above). Among the more interesting features was the “Convenience Control Panel”. Located between the two front visors, the CCP comprised of four circular warning lights for seat belt reminder, door-ajar, low-fuel, and emergency blinker light use. Speed-activated power door looks, a safety feature common on many of today’s vehicles, were also new for 1967.
On a personal note, I happen to really appreciate this feature on my current car. When I was about 5, my cousin accidentally opened the rear door as we were going around a highway off ramp at significant speed. It was on the outboard side of the vehicle going around the turn, causing it to swing open fully. I was rather traumatized by the experience, and needless to say, I like all doors locked when I drive.
While it was certainly a departure from the model’s initial concept, and condemned by many loyalists, I happen to really like these four-door T-Birds. The two-door ’67s didn’t wear the styling as well, with the formal roof line appearing too tall, and the sedan did a better job accentuating the car’s seductive curves. The four-door also did a better job of hiding the landau roof’s choppiness.
The four-door T-bird was dropped after a few years after slow sales, but was, in reality, was ahead of its time. While two-door coupes would remain popular, the early ’80s would see four-door sedans increasingly accounting for the bulk of luxury car sales. This trend would continue, eventually leading to the extinction of the “personal luxury car” segment which the Thunderbird largely created.
’71 Landau.
I’ve always liked 1967-69 4 door version over the 2 door version. The two door is nice, but I find the four door more attractive.
+1
I guess I’m that fat balding guy with the open collar shirt the Cuban link silver chain (I don’t like gold)around my neck and drenched in Dolce&Cabana Light Blue driving that custom dark grey 4 door 68 Thunderbird with the cowl hood 67 GT 500 rear lights front and rear spoilers front Recaro bucket power leather seats Ultra 454 rims wrapped in Perreli P zeros so it can handle the 635 HP when I pop the clutch of it’s 6 speed transmission you’ll know it’s me because all you’ll see is the phrase “You’ve Been Thunder Struck” on either the right or left of the quarter panels!!!! LMAO ? But I really enjoyed reading all the opinions!
These were quite the polarizing cars right from introduction, Square-Bird, Bullet-Bird and Flair-Bird had established a design language that was expected to continue. This series was a nearly total departure and shock for a segment that prized continuity.
Lamenting the demise of the Thunderbird convertible and grousing about the Landau Sedan as replacement was common. The rear-hinged doors, necessary for entry-egress, did assuage some of the unhappiness being associated the Lincoln Continental.
In planning the Thunderbird four door to fill out Wixom plant capacity, there was an additional car being developed to utilized the 117″ wheelbase chassis: Continental Mark III. It also shares the coupe substructure with the Thunderbird, albeit reskinned to that unique Mark Continental styling. Considering how much was shared and what little required new tooling, the Mark III had to be a cash cow non-pareil that made even the Thunderbird pale by comparison. Iacocca strikes again!
I hear what the folks lamenting the direction the T-Bird took in 1967 are saying.
To me the pre-67 T-Birds personify (for lack of a better word) the gestalt of their eras. The pre-Bullet Birds say Rock-n-Roll, bobby socks and poodle skirts. The Bullet Birds and the Flare Birds say Space Age.
Maybe the problem with the 1967’s is not the cars. Maybe the problem is that the promise of the 1950’s and early 1960’s devolved into the confusion of the later 1960’s, and the T-birds continued to mirror that…
Part of the issue the Thunderbird is it wasn’t the golden child in the Ford family anymore. The Mustang, while a damn sight cheaper and less luxurious was as exciting and recognizable as the Thunderbird, and the same year LM dealers got the Cougar, a Mustang with all the Thunderbird gimmicks. Once the Lincoln Mark III debuted it was game over for the Tbird. So I don’t know if it mirrored the confusion of the times so much as it was just confused about its purpose in life.
Yes, demographics had changed drastically since 1958 when the Thunderbird aura really got going. In 1967 the people who had loved the 58 were a decade older. The car either had to change to stay relevant to a new cohort in a fixed age range, or it had to keep serving the same folks who were getting older. By 1967 it was hard to do both as those two age groups had increasingly divergent tastes. And, as you note, the younger group had the Mustang.
According to people who worked at Ford during that era, the rationale behind the 1967 Thunderbird was that the buyers who were looking for something with a touch of sportiness could buy a Mustang. The Thunderbird could therefore abandon any pretenses of sport and pursue people interested in luxury and comfort.
The problem, as others have noted, was that in mid-1968 the Lincoln Continental Mark III debuted. It was an immediate hit. There was no confusion about its role, or its place in the Ford Motor Company pecking order.
As a kid at the time, I remember thinking that these Thunderbirds were interesting, but the Mark III seemed very unique and prestigious – even more so than a Cadillac Eldorado.
I think the 1967 4dr T-Bird made perfect marketing sense at the time, it was in search of sales when convertible sales were drying up,. The 4dr Bird was successful for the first couple years. What I think is a shame is that Ford followed GM’s 1966 personal luxury trend by making bench seats standard starting with the 1968 T-Birds.
I like the ’67-’71 suicide door Birds (especially with console & bucket seats), “it’s unique in all the world”.
In 1980, I owned a ’67 Thunderbird almost exactly like the one in the photos, except mine was dark green (Ivy Green metallic) with a black interior. It also had the same steering wheel, AM/FM radio, rolling door locks, but no A/C. I absolutely loved the four door when I first saw them brand new in the fall of 1966, and eventually just had to own one. The eventual purchase of a house forced me to sell it, but someday, I will own another one!!
I owned a ’68 for 20 years. I preferred the ’67 interior with the center console for looks, but not having the center console was definitely better for making right hand turns when on a date with that special gal.
A bright black car with a tasteful amount of trim (like on the featured Bird) enhances its looks and is truly hard to beat.
Today’s “mono-chromatic color” cars that look like they’ve been totally dipped in a vat of, say, flat black (excuse me, matte black) or even shiny black, make them look blase…and alike. If the shiny ones only had some well placed bright they could look really good. But that’s a discussion for a different day.
IMO: The creation of the ’65 Ford LTD (2 or 4 door) made these Thunderbirds superfluous.
The only saving grace on the 4 door ‘Blunderbirds’ was the panty cloth interior, if so equipped.
I still think T-Birds should be two doors only.
I’m not sure, but since this car has Mass plates, was it spotted somewhere near Newburyport?
My Dad had one of these in the mid-late 80s that he sold to my Uncle who lived near Newburyport in 1987.
Might be the same car. I don’t recall if it had bucket seats or not, but was a black landau.
After seeing this 1967 Thunderbird in all white exterior, I plan on having my black vinyl top painted white to match the white exterior color. Maybe even installing the real wire wheels. Gorgeous car! Now that the 1967 Thunderbirds are almost all gone due to not being collectible for ever – the ones that are in perfect condition are sure beginning to look sharp – although I have always loved them. BTW, they are only 1.5″ longer than the 1966 models, but about 300 lbs lighter! So, they are not much larger, as is always stated.
The T Bird was ahead of its time: Speed activated auto doorlocks, tilt/ telly steering wheel, low fuel gauge light yada yada. It was not a poor mans car but they were beautiful cars. My favorite was the forest green with tan leather. The 65/66 T Birds also had the coolest tail-lights of all time. 5 decades before the popular LED lights it was already done by T Bird.