Ford’s response to the Corvette was a unique thing. A not-so-sporty premium two-seater with neat styling that didn’t take long to become an automotive icon; the Thunderbird. And once the four-seater arrived, the formula took off and the car’s fame only grew in the public’s eye. There was nothing quite like the Thunderbird, and the public knew it.
So the Thunderbird created quite a legacy, with a long-running dynasty that awakened desire among buyers of all types. So for today, a series of images featuring some of those owners and admirers during the nameplate’s first couple of decades.
Related CC reading:
More Vintage Snapshot Galleries Here
The four passenger Thunderbirds may have sold well but it clearly lost a significant element of exclusivity and uniqueness that the original had. One wonders how it might have evolved as America’s Mercedes SL.
Say you want a younger demographic. You put out a cool little car for singles. Then after a generation or two – you make it big enough so that that cool little car for singles, becomes a cool bigger car for young couples with kids.
Civic did it. Accord did this. The Japanese are pros at this. Ford did this with the Thunderbird.
I don’t know many people who today wonder why the Civic isn’t a little car anymore, or why the Accord isn’t a YUPPIE’s coupe anymore. Funny how the Thunderbird however, gets knocked.
Ford made young couples fall in love with the Thunderbird as a two seater. Then when those young couples get kids, they now can still have a Thunderbird.
The original Thunderbird was not targeted to younger people; it was too expensive for that. Pre-married younger people could not afford nice new cars, and once they were married, they needed a cheap but roomy family car. The original T-Bird, the original “personal car”, was clearly targeted to those affluent to afford two cars or in the post-kids era. And no, 4-seater T-Birds were not being sold to young families to haul their kids. Either to two-car households or those without kids.
Your examples of the Civc and Accord don’t hold up; they were legitimate 4-seaters at the time. They just got larger along with everything else.
it’s not about size; it’s being a two-seater that inherently makes it exclusive.
There was a constant outcry from original T-Bird owners about a 2-seat replacement, and Ford came close to doing it. But they were also inherently sales-constricted, so it wasn’t worth it to Ford.
The thing about targeting is that not all of the intended audience need to be able to afford it right then and there.
So the young guy can’t afford the hot new T-bird in 1957; by ’63, when he’s moved a few steps up in the company he can, and now, he can take his kids along, too.
I understand that. I get why Ford made the decision; it obviously increased the potential market. But in my opinion, it made the Thunderbird somewhat less exclusive.
We only have to see how the Mercedes SL became the hot status symbol for several decades. It clearly picked up on the same demographics that the two-seat Bird had.
White T-Bird in front of the Tropicana:
The bill board in the background has “Jayne M…”. Initially it looks like a “K”, but once you blow up the photo, the last name starts with an “M”.
I’m pitching my two cents in for Jayne Mansfield. I understand she did stand up acts and such to keep herself in the limelight between movies. IIRC, she lived in LA during this time and eventually painted her house pink.
That’s definitively for Jayne Mansfield. Yes, she did lots of night clubs during this time:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/curbside-classic-1967-buick-electra-225-convertible-the-jayne-mansfield-of-cars/
The last pic is interesting in that we can see a glimpse of a square bird with a woman sitting on its RF fender too. With 1st street on the sign behind them are they preparing for a parade, which likely would be down Main st?
The second from the last is interesting in that they appear to have put some thin plastic over the seats. Maybe it is brand new and they are trying to keep it nice until it goes in for the clear diamond embossed vinyl seat covers that were popular at one time.
I also like is the one in front of the house that is under construction.
Second to last photo:
Looks like the lady to the left is dressed up with gloves and strap top outfit. Certainly not a high school prom dress.
More like an adult dinner or night club outfit.
Yep, agree with you on the plastic bags on the seats. My dad was contemplating putting those diamond embossed covers on the seats of his ‘64 Chevy wagon, but Mom told him no since the car did not have A/C
This story reminds me of when I was a teen and the 1961 Tbird came out. A bald, middle-aged business owner nearby bought a 61 Bird convertible, bright yellow with red leather interior. Weather permitting, he always had the top down. What a sight to see him zoom down the street!
Is that an English car at the curb in photo 6 ? Doesn’t seem to be anything common. A Riley , MG , or Armstrong Siddely ?
MG Magnette Saloon… my brother had one in CA.
I think it’s an MG Magnette, like the one below. I like that photo – the guy’s expression and the background combine to make that my favorite photo in the bunch.
My third grade teacher had one of those MG Magnettes – I recognized it right away. Bought by her late husband from Stanley H. (Wacky) Arnolt, Warsaw, Indiana, creator of the Arnolt-Bristol sports car and auto importer in our area during that era.
I do not respond with every post, but can not hold back. I am a T-Bird fan and will explain why.
It was 1957, I was age six. Dad & Mom were driving matching turquoise & white 1955 Olds (his a ’98’ two door hardtop & hers a Starfire convertible0. Family had just moved into a new California home, overlooking a canyon, of course house was white with turquoise trim. To our left was divorced lady, Penny. Penny had a new pink 1957 T-Bird. and occasionally she drove me to school. Penny was really hot looking with her red hair. Next door to the right was another attractive lady who drove a 1957 Cadillac. I don’t remember her name but she was teaching me how to play the piano.
Turned out Dad was having sex with both these ladies. My parents divorced and it became public when three new cliffside homes went on sale at the same time. Press made much about three new homes sliding down the canyon and then homes were on sale due to divorce’s. Very public.
Come 1960, Mom and kids moved to San Francisco, Air Force Dad moved to Germany. Mom traded her 1955 Starfire conv. for a new 1960 T-Bird convertible, white with turquoise interior. Think the only reason Mom bought a T-Bird was because she was still pissed off with Penny and her pink 1957 Bird.
Fast forward, my parents remarried each other and stayed married to the end for decades. When parents remarried, Dad bought Mom a new 1963 Bird, and later a 1966 Bird. As a new driver back in the day both the 63 and 66 were my first autos given to me.
Your Dad must have been quite the ladies man back then!
This could be the comment of the week
I love the satisfied look on the owner’s faces .
-Nate
+1. They’re feeling like a million bucks!
Jim Wright in the September 62 Motor Trend explained in well:
“In spite of what we consider to be faults, we wouldn’t have the T-Bird any other way – it’s the only car around that can make even the lowest peon (like a road tester) look like a million bucks behind its steering wheel.”
Nice bunch of Birds. I have a 66 with the 390. I really like the 68 4drs with the Big Engines, those Run Real Well, and Handle Great for a biggo car..
And a T Bird with an Airstream, Great!
“Squarebird” was based on the new and heavy unit body Lincoln, so it was rugged enough for towing duty.
My two older sisters…. I didn’t come along until’62…moms t-bird was just a memory
Do people still pose in front of their cars ? – they all look in awe of the style that detroit has given them …
RIP Tropicana:
– Opened 4/4/1957 as the most expensive resort on the Strip
– Closed 4/2/2024 to make way for the A’s new baseball stadium, to be imploded in the near future
Looks like this was taken within the first year the Tropicana was open, with a new-looking SquareBird and a ’58 Lincoln convertible in the background. It would be interesting to find other shots of “high roller” cars there over the last 67 years.
I love the shot of the lady with her beige 61 Bird in front of the new house that is nearing completion. That was the look of upper-middle-class success in 1961!
I also love the pair of 1967 models – the loaded Country Squire next to the Thunderbird.
The Thunderbird established itself as a glamour car. The image remained through all the changes over the years. The “downsized, down market” ’77’s sold like hot cakes. Even though they needed to be heavily optioned to match the fancy Birds of the ’60’s and ’70’s. I know that a lot of people dislike this type of car, and can’t understand why anyone would go gaga over them. I won’t try to change anyone’s mind, but for some of us, these are a little slice of heaven!
Dad drove a 1990’s version. It was a big two door coupe, obsolete concept at the time, but perfect for an older man. It did drive well, not a poor handling “boat” with the IRS.
I’m a Ford man. Have been ever since my oldest brother bought a new 1966 Ford Mustang. Up until then, my family only drove Chryslers. I have nothing against Chrysler, in fact I really like them. But that Mustang had really cool looks, it was black with black vinyl interior and a 289 4 barrel under hood and a 4 speed manual transmission with a really cool chrome shifter on the floor. The interior was made with high quality materials and you could tell. I always liked Thunderbirds, they were great looking, and with each year they become more luxurious and held an upscale reputation. Back in the 60s, Americans believed that the US Big Three were building the best cars on the planet. No one cared about gas mileage at the time, they didn’t have to. Through the 60s, the Thunderbird was special car that the wealthy folks owned. Living in Southern California, we had a lot of wealthy people around. From celebrities to CPAs you could see the money every where, I liked the way people regarded the Thunderbird. I was too young to drive but I liked them too and we all gave them upscale status, I wish it was still that way. I like every generation. Each generation has something new to like, and yet they had enough of the prior generation to keep the Thunderbird thing alive. By the end of the 60s the Thunderbirds got much bigger, they shared the Lincoln Mark III platform, and continued to through 1976. I even like those big luxurious Thunderbirds. I would own a 74 through 76 in a heartbeat. But after 1977 they started getting smaller. We all loved the 1984 aero birds, The late 80s and all through the 90s the Thunderbirds were great looking cars, and they are still very well liked, go price a used one, they are still holding their value. I think that’s the highest form of complement a car can receive. The Thunderbird, the Mustang, the Lincoln Marks are all great cars, that today all hold collectable status, and they are all a tribute to the Ford Motor Company. From Henry Ford’s first Model Ts to today’s collectables, the Ford Motor Company is America’s favorite auto manufacturer. All the cars listed above, plus the Explorer and the famous F-series trucks we have our love affairs with more Fords than any other manufacturers. Yes, there are those that love their GM brands, but nothing like a Ford, and every generation of the Thunderbirds leads the way. I’m 69 years old and, I have only ever owned Ford Motor Company vehicles. Today I own my second Explorer, a 2008 4 door XLT. It’s my first car that isn’t a V8, and other than the sound, I love it. Nothing else sounds like a Ford V8. I love them all, from the famous 289, to the mighty 460, I’ve had and loved them all.
When I was 7, one of my uncles bought a new ‘56 Raven black Thunderbird with Kelsey Hayes wheels. Once in a while he’d stop by and take me for a ride. I promised myself that one day I’d own a Thunderbird. I do, a Rangoon red / palomino white ‘65 landau. It has a 390.
Just about any year of T-Bird is terrific but I’m not much of a fan of the 80’s & 90’s versions.
Thank you for posting these pictures.
I’ve owned a red & white ’57 for almost nine years. Listed for $3191 new. I still enjoy having my picture taken with her. Her name is Destiny BTW. Other folks at car shows and such enjoy being photographed with her as well. She gets a lot of love.