THIRD GENERATION FORD THUNDERBIRD SERIES

The name was not among the thousands proposed, including rejected options such as Apache (the original name of the P-51 Mustang), Falcon (owned by Chrysler at the time), Eagle, Tropicale, Hawaiian, and Thunderbolt. 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. 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. The concept was for a two-passenger open car, with a target weight of 2525 lb (1145 kg), an Interceptor V8 engine based on the forthcoming overhead-valve Ford V8 slated for 1954 model year introduction, and a top speed of over 100 mph (160 km/h). Hershey took the idea and began working on the vehicle. Walker promptly telephoned Ford's HQ in Dearborn and told designer Frank Hershey about the conversation with Crusoe. 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. Crusoe and Walker met in France in October 1951. Hershey's participation in the creation of the Thunderbird was more administrative than artistic.

THIRD GENERATION FORD THUNDERBIRD SERIES

Boyer was lead stylist on the original 1955 two-seater Thunderbird and also had a hand in designing the future series of Thunderbirds including the 30th Anniversary Edition. Crusoe, a retired GM executive lured out of retirement by Henry Ford II George Walker, chief stylist and a Ford vice-president Frank Hershey, chief stylist for Ford Division Bill Boyer, designer Body Development Studio who became manager of Thunderbird Studio in spring of 1955, and Bill Burnett, chief engineer. The men and their teams generally credited with the creation of the original Thunderbird are: Lewis D. The Thunderbird was similar in concept, but would be more American in style, more luxurious, and less sport-oriented. 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. GenesisĪ smaller two-seater sports roadster was created at the behest of Henry Ford II in 1953 called the Vega.

As a result of this design, the trunks of convertible models were notorious for leaking. Unlike hardtop models that utilized a conventional key-secured, forward hinged design, the convertibles combined the trunk opening and closing within the convertible top operating system. Failure of any of the relays, motors or limit switches will prevent the convertible system from completing the cycle. While the hydraulics are not often a cause for trouble, the electrical relays are known to fail. The system consists of a spiderweb of solenoids, relays, limit switches, electric motors, a hydraulic pump/reservoir, hydraulic directional valves and cylinders. However, this design could present a challenge to one who is troubleshooting a convertible top malfunction. The overall appearance was a sleek look with no trace of a convertible top at all. With the top down and the trunk lid lowered, there is no sight of the soft top. The forward end of the trunk lid contained a metal plate that extended upward to cover the area that the top is stowed in.

The trunk lid was rear-hinged raised and lowered via hydraulic cylinders during the top raising or lowering cycle. This design reduced available trunk space when the top was down. While these Thunderbird models had a true convertible soft top, the top was lowered to stow in the forward trunk area. The Second to Fourth Generation Thunderbird convertibles were similar in design to the Lincoln convertible of the time and borrowed from earlier Ford hardtop/convertible designs. From its introduction in 1955 to its phaseout in 2005, Ford produced over 4.4 million Thunderbirds. In 2002 production of the Thunderbird started again, a revived 2-seat model was launched, which was available through the end of the 2005 model year. Sales were good until the 1990s, when large 2-door coupes became unpopular production ceased at the end of 1997. Succeeding generations became larger until the line was downsized in 1977, again in 1980, and once again in 1983. In 1958, the Thunderbird gained a second row of seats. Ford positioned the Thunderbird as an upscale model and is credited in developing a new market segment, the personal luxury car.

Unlike the Chevrolet Corvette, it was not marketed as a sports car. The Thunderbird entered production for the 1955 model year as a sporty two-seat convertible.

Third generation ford thunderbird