If you are a Thunderbird fan. Check out the Thunderbird Playlist. We have video for every year Thunderbird ever produced. Click the link for the playlist here ---- > ruclips.net/p/PLz2M3b_orpr2eZoFKtONmqB3B3k1UAAkq
The 64-66 Thunderbird is actually one of my favorites, second only to the 57 model. It’s a car that in my opinion looks like it’s moving even when it’s sitting still. And the attention to detail and that experimental styling just sets it apart from anything else on the road at that time.
My dream Thunderbird has always been the 77-79s. I was a small child at the time and remember women driving them around, which cemented the "personal luxury" image in my mind that Ford was going for with it. I do have a soft spot for the 66 Thunderbird however. Not because I've particularly loved it so much, but because a short while after my mother passed, she showed up in a dream I had in a white Thunderbird convertible.
The '65 was more than a carry over of the '64. The '64 has the '63 steering components and a generator. For '65, the front underpinnings were changed, they went to the alternator and that was the first year for the famous Ford keys that could be used right side up or upside down. Not sure, but front disc brakes might have been new for '65 also. Back in the day, I had a rusty '65 that i rebodied with a '64. I learned the hard way about those changes. As a Ford enthusiast, I enjoy your videos.
You're right about the front disc brakes being new in '65, My dad had a '64, red with the white landau roof, and it was drums all around. I liked the taillights on the '64 the most, but love the sequential turn signals of the '65 & '66. There was something about the 2,3 & 4th generation T-birds that died with the 5th generation. With the 5th generation , it really evolved into just another luxury cruiser, getting worse with each new iteration through the 70s/early 80s, while the earlier generations were statement makers.
I really enjoyed this watching this video tonight! I was a boy during the third , fourth & fifth generation of T-Birds. My parents also owned one from each of those generations. This video brought me down a happy memory lane! Thank you for posting! Greg in California
Love those generations. A 1965 or 1966 convertible would be my favorite choice with the front disc brakes. The only Thunderbird I ever owned was a 1984 Turbocoupe bought new. Hope someday Ford offers a Thunderbird again, but better not be a crossover or SUV. You put a lot of effort into these videos and its most appreciated.
I like the third and fourth generation. The sequential turn signals along with the chrome wrap around bumper was really sexy. I also liked the curved rear seat.
LOVE these cars! I always felt they were, as the ad people said, "Unique in all the world!" 1964 was my favorite year (the red convertible in the video is magnificent) and I eventually was able to get 2 1966 Thunderbirds, a gold Town Landau and a convertible in the same color combination as the one in your video. I agree with your statement. They are all about style.
I absolutely loved the 67 Birds. The new body styles were keeping up with the times. So much class in one vehicle. I think the past Birds were beautiful as well. But the 1967, 68, 69s were pure luxury on 4 wheels.
Great review. I'm 70 and remember my parents' 1965 T- bird that I drove when I was 16 in 1970. It had great acceleration and I loved the A/C system, the dash display and the turn signal indicators on the front bumper. It got about 15 mpg and you could practically see the fuel indicator go down on every small trip you took just to go to the grocery store. I remember the muffler and tailpipe needed to be replaced every so often because of degradation due to leaded gas and moisture retention I was told. Also the mechanical clock only worked for a few months before breaking. (The joke at the time was we can put a man on the moon but can't make a car clock work.) I remember as well that the windshield washer fluid bag was made of rubber and degraded over time and caused leaks. Just with all things, manufacturing gets better as time goes on.
My folks had a new 1958 in red with red/white interior. It was a fantastic car. As a 6-year-old in 62, I did not like that the landau trend was starting and never liked the landau packages on thunderbirds until 67, 8, 9. I feel '66 is the most sophisticated of all thunderbirds. I've also fallen in love with the four doors as a mature person. I thought it was sacrilege as a teenager.
I'm not a fan of the Landau myself. I do not like the S shaped trim. It was made as a tribute to horse drawn carriage handles. I don't know how many people back then remember riding in a horse drawn carriage. I'm still not in love with four doors. However I have been told I still act like a teenager so might be the issue. Thanks for watching!
On my mom's 50th birthday, she went to the Ford Dealership and bought a 1986 T-bird (5.0L) that was on the showroom floor. She loved that car because 1.) it was sleek and stylish. 2.) It symbolized independence and freedom, not having to have approval from anyone. She loved it and her (2nd) husband hated it for those very same reasons. 😎 I still see that car being driven around, from time to time.
Was not a big fan Tony till i got older! Always have to stop and look at them now if i see one. But pretty much feel the same way you do. Good stuff man! Thx!👍
Back in 1967, when I was 13, my girlfriend's brother bought a '59 Bird. Didn't like the Squarebird styling too much, but was impressed with that luxury interior and it's ride. Big brother was about 6'4" and the top of his head was just an inch from the headliner, so he didn't take it down bumpy roads. Really loved the Bulletbirds (1961 thru 1963) tho.
I own a 55 TBird and love it. It is beautiful. The 61-63 are even more beautiful, especially the convertibles. Edit: I wanted to add in something written a book I have about Thunderbirds, they explained why the body style changed every three years. That's because at that time people purchased a new car every three years on the average and Ford wanted them to have a new body style. Thanks for posting these for us. Very enjoyable. Especially enjoyed the old footage.
Thank you for watching! I was born in 65 and it kind of shocked me how Ford changed something almost each and every year on these cars some changes were more drastic than others but there seemed be subtle differences. I guess they felt it would give people a reason to buy a new car.
@@TonysFordsandMustangs Our neighbors got a new car every year, but they liked Chevrolets. The best two were the 1965 Impala SS 396 and then the 1966 Impala SS with a 427 and a 4 speed. Then the 67 which wasn't very good looking. Thanks for the reply.
I was born into Ford life Dad started working for Ford at seventeen my second car was a convertible Tbird with the roadster option in 1974 I had all the great Ford's 😊
I've always loved the air of class and sophistication that the Thunderbird has. They're definitely the kind of car that you'd drive to some fancy gala.
Loved the video as always, Tony! I appreciate something about almost every generation of Thunderbird. My Mom had a white ‘66 that she and my Dad were restoring while I was in high school. The most unattractive thing about this thing, unfortunately, was the nameplate, which looked like it had been written by a reluctant fifth-grader who was being taught cursive. Other than that, the car rocked!!
I really like the 2nd, 3rd and 4th gen T-Birds. Within each set, I do have my favorites. The '59 was a nice refinement of the '58, mainly with the simple horizonal bars within the front grill and the look continuing with the taillight background. The '60 was garish from the front, and the triple taillights were a bit much. Ideally, the '61 would have been better for '60 (like the rest of Ford's '60 lineup) but it wasn't. Love the '61, and the '62 slightly more per the sexy roadster. The '63 really nice also for the 3rd year. With the '64 I see a clever fusion of the 2nd and 3rd, yet completely new and unique. The cove rear seats were gorgeous. The '65 had the sexy sequential rear taillights and a gently refreshed front end. The '66 not as much, but the landau coupe previewed the 5th gen. I'll just say I really love the '67 and '68 a lot, meaning the regular 2-door. It would have made an amazing convertible had Ford decided to continue it, but that sporty option was now just for Mustang.
The '55 to '57 T-Birds were iconic, but once Ford added the back seat in '58 it did raise sales. 2 or 4 seat, the T-Birds were always nicely styled cars.
I do like these 2nd gens, but I’m looking forward to the 67’s. I did own a couple of them. A 2 door and a 4 door. Sadly, I was young and didn’t have the money to get them on the road. One of the biggest regrets of my youth.
I've always thought the (3rd gen) Bullet Birds were the nicest looking Thunderbirds ever made. Of course, everyone has their own taste and that is a very good thing.
I’m not a big fan of 1st gen birds, but I love the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. The convertible versions are among the most beautiful cars ever made. It really is a shame Ford didn’t build a convertible 5th gen. There is probably a custom job out there somewhere. Great video.
Of these generations, I liked the 61-66 from a styling standpoint. I agree that the interior styling was amazing, particularly the 66 model year, "The Thelma and Louise" bird.
Did you forget the 1960 sunroof option, very rare but I did get to see one at the 2024 Detroit Autorama. The car was pretty much an original car. I do enjoy your videos. All of us forget something Jim E
Hi Jim, Thanks for watching the video and for the kind words. I will miss something in just about every video or make a mistake here or there. I enjoy making these videos as it keeps me busy. People like you enjoying the videos keeps me going.
A buddy of mine had a 66 & another had the 57 & I got to spend a little time in them & liked them fine but neither really gave me that "I'd like to have one of these" feelings but I loved the big Fords & of course got to own a few different T-Birds but those comments will be for the next generation video. 🇺🇸
If I had to pick a favorite between those 3 in styling, I'd pick the second gen. It's much more elegant, royal, and classy than the third and fourth gens, which have a more economical, elderly exterior, other than the 1962 Sports Roadster. The fifth gen I like much more than the second, third, and fourth. It had the perfect styling to make it a cross between personal luxury and muscular and attract a wide variety of buyers.
Well, the "Bulletbird" looks better than 2nd and 4th gen Fords. And as much as I find some design cues questionable 60's Thundebirds look much better tnan 70's ones (especially 1973 to 1979 models).
When I was a kid our neighbors had one of the second generation Thunderbirds, and I could probably count on one hand the number of times that I saw them actually drive it. Boy, I wonder whatever happened to that low mileage beauty?
My 1966 Thunderbird is a Survivor. Recently being careful I've cruised around in the car. Someone pulled out in front of me. Then slammed on the brakes just in time.
I like the first generation styling but really tight inside. The second generation styling was very blocky; reminds me of the concurrent Lincolns, which is not a complement. The third generation bullet birds were much sleeker. Fourth generation was again over-styled; similar but much better on the Mustang. The fourth generation rear seat is very nice, though, and the tail-lights are nice, especially when they got the sequential feature. The fifth generation has an interesting front end, at least until they got the Knudsen "beak", but these cars wallowed, losing any pretense of sportiness. I'd like to forget everything after that until the "aero" birds of the 1980s.
the 1965 thunderbird is simply the most perfecly stylized car ever ...i wish they would bring it back today with improved mechancal features of today such as much improved entertainment systems much better brakes and suspension and smaller more powerful engines than you would have the perfect car
probably liked the 58-60 the best, though I really liked the 61-63 and 64-66 as well, my family had 7 from 59-67, I had 3. 55-57 were too common for me I suppose.
I love the small canted finned ‘57 Tbird, the last of the first generation. My favorite of the gen 2 is the 1960 with its 6 rear lights. I have a soft spot for the third gen, as I briefly owned a missile looking 1961, while in high school in the mid 70s,and quickly proceeded to run it into the ground. The 4 generation looked like Ford’s updated retake on the 2nd generation. My favorite of this generation is the 1965, with the introduction of sequential taillight turn signals. The cockpits in this generation are gorgeous. I don’t really care for the suceeding generations, as they dropped the sporty image and started to become bloated luxury barges. When they were scaled back, they were just another bland malaise era car which happened to be badged Tbird. The 11th generation could have been a winner. Exterior wise, they somewhat capture the image of early birds. But what a chintzy half baked cheapo looking dashboard. It would have more appealing if manual transmission had been offered, as well. It’s easy to wonder if Ford will once again resurrect the T Bird name again, and do the name justice next go around?
McNamara could have kept making 2-seaters alongside larger T-Birds and pleased everyone! Maybe factory space was limited, especially since planning had to precede the '57 recession.
A mixed bag. The 55-57 Thunderbirds were pretty pure in their conception and those ones with the Paxton superchargers were really cool. An iconic look, but not my favorite. The 58-60 were hit or miss. With beautiful Kelsey-Hayes wheels and a moonroof, could be a striking car. But the 1960-1963 were the most beautiful of the years featured here. Clean lines, the Sports Roadster with those Kelsey-Hayes wheels and tonneau cover was stunning . One of my favorite Fords ever is the 1963 Sports Roadster. The perfect amount of curves in the body with more squared off front wheel housing. And then those 64-66 like the Thunderbird got flabby and ponderous again. No use for those. No use for 67-82 years with the decent into malaise, and total luxury and not one iota of sport. That’s a long time. 1983 was finally the return of the balance of luxury AND sport that made Thunderbirds such cool cars. But that’s another story for another time.
@@TonysFordsandMustangs Thanks! I’ll check it out. My uncle had both a Thunderbird and Cougar from that generation. Both were attractive vehicles. Both had the 3.8.
These classic T-bird are masterpieces (1958 model no) but was intressant also the 1977 1979 model togheter at the sister Mercury Cougar Xr7 and the monumental Lincoln Continental coupe MK V
IMO, what killed the original Bird was the Mustang on the low end and the Galaxy 500 on the high end during the '60s. The Bird should have gone back to a 2 seater or canceled after '71..
Those generations represent what in french we would call "embourgeoisement" of the vehicle. While 1st gen was a small sport car, it became progressively a luxurious and heavy 2-doors sedan. The car gets more and more comfort but lose everything that made it a sport car.
If I had to choose only between the 1st 2nd 3rd or 4th generation I'd go with the 3rd (bullet birds). The perfect "bird" for me would be a '61-'63 with the interior from the '64-'66 that had those beautiful curved rear seats. The 2nd generation was "ok" with the '60 being the best of the three years because of the three taillights instead of two. The first generation was just too damn cramped inside for anyone that's tall or with a "wide girth!"
The 58' is, compared to the 1st gen, well, rather grotesque. BUT, it grows on you. The interiors were just breathtaking in all of them. How Ford consistently got that "bird-like" beak in each generation is impressive. What happened in 1967? Too many drugs! Thunderbird symbolized SPORTY, grand touring personal luxury. The 1967 forgot the sporty altogether and wound up looking like a dressed up tart (and I don't mean the pastry kind)! Instead, Ford should have re-introduced the "Capri" (with convertible) as a Lincoln and given us a real Thunderbird for 67' (with a convertible both based on the Torino/Cyclone platform!.
4th Gen will always be my favorite. The interiors in the 4th gen could possibly be the most beautiful interior of all time. I’m not a Ford guy. And I’m not really a classic car guy but Ford knocked it out of the park, over the wall and onto the roof of the house a block away from the ballpark with that car. The 1st gen has always been “meh”… the 2nd gen was too bloated. 3rd and 4th were their best efforts.
I've always been in love with every single Thunderbird generation from 1955, up through 1972. Each of those generations got larger and more luxurious, but Thunderbirds are just extraordinary, special automobiles. Though they grew into luxury personal cars, which was the original intent. Adding a rear seat sure didn't hurt none. I thought the styling after 1972 was getting way too "Fordish" looking. It was downhill from there in my opinion. The "LTD" nose on the 1973 through 1976 was just awful. The down-sized 1977s through 1979 were just Ford Torinos with a different nose and tail. Forget the ugly Fairmont birds and uglier aerobirds. The 2000 come-back 'bird was just hideous and looked like a stretched VW beetle. A VW designer designed it, too.
'58-60 styling does look heavy. An ad narrator spoke of "clean" styling, it shocked me. More proof: sleek '57 big Ford front ʻbulked up' for '58 to copy T-Bird, creating visual imbalance and worse racing record.
If you are a Thunderbird fan. Check out the Thunderbird Playlist. We have video for every year Thunderbird ever produced.
Click the link for the playlist here ---- > ruclips.net/p/PLz2M3b_orpr2eZoFKtONmqB3B3k1UAAkq
The 64-66 Thunderbird is actually one of my favorites, second only to the 57 model. It’s a car that in my opinion looks like it’s moving even when it’s sitting still. And the attention to detail and that experimental styling just sets it apart from anything else on the road at that time.
My first car was a 1963 T-Bird and I loved the car. I wasn't keen on the 2 Gen, but loved the rest up through 1969. Well done Tony.
Thank you for your comment and for watching!
My dream Thunderbird has always been the 77-79s. I was a small child at the time and remember women driving them around, which cemented the "personal luxury" image in my mind that Ford was going for with it.
I do have a soft spot for the 66 Thunderbird however. Not because I've particularly loved it so much, but because a short while after my mother passed, she showed up in a dream I had in a white Thunderbird convertible.
66 T-bird is the most beautiful Bird ever made.
yes, in your opinion
The '65 was more than a carry over of the '64. The '64 has the '63 steering components and a generator. For '65, the front underpinnings were changed, they went to the alternator and that was the first year for the famous Ford keys that could be used right side up or upside down. Not sure, but front disc brakes might have been new for '65 also. Back in the day, I had a rusty '65 that i rebodied with a '64. I learned the hard way about those changes. As a Ford enthusiast, I enjoy your videos.
Thank you for the information and thanks for watching the channel!
You're right about the front disc brakes being new in '65, My dad had a '64, red with the white landau roof, and it was drums all around. I liked the taillights on the '64 the most, but love the sequential turn signals of the '65 & '66. There was something about the 2,3 & 4th generation T-birds that died with the 5th generation. With the 5th generation , it really evolved into just another luxury cruiser, getting worse with each new iteration through the 70s/early 80s, while the earlier generations were statement makers.
I really enjoyed this watching this video tonight! I was a boy during the third , fourth & fifth generation of T-Birds. My parents also owned one from each of those generations.
This video brought me down a happy memory lane! Thank you for posting! Greg in California
Thank you for watching Greg! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Just bought a 65 a month ago that I will start restoring this winter. While I like the 4th Gen, nothing beats the 3rd Gen Roadster!
That's awesome! Best of luck with the restoration!
@@leescales5216 have a 65 special landau with all the bells and whistles and damn pretty
My buddy Rick (RIP) had a 64 as his daily driver and would drive it to the car shows. Beautiful car.
Love those generations. A 1965 or 1966 convertible would be my favorite choice with the front disc brakes. The only Thunderbird I ever owned was a 1984 Turbocoupe bought new. Hope someday Ford offers a Thunderbird again, but better not be a crossover or SUV. You put a lot of effort into these videos and its most appreciated.
Thank you for watching and for your comment!
I like the third and fourth generation. The sequential turn signals along with the chrome wrap around bumper was really sexy. I also liked the curved rear seat.
LOVE these cars! I always felt they were, as the ad people said, "Unique in all the world!" 1964 was my favorite year (the red convertible in the video is magnificent) and I eventually was able to get 2 1966 Thunderbirds, a gold Town Landau and a convertible in the same color combination as the one in your video. I agree with your statement. They are all about style.
Couldn't agree more!
The best series of videos ever on the Thunderbird. Looking forward to your next one on the 6th generation 1972-1976. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the kind words and for watching!
I absolutely loved the 67 Birds. The new body styles were keeping up with the times. So much class in one vehicle. I think the past Birds were beautiful as well. But the 1967, 68, 69s were pure luxury on 4 wheels.
Thank you for watching and for sharing your thoughts. It is appreciated
Great review. I'm 70 and remember my parents' 1965 T- bird that I drove when I was 16 in 1970. It had great acceleration and I loved the A/C system, the dash display and the turn signal indicators on the front bumper. It got about 15 mpg and you could practically see the fuel indicator go down on every small trip you took just to go to the grocery store. I remember the muffler and tailpipe needed to be replaced every so often because of degradation due to leaded gas and moisture retention I was told. Also the mechanical clock only worked for a few months before breaking. (The joke at the time was we can put a man on the moon but can't make a car clock work.) I remember as well that the windshield washer fluid bag was made of rubber and degraded over time and caused leaks. Just with all things, manufacturing gets better as time goes on.
Thanks for sharing your experience. It is appreciated.
1:05
My folks had a new 1958 in red with red/white interior. It was a fantastic car. As a 6-year-old in 62, I did not like that the landau trend was starting and never liked the landau packages on thunderbirds until 67, 8, 9. I feel '66 is the most sophisticated of all thunderbirds. I've also fallen in love with the four doors as a mature person. I thought it was sacrilege as a teenager.
I'm not a fan of the Landau myself. I do not like the S shaped trim. It was made as a tribute to horse drawn carriage handles. I don't know how many people back then remember riding in a horse drawn carriage. I'm still not in love with four doors. However I have been told I still act like a teenager so might be the issue. Thanks for watching!
@@TonysFordsandMustangs Lol. Thanks for writing back, Tony.
I love them all gen 1-5. They lost me until the Turbo Coupes of the 80's came out.
On my mom's 50th birthday, she went to the Ford Dealership and bought a 1986 T-bird (5.0L) that was on the showroom floor. She loved that car because 1.) it was sleek and stylish. 2.) It symbolized independence and freedom, not having to have approval from anyone. She loved it and her (2nd) husband hated it for those very same reasons. 😎
I still see that car being driven around, from time to time.
I’m a thunderbird fan, miss the car.. thank you Tony. The attention to detail is appreciated !
Thanks for the kind words and for watching!
I understand Peter, I do too. But we both know it would be an EV or SUV along the lines of the current equivalent Mustang.
Was not a big fan Tony till i got older! Always have to stop and look at them now if i see one. But pretty much feel the same way you do. Good stuff man! Thx!👍
My Mom's daily driver growing up was a 1964 Tbird convert.
Very nice! Thanks for watching!
Moms 64' had the landau roof...all blue..nice interior
That 62 Sports Roadster grabbed me as a small boy and never let go
Keep it up Tony. Your channel has quickly become one of my favorites. Maybe need to branch out and have a GM and Mopar channel too! Lol
Thank you for watching and for the kind words! I know a little bit about Mopars and less about GM cars. There are SO many Fords yet to dig into.
@@TonysFordsandMustangs Don't do it Tony! Stick with the Ford products. Us Ford guys need an oasis in the middle of all the GM and Mopar stuff.
Back in 1967, when I was 13, my girlfriend's brother bought a '59 Bird. Didn't like the Squarebird styling too much, but was impressed with that luxury interior and it's ride. Big brother was about 6'4" and the top of his head was just an inch from the headliner, so he didn't take it down bumpy roads. Really loved the Bulletbirds (1961 thru 1963) tho.
Right On Tony!! Mom had a 64' Thunder Chicken bck in the 80s...if I remember it right I think it had a 390. Awesome stuff man!!
Thank you!
Great presentation. We have a 66 t bird
Thank you!
I own a 55 TBird and love it. It is beautiful. The 61-63 are even more beautiful, especially the convertibles.
Edit: I wanted to add in something written a book I have about Thunderbirds, they explained why the body style changed every three years. That's because at that time people purchased a new car every three years on the average and Ford wanted them to have a new body style.
Thanks for posting these for us. Very enjoyable. Especially enjoyed the old footage.
Thank you for watching! I was born in 65 and it kind of shocked me how Ford changed something almost each and every year on these cars some changes were more drastic than others but there seemed be subtle differences. I guess they felt it would give people a reason to buy a new car.
@@TonysFordsandMustangs Our neighbors got a new car every year, but they liked Chevrolets. The best two were the 1965 Impala SS 396 and then the 1966 Impala SS with a 427 and a 4 speed. Then the 67 which wasn't very good looking. Thanks for the reply.
@@Colorado_Native I'm Ford Guy but the 66 SS 427 Impala is a sweet car.
I was born into Ford life Dad started working for Ford at seventeen my second car was a convertible Tbird with the roadster option in 1974 I had all the great Ford's 😊
Very cool!
The 3rd generation Bullet Birds looked sharp! And they may be my favorite.
I've always loved the air of class and sophistication that the Thunderbird has. They're definitely the kind of car that you'd drive to some fancy gala.
I got my drivers license at 16 driving my Uncles '63 Landau. Later while in my 20's I owned two '63s a '61 and a '66. They were wonderful cars.
A great overview of these wonderful and "unique in all the world" cars.
Thank you!
Also, 1963 saw the Limited Edition Landau. 2,000 produced.
3rd Gen are the most beautiful birds of all. ❤
Loved the video as always, Tony! I appreciate something about almost every generation of Thunderbird. My Mom had a white ‘66 that she and my Dad were restoring while I was in high school. The most unattractive thing about this thing, unfortunately, was the nameplate, which looked like it had been written by a reluctant fifth-grader who was being taught cursive. Other than that, the car rocked!!
Love them all!
I like them all.
I really like the 2nd, 3rd and 4th gen T-Birds. Within each set, I do have my favorites. The '59 was a nice refinement of the '58, mainly with the simple horizonal bars within the front grill and the look continuing with the taillight background. The '60 was garish from the front, and the triple taillights were a bit much. Ideally, the '61 would have been better for '60 (like the rest of Ford's '60 lineup) but it wasn't. Love the '61, and the '62 slightly more per the sexy roadster. The '63 really nice also for the 3rd year. With the '64 I see a clever fusion of the 2nd and 3rd, yet completely new and unique. The cove rear seats were gorgeous. The '65 had the sexy sequential rear taillights and a gently refreshed front end. The '66 not as much, but the landau coupe previewed the 5th gen. I'll just say I really love the '67 and '68 a lot, meaning the regular 2-door. It would have made an amazing convertible had Ford decided to continue it, but that sporty option was now just for Mustang.
I get to the 67- through the early 70's at some point. Thank you for your comment and for watching! It is appreciated!
The '55 to '57 T-Birds were iconic, but once Ford added the back seat in '58 it did raise sales. 2 or 4 seat, the T-Birds were always nicely styled cars.
It's amazing how great the square bird sits by just puttining on 15's.
Which gen had the overhead console of switches?
I do like these 2nd gens, but I’m looking forward to the 67’s. I did own a couple of them. A 2 door and a 4 door. Sadly, I was young and didn’t have the money to get them on the road. One of the biggest regrets of my youth.
How does the driving experience compare / differ between the 59 - 60, 61-63 and 64 - 66 cars... Styling wise my favorites are the 59, 61 and 65....
I've always thought the (3rd gen) Bullet Birds were the nicest looking Thunderbirds ever made. Of course, everyone has their own taste and that is a very good thing.
Thanks for your comment and for watching.
I’m not a big fan of 1st gen birds, but I love the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. The convertible versions are among the most beautiful cars ever made.
It really is a shame Ford didn’t build a convertible 5th gen. There is probably a custom job out there somewhere. Great video.
Thank you for your comment and the kind words!
Of these generations, I liked the 61-66 from a styling standpoint. I agree that the interior styling was amazing, particularly the 66 model year, "The Thelma and Louise" bird.
Thanks for watching and for your comment.
My favorite car of all time was the third generation T-Bird!
Did you forget the 1960 sunroof option, very rare but I did get to see one at the 2024 Detroit Autorama. The car was pretty much an original car.
I do enjoy your videos. All of us forget something
Jim E
Hi Jim, Thanks for watching the video and for the kind words. I will miss something in just about every video or make a mistake here or there. I enjoy making these videos as it keeps me busy. People like you enjoying the videos keeps me going.
A buddy of mine had a 66 & another had the 57 & I got to spend a little time in them & liked them fine but neither really gave me that "I'd like to have one of these" feelings but I loved the big Fords & of course got to own a few different T-Birds but those comments will be for the next generation video. 🇺🇸
See, they talk about power. The first Thunderbird had a beautiful Sportscar design. It didn't have a muscle engine but it was lovely.
If I had to pick a favorite between those 3 in styling, I'd pick the second gen. It's much more elegant, royal, and classy than the third and fourth gens, which have a more economical, elderly exterior, other than the 1962 Sports Roadster.
The fifth gen I like much more than the second, third, and fourth. It had the perfect styling to make it a cross between personal luxury and muscular and attract a wide variety of buyers.
I love them all!
Well, the "Bulletbird" looks better than 2nd and 4th gen Fords. And as much as I find some design cues questionable 60's Thundebirds look much better tnan 70's ones (especially 1973 to 1979 models).
Thunderbird GTs Are Go. The 3rd Generation 1961 - 63 My Father Dream Car, May He R.I.P.
1964 Thunderbirds have the best upholstrey of any Tbird ever..
When I was a kid our neighbors had one of the second generation Thunderbirds, and I could probably count on one hand the number of times that I saw them actually drive it. Boy, I wonder whatever happened to that low mileage beauty?
These were cars that people cared for and stored away. Thanks for watching!
My 1966 Thunderbird is a Survivor. Recently being careful I've cruised around in the car. Someone pulled out in front of me. Then slammed on the brakes just in time.
Glad to hear everything is OK you and your car.
I like the first generation styling but really tight inside. The second generation styling was very blocky; reminds me of the concurrent Lincolns, which is not a complement. The third generation bullet birds were much sleeker. Fourth generation was again over-styled; similar but much better on the Mustang. The fourth generation rear seat is very nice, though, and the tail-lights are nice, especially when they got the sequential feature. The fifth generation has an interesting front end, at least until they got the Knudsen "beak", but these cars wallowed, losing any pretense of sportiness. I'd like to forget everything after that until the "aero" birds of the 1980s.
the 1965 thunderbird is simply the most perfecly stylized car ever ...i wish they would bring it back today with improved mechancal features of today such as much improved entertainment systems much better brakes and suspension and smaller more powerful engines than you would have the perfect car
I have built a few T Bird model kits..
MY FIRST T BIRD WAS A 66 LANDAU
probably liked the 58-60 the best, though I really liked the 61-63 and 64-66 as well, my family had 7 from 59-67, I had 3. 55-57 were too common for me I suppose.
MY FAVORITE BIRD
I love the small canted finned ‘57 Tbird, the last of the first generation. My favorite of the gen 2 is the 1960 with its 6 rear lights.
I have a soft spot for the third gen, as I briefly owned a missile looking 1961, while in high school in the mid 70s,and quickly proceeded to run it into the ground.
The 4 generation looked like Ford’s updated retake on the 2nd generation. My favorite of this generation is the 1965, with the introduction of sequential taillight turn signals. The cockpits in this generation are gorgeous.
I don’t really care for the suceeding generations, as they dropped the sporty image and started to become bloated luxury barges. When they were scaled back, they were just another bland malaise era car which happened to be badged Tbird.
The 11th generation could have been a winner. Exterior wise, they somewhat capture the image of early birds. But what a chintzy half baked cheapo looking dashboard. It would have more appealing if manual transmission had been offered, as well.
It’s easy to wonder if Ford will once again resurrect the T Bird name again, and do the name justice next go around?
McNamara could have kept making 2-seaters alongside larger T-Birds and pleased everyone! Maybe factory space was limited, especially since planning had to precede the '57 recession.
What’s wrong with the 60 and the Shark Birds? Nothing is wrong it’s just the way the Detroit made it more family friendly. Great Videos Thank You 🙏
Thank you for watching!
A mixed bag. The 55-57 Thunderbirds were pretty pure in their conception and those ones with the Paxton superchargers were really cool. An iconic look, but not my favorite. The 58-60 were hit or miss. With beautiful Kelsey-Hayes wheels and a moonroof, could be a striking car.
But the 1960-1963 were the most beautiful of the years featured here. Clean lines, the Sports Roadster with those Kelsey-Hayes wheels and tonneau cover was stunning .
One of my favorite Fords ever is the 1963 Sports Roadster. The perfect amount of curves in the body with more squared off front wheel housing.
And then those 64-66 like the Thunderbird got flabby and ponderous again. No use for those.
No use for 67-82 years with the decent into malaise, and total luxury and not one iota of sport. That’s a long time.
1983 was finally the return of the balance of luxury AND sport that made Thunderbirds such cool cars. But that’s another story for another time.
I have an 83 through 88 Thunderbird video on the channel. Those are some of my favorites. ruclips.net/video/-1OQAul360s/видео.html
@@TonysFordsandMustangs Thanks! I’ll check it out. My uncle had both a Thunderbird and Cougar from that generation. Both were attractive vehicles. Both had the 3.8.
These classic T-bird are masterpieces (1958 model no) but was intressant also the 1977 1979 model togheter at the sister Mercury Cougar Xr7 and the monumental Lincoln Continental coupe MK V
IMO, what killed the original Bird was the Mustang on the low end and the Galaxy 500 on the high end during the '60s. The Bird should have gone back to a 2 seater or canceled after '71..
SQUARE BIRDS ARE GREAT STYLED
Those generations represent what in french we would call "embourgeoisement" of the vehicle. While 1st gen was a small sport car, it became progressively a luxurious and heavy 2-doors sedan. The car gets more and more comfort but lose everything that made it a sport car.
That seems very accurate. I think Ford was looking at sales forecasts and put that at the top of the agenda.
If I had to choose only between the 1st 2nd 3rd or 4th generation I'd go with the 3rd (bullet birds). The perfect "bird" for me would be a '61-'63 with the interior from the '64-'66 that had those beautiful curved rear seats. The 2nd generation was "ok" with the '60 being the best of the three years because of the three taillights instead of two. The first generation was just too damn cramped inside for anyone that's tall or with a "wide girth!"
Thanks for sharing your opinion and for watching
61 -66 still the best looking
8:58 The model looks as if they were trying for a Jacqueline Kennedy vibe for this ad.
The 58' is, compared to the 1st gen, well, rather grotesque. BUT, it grows on you. The interiors were just breathtaking in all of them. How Ford consistently got that "bird-like" beak in each generation is impressive. What happened in 1967? Too many drugs! Thunderbird symbolized SPORTY, grand touring personal luxury. The 1967 forgot the sporty altogether and wound up looking like a dressed up tart (and I don't mean the pastry kind)! Instead, Ford should have re-introduced the "Capri" (with convertible) as a Lincoln and given us a real Thunderbird for 67' (with a convertible both based on the Torino/Cyclone platform!.
I'm not sure what happened in 67 but I promise I will look into it and find out soon enough. Thanks for watching!
4th Gen will always be my favorite. The interiors in the 4th gen could possibly be the most beautiful interior of all time. I’m not a Ford guy. And I’m not really a classic car guy but Ford knocked it out of the park, over the wall and onto the roof of the house a block away from the ballpark with that car. The 1st gen has always been “meh”… the 2nd gen was too bloated. 3rd and 4th were their best efforts.
Thanks for your comment and for watching!
'66 body style and that generation would be my choice.
I've always been in love with every single Thunderbird generation from 1955, up through 1972. Each of those generations got larger and more luxurious, but Thunderbirds are just extraordinary, special automobiles. Though they grew into luxury personal cars, which was the original intent. Adding a rear seat sure didn't hurt none. I thought the styling after 1972 was getting way too "Fordish" looking. It was downhill from there in my opinion. The "LTD" nose on the 1973 through 1976 was just awful. The down-sized 1977s through 1979 were just Ford Torinos with a different nose and tail. Forget the ugly Fairmont birds and uglier aerobirds. The 2000 come-back 'bird was just hideous and looked like a stretched VW beetle. A VW designer designed it, too.
What a relief to get away from all the crap happening in the world today.
Glad to be of service. :) Thank you for watching!
1961 was the best.
65 is my favorite. They got ugly after the 4th gen.
1964 is ok.
'58-60 styling does look heavy. An ad narrator spoke of "clean" styling, it shocked me. More proof: sleek '57 big Ford front ʻbulked up' for '58 to copy T-Bird, creating visual imbalance and worse racing record.
The 58s weren't bad, but the 61s looked like bloated pigs and after that young people dismissed them as power assisted old mans or a woman's car.