Ford Thunderbird Convertible
The Ford Thunderbird has been hailed as an American icon, preserved in film and song. The Beach Boys, the popular rock group of the 60s, put the Thunderbird to music in his song, "Fun, Fun, Fun"
"And she'll have fun, fun, fun
til your daddy takes the T-Bird away "
One of the Beach Boys, Dennis Wilson, originally owned a 1955 T-bird. Now the Stars Motor Museum in Hollywood in Gatlinburg, Tennessee completely restored with the Beach Boys' autograph on the hood.
The T-Bird is also remembered for his debut in the film American Graffiti.
The T-Bird was originally designed to compete with the Chevrolet Corvette. The years following World War 2 saw the return of many veterans from the European front. While in Europe had been in love with European sports cars. The U.S. industry has taken note of this and of marketing the Chevrolet Corvette. This was contested Ford to produce a competitor.
Three men were more decisive in the creation of the original T-Bird. Lewis D. Crusoe was a retired executive of GM, however, Henry Ford II had enticed to join Ford. George Walker was the chief stylist and a Ford vice president. Frank Hershey was a designer for Ford.
Crusoe and Walker were visiting Paris when Crusoe saw a sports car in the Grand Palais. They were impressed by the design and Walker then called Frank Hershey in Dearborn. Hershey began to work in design. Would be an open car as two passengers. It would be equipped with an Interceptor V8 engine and capable of reaching speeds over 100 mph.
Although designed to compete with the Corvette, which was not a true sports car. Ford designed as a personal luxury car.
For some reason, found it difficult to create a name for the car so Crusoe offered a prize, a $ 250 suit to anyone who submitted an acceptable name. A stylist, Alden Giberson, entered on a list included with Thunderbird.
The idea behind the name is controversial. Some sources say it was named for the god of the Native Americans rain and prosperity. Palm Life Magazine said the name comes from an exclusive residential neighborhood Ultra. It was also reported that Giberson got the idea when he witnessed an illusion of a bird struck by lightning during a storm.
The Thunderbird for the first time the American public at the Auto Show in Detroit in February 1954. However, it was not available at dealers until October 1954. This model was a two-door convertible equipped with a V8 engine that could cruise between 110 and 120 km per hour. The standard top is fiberglass, but a convertible soft top was an option. Four-way power seats and push button interior doors, the T-Bird was not really a small personal luxury car a sports car.
However, it definitely appeals to the American public at the time and in the first ten days of sale, the dealers received 3500 orders. Total sales for 1955 amounted to 16,155 as Ford realized his goal to overcome the Corvette.
Later, however, the owners of the 'Classic' complain about the lack of a back seat and small trunk. This would result in modifications and a new generation of T-Birds, however, "Little Bird" remains an American icon.
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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Ford Thunderbird – An American Classic
1959 Ford Thunderbird Convertible
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