This was not something that Chevrolet and General Motors could ignore. The new Thunderbird was introduced by Ford and its potential for substantial sales was very real. The six was thus in its final year as a Corvette engine and the automatic was finally joined by a three speed manual transmission.īut as noted above, 1955 was remarkable for another reason as the Corvette met with a serious threat from an American rival genuinely capable of a fight. The Corvette was barely changed for 1954 and while the original style was continued for 1955, that still became a magic year for Chevrolet.įor ’55, Chevy offered a 265-cubic inch OHV V-8 in both its full-size models and the Corvette, where it produced 195 horsepower. A sports car with a 150-horsepower six was not a big problem-Jaguars of the day used sixes while Porsches ran fours-but a sports car whose only available transmission was a two-speed automatic was another matter. The division did not yet have a V-8, so its standard OHV 235-cubic-inch six was given modifications ranging from higher compression and triple carburetors to solid lifters and a high-lift cam. Unrelated visually to any other Chevy, itslook was aggressive, but it was the mechanical connection to its parent that came in for criticism. The Corvette started as an entry in GM’s 1953 Motorama and made the transition to production with a minimum of change. Among those developments, of course, was Chevrolet’s decision to build a two passenger roadster. However, the transition from two- to four-passenger cars had been deliberate…even if some might have found it disappointing.įord launched the Thunderbird as a 1955 model in a time when significant developments among the Big Three and the few remaining Independents had grown almost commonplace. On the other hand, by the time Hilts’ car was built, some people felt that Ford had forgotten the original Thunderbird and lost its way with the car itself. He didn’t wreck it, but some things- like a near miss in a car literally fresh out of the restoration shop-you just don’t forget that feeling. I don’t want to wreck it.’ My heart was in my throat.” I went ‘I don’t want to wreck it already. A big power line had come right down and you didn’t notice it until you were almost on top of it. “I picked it up and was coming home,” he recalled, “and it started raining coming back. Aren’t You Glad You Have Such Vintage Variety?ĭOUG HILTS HAS a clear memory of his first trip behind the wheel of the 1963 Thunderbird featured here-and of hitting the brakes…hard. Approximately 200 examples of the M-Code engine were placed into the Thunderbird between 19.It Wasn’t At All Like the First T-birds That Hit the Market In ’55. An upgraded version of the 390 cubic-inch V8, called the M-Code, came with three two-barrel Holley carburetors, larger cam, special heads, larger dual exhaust, and was rated at 340 horsepower.
Due to the steep price, sales were sluggish.Īnother new addition for the 1962 Thunderbird was the vinyl-roofed Landau option with simulated S-bars. The Sports Roadster package came with 48-spoke Kelsey Hayes wire wheels, unique side badges, and a passenger grab bar. This design effectively transformed the four-passenger Thunderbird into a two-seater. Kaufman penned a Sports Roadster that used the Thunderbird's sweeping lines with a unique fiberglass tonneau cover extending from the trunk to behind the front seats. Division Chief Lee Iaccoca commissioned designer Bud Kaufman to develop a solution. Mr. Sales were strong but demand still existed for a two-place Thunderbird.
Kennedy during the inaugural parade (who appointed Ford executive Robert McNamara as Secretary of Defense) helped boost sales. Promotional appearance at the 1961 Indianapolis 500 where it served pace car duties and its use by U.S President John F. During its first year, 73,051 examples were sold. Under the hood was a new 390 cubic-inch FE V8 rated at 300 horsepower and backed by a three-speed automatic transmission. View info and historyHaving spawned the personal luxury car segment and proven adequate demand, the Thunderbird was redesigned for 1961 with styling that earned it the nickname the 'Bullet-Birds.' It had a unique bullet-like body side appearance with aerospace influences by Alex Tremulis.