Called the "Square Bird" 1958-60 Ford Thunderbird proved it's hip to be square as sales increased significantly over 2 seater.
The four-seat 1958-60 Ford Thunderbird took a long while to find favor with car collectors. Car fans were so in love with the 1955-57 two-seat model that preceded it, they couldn't get over their resentment. The four-seaters were considered uncool. Many were trashed while the two-seaters were treasured and restored. But for Ford Motor Company, the four-seat Thunderbird was a smashing success. Sales its first year nearly doubled the best year of the two-seater. And overall sales for 1958-60 tripled the rate of the 1955-57 two seaters.
Ford's re-invention of what it called its "personal car" further separted the Thunderbird from the Corvette as the Chevy evolved into a pure sports car. The sporty-luxury "personal car" format proved wildly popular and was copied by the Buick Riviera, Cadillac Eldorado, Oldsmobile Toronado and Chrysler Cordoba to great success.
There were only slight differences between model years '58-60--mostly just trim changes. The biggest visual changes occurred on the 1960 model with its toothy new grill and a tail end sporting six tail lights instead of four. The 1960 Thunderbird also offered a sunroof, a first on a U.S. car.
Today, the "Square Birds" have found respect at last and values are trending upwards, particularly for convertibles and sun roof equipped hardtops. The 1960 models are considered most desirable--the first year for a power top on the convertible, and its styling changes are favored. It was the most popular of the Square Birds in its day too, with 92,843 built.
For more info see the slide show below and:
1955-57 Thunderbird: Taking the world by storm
First Corvette: The good, the bad, and the ugly
Classic fins: Cars of the 1950s and 1960s
Comments
I wonder if this explains the current obsession with Box Cars: Scion, Cube, Soul, Flex
The '59 bird was the only one to have two rather than three taillights. They also had the flat "window slat" grille.The ad wth the '58 bird and the '58 Skyliner retractable hardtop brings back memories,went to h.s. with a guy that all three years; '57'58,'59. The high trunklid is a distinct feature of the series.
Actually, Amona, the article's correct--both the 1958 & 59 Thunderbirds had four tail lights with 1960 being the only year of the "Square Bird" to have six.
Muy buen auto es tuyo no?
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