The 1960 car was the crossroads of many different styles all blended into a distinct coupe. But what we really love is how this delivers a complete and sophisticated package that includes a proper hardtop profile, classic whitewalls, and the dip in the trunk line that would be hard to recreate. That's great for a cruiser, or you may choose to reinvest some of the value price in an upgrade. It's a driver-ready finish with a good gloss that will get you respect at the stoplights. It all looks good in the correct-style Corinthian White. Plus, the Detroit maxim of “longer, lower, wider” is exactly what created these boulevard-cruising second-generation T-birds. Those bright beautiful bumpers, and how well they integrate into the design, remind us that style was king before government regulations stepped in. You see the jet age in the profile with the rocket-inspired sheet metal and tailfins.
So when you can find an exceptionally well-cared-for example with its factory-correct colors, big V8 power, and acres of chrome like this 1960 Ford Thunderbird, then you know you have a great classic for the right price. The second-generation Thunderbird is arguably the most distinctive of the bunch. Sales increased again with 92,843 sold for 1960.BIG BODY T-BIRD, 352 V8, AUTO TRANS, POWER STEER/DRUMS, DUAL EXHAUST, HARDTOP!! Dual-unit round taillights from 1958 to 1959 were changed to triple-units after the fashion of the Chevrolet Impala. It was the first individual model line (as opposed to an entire company) to earn Motor Trend "Car of the Year" honors.įor 1959, the car received a new grille and a newly optional, 350 hp (261 kW) 430 cu in (7.0 L) MEL V, sales climbed even higher to 67,456 units.įor 1960, the Thunderbird was given another new grille and other minor styling changes along with a newly optional manually operated sunroof for hardtop models. This success spawned a new market segment, the personal luxury car. The new Thunderbird began a sales momentum previously unseen with the car, selling 200,000 units in three years, four times the result of the two-seat model. As a result, the car was redesigned as a four-seater for 1958.
From 1968 to 1998, Lincoln-Mercury marketed rebadged variants of the Thunderbird as the Continental Mark III, Mark IV, Mark V, Mercury Cougar, Lincoln Mark VII, and Lincoln Mark VIII.Īlthough the 1955–57 Thunderbird was a success, Ford executives-particularly Robert McNamara-were concerned that the car's position as a two-seater limited its sales potential. An American interpretation of the grand tourer, personal luxury cars were built with a higher emphasis on driving comfort and convenience features over handling and high-speed performance. These included a four-seat hardtop coupe, four-seat convertible, five-seat convertible and hardtop, four-door pillared hardtop sedan, six-passenger hardtop coupe, and five-passenger pillared coupe, with the final generation designed again as a two-seat convertible.įord targeted the two-seat Thunderbird as an upscale model, but the design introduced for 1958 featured a rear seat and arguably marked expansion of a market segment eventually known as personal luxury cars.
Introduced as a two-seat convertible, the Thunderbird was produced in a variety of body configurations. THIS 1960 FORD THUNDERBIRD IS LOCATED IN: NORTH BILLERICA, MA 01862įord Thunderbird (colloquially called the T-Bird) is a personal luxury car produced by Ford from model years 1955 to 19 to 2005 throughout eleven distinct generations.