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Quick shot to the icon - Ford Thunderbird

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Created on November 1, 2012

Reading time 7min

Written by:

Peter Ruch (Radical-Mag)

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

35

Bruno von Rotz

2

Simon Clay - Courtesy RM Auctions

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Archiv Silverstone Auctions

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RM

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Archiv

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Daniel Reinhard

35

Bruno von Rotz

2

Simon Clay - Courtesy RM Auctions

2

Archiv Silverstone Auctions

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RM

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Archiv

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - eine Augenweide heute und vor über 50 Jahren

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - der Chrom glänzt auch nach 54 Jahren wie bei einem Neuwagen - Kunststück

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - jedes Detail passt und ist genauso wie vor 54 Jahren

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - das ist ein Neuwagen, nicht gebraucht und nicht restauriert

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - glänzt und strahlt wie am ersten Tag

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - ausnahmsweise darf der schöne Wagen mal an die Sonne

Bild von Partner Porsche AMAG November Foto-Galerie 2025

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - wie er das Fliessband verliess

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - Drehzahlmesser links, Uhr rechts

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - aufgeräumtes Interieur

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - gut ablesbare Armaturen

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - man kann sich gut vorstellen, dass Marylin Monroe sich hier wohl fühlte

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - Automatik-Hebel

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - Radio und Lüftungssteuerung im unverbrauchten Interieur

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - Panorama-Frontscheibe

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - auf einem Radarfoto könnte die Polizei heute von aussen die angezeigte Geschwindigkeit ablesen

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - unverbeult und unverbraucht

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - trotz 54 Jahren ging hier bisher nur wenig Luft hinein

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - Lufteinlass auf der Motorhaube

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - Chrom, Verzierungen und Markenemblem

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - stimmig bis ins Detail

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - zum Öffnen des Kofferraums muss zuerst das Reserverad umgeklappt werden

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - so sah der Kofferraum bereits bei der Auslieferung aus

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - Instruktionen zum Wagenheber

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - kaum zu glauben, ein 54 jähriger Neuwagen

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - Weisswandreifen und Chromradkappen

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - auch nach 54 Jahren sind die Weisswandreifen noch weiss

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - verkaufte sich viel besser als die Konkurrenz

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - elegant auslaufendes Heck

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - Kreisrunde Rückleuchte mit dezentem Flösschen oben drauf

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - die Amerikaner kauften in Scharen

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - schön gestaltete Heckleuchten

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - schön gestaltetes Typen-Emblem

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - schön anzusehender Motor

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - sogar unter der Motorhaube hat es noch Chrom

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - dichte Schläuche, auch noch nach 54 Jahren

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - das Typenschild

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Ford Thunderbird (1955) - bombon-farbig

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Ford Thunderbird (1955) - das Stoffdach gab es nur gegen Aufpreis

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Ford Thunderbird (1955) - für die kleine und grosse Reise

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Ford Thunderbird (1955) - macht sich vor dem kleinen Häuschen besonders gut

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Ford Thunderbird (1955) - wunderschön in lindgrün

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Ford Thunderbird (1955) - war dies wirklich ein rechtsgelenktes Fahrzeug?

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Ford Thunderbird (1957) - man sieht im die Modellpflegemassnahmen an

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Ford Thunderbird (1957) - Modifikationen an der Front und im Detail

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Ford Thunderbird (1955) - gefahren wird mit Handschuhen

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - angeboten als Lot 110 an der Versteigerung von RM Auctions in London am 31. Oktober 2012

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - angeboten als Lot 110 an der Versteigerung von RM Auctions in London am 31. Oktober 2012

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Ford Thunderbird (1955) - mit Hardtop in attraktiver dunkler Lackierung

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Ford Thunderbird (1957) - am Genfer Automobilsalon von 1957

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - Freistehendes Reserverad

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Ford Thunderbird (1955) - ein sehr eleganter Wurf

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - das optionale Hardtop montiert, viel Zubehör war erhältlich

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Ford Thunderbird Continental (1956) - angeboten von Silverstone Auctions im Race Retro Classic Car Sale vom 25. Februar 2012

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Ford Thunderbird (1957) - verkauft an der RM Auction Arizona (19. und 20. Januar 2012) für USD 49'500

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Ford Thunderbird (1956) - OSMT Juli 2011

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Summary

Ford hit the bull's eye with the Thunderbird in 1954, and the competition, especially General Motors, had to dress warmly, because the comparatively compact semi-sports car with the impressive name impressed both in terms of design and performance, thanks to its V8 power. However, like many of its siblings, the Thunderbird lost its appeal in later generations. This report is dedicated to the first years of the Ford Thunderbird and shows the car in many pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

Side branch Vega
Alternative to the Corvette
Superior to the Corvette with V8 power
Inexpensive and versatile
Sales success
Longer, heavier, less sporty
In the mirror of European criticism
The first generation as an icon
Names for suit plus additional pants
Further information

Estimated reading time: 7min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Over the years, the stories develop and legends emerge. It is said of the beginnings of the Ford Thunderbird that former GM man Lewis D. Crusoe, released from his retirement by Henry Ford II, and the then Ford chief designer George Walker met in Paris in October 1951 and walked through a car exhibition at the Grand Palais together. Crusoe is said to have pointed to a European sports car, probably a Jaguar, and asked: "Why doesn't Ford have a car like this on offer?" To which Walker is said to have replied: "Oh, we're already working on it...". But this was apparently not true - at least there is no evidence in Ford's records that the design department could have been working on something like a sports car as early as 1951. But Walker immediately telephoned Dearborn, told them about his conversation with Crusoe (who, as a former GM man, must have told him a few things about the planned Corvette) and spoke to Frank Hershey, who, it is said, immediately went to the drawing board. The first sketches were created, and by May 1953 a clay model was already available that looked very similar to the later production model.

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