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Two cars, two worlds - Ford Thunderbird versus Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Coupé

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Created on June 19, 1963

Reading time 9min

Written by:

Günther Gebhardt

Photos:

Daimler AG

Ford Motor Company

Pawel Litwinski - Courtesy RM Auctions

Archiv Daimler AG

Archiv Reinhard / Max Pichler

Archiv

Daimler AG

Ford Motor Company

Pawel Litwinski - Courtesy RM Auctions

Archiv Daimler AG

Archiv Reinhard / Max Pichler

Archiv

Der Ford Thunderbird von 1963 ist deutlich länger als das Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Coupé

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Ford Thunderbird und Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Coupé auf dem Titelblatt von 'hobby'

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Ford Thunderbird (1963) - mit verstellbarem Lenkrad, unten Cockpit des Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Coupé

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Ford Thunderbird (1963) - weder beim Amerikaner noch beim Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Coupé grosszügige Sitzverhältnisse hinten, trotz schwellenden Lederpolstern

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Coupé (1961) - elegantes Coupé der Baureihe 111

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Coupé (1961) - in hellen und dunklen Farben elegant

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Coupé (1961) - wer diesen Wagen in der Einfahrt stehen hatte, gehörte dazu

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Coupé (1961) - der Traum vieler Auto-Enthusiasten

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Coupé (1960) - Heckansicht des Coupés der Baureihe 111

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Coupé (1961) - der perfekte Reisewagen

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Coupé (1961) - dunkel lackiertes Coupé der Baureihe 111

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Coupé (1961) - fast doppelt so teuer wie die parallel gebaute Limousine

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Coupé (1961) - pfostenloses Coupé der Baureihe 111

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Coupé (1961) - viel Kofferraum in der Baureihe 111

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Coupé (1961) - weitgehend von Hand gebaut

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Coupé (1962) - Überschlagsversuch mit dem Coupé mit Anfahrgeschwindigkeit 80 km/h

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Mercedes-Benz 250 SE Coupé (1965) - bereits mit dem grösseren Motor

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Coupé (1964) - ausgesuchte Eleganz mit sportlicher Note

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Mercedes-Benz 250 SE Coupé (1965) - optisch kaum verändertes Aussehen

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Coupé (1962) - wirkt gestreckt und elegant und wurde über viele Jahre gebaut

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Coupé (1961) - wurde gerne auch zweifarbig bestellt

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Coupé (1961) - grosse Rundinstrumente prägten das Cockpit

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Coupé (1961) - Cockpit eng an die Limousine angelehnt

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Coupé (1961) - Blick in den geräumigen Fond

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Coupé (1961) - mit Ledersitzen

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Coupé (1961) - gleicher Radstand wie die parallel gebaute Limousine

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Coupé (1961) - Werbung - das Geheimnis klassischer Schönheit

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Coupé (1964) - Werbung für das elegante Coiupé

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Mercedes-Benz 220 S (1961) - Werbung für die Limousine

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Ford Thunderbird (1962) - die dritte Version war noch grösser geworden

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Ford Thunderbird (1961) - geglättete Karosserie

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Ford Thunderbird (1964) - die Sllhouette blieb für das Baujahr 1964 weitgehend unverändert

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Ford Thunderbird (1963) - Modelljahr 1963 mit grosszügiger Karosserie

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Ford Thunderbird (1963) - als offenes Cabriolet

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Ford Thunderbird Sports Roadster (1962) - sportliche Abdckung der Hintersitze

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Ford Thunderbird (1959) - idyllische Parkstimmung

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Ford Thunderbird (1961) - markante runde Heckleuchten

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Ford Thunderbird (1962) - zum Strassenkreuzer gewachsen

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Ford Thunderbird (1963) - elegant und gross

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Ford Thunderbird (1963) - Platz fü vier Personen

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Ford Thunderbird (1963) - der ideale Wagen für den Vorort

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Ford Thunderbird (1963) - Lenkrad und Armaturenbrett

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Ford Thunderbird (1963) - Interieur und Armaturenbrett - viele Schalter und Hebel auf dem ausgeprägten Kardantunne.

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Ford Thunderbird (1964) - modellgepflegt, neue Front

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Ford Thunderbird (1963) - Silhouette der Hardtop-Version

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Ford Thunderbird (1964) - die runden Heckleuchten sind verschwunden

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Ford Thunderbird (1962) - Abdeckung für die iHintersitze

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Ford Thunderbird 'M-Code' Sports Roadster (1963) - angeboten als Lot 06 an der RM-Versteigerung vom 16./17. Januar 2014 in Arizona

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Summary

The Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Coupé from 1963 and the Ford Thunderbird from the same year are pitted against each other in a dream car comparison organized by the magazine 'hobby', which has always had a flair for unorthodox comparison drives. Can the big American keep the more compact German at bay? Who will win? This article reproduces the original wording of the comparison test at the time and is extensively illustrated with historical images.

This article contains the following chapters

Different countries - different dream cars
Two worlds
Eternal compromise: line versus plafz
Comfortable, but not well thought out in all respects
And now onto the road ....
The myth of the 'soft Americans'
Conclusion: To each his own
Comparison of vehicle data

Estimated reading time: 9min

Preview (beginning of the article)

My friend Harry is a car fan like me. My friend Harry cherishes his beloved everyday vehicle just as much as I do, but since he's not a millionaire either, he had to choose his constant four-wheeled companion based on economic, fiscal and practical considerations, just like me. But that doesn't mean that he doesn't dream of a 'dream car' from time to time. I'm sure you know those thoughts that start with: "Well, if I had enough money and didn't have to do the math, then I would ..." But my friend Harry is American, so his dream car in the sporty luxury class looks different from mine. In many letters back and forth across the pond, we have never been able to agree on this point, despite heated discussions.

Welcome to Zwischengas!