Model History: Ford Thunderbird

[@DavidHall-ge6nn]

My dad had a beautiful '70 T-bird 4-door. Insanely fast and impossible to see out of, but we loved it.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Those 429 T-birds would catch you off guard.

[@MazichMusic]

My dad always wanted a T-Bird and finally got one in 1977. 302, Champagne paint, white leather, brown carpet and landau roof. It was on the floor when we went shopping with him and we all feel in love with it. Dad said I'll take this one...

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Nice.

[@jacoballred]

I'm an owner of a 1966 Thunderbird. Glad to have found the same type of car I had in highschool. The car has been a whole lot of work. Hopefully it doesn't get stolen.

[@TheArkDoc]

I currently have a 1964 convertible that has been completely restored. I also have a 1970 2 door sports roof landau that my parents bought new. When I was younger, I also a 1964 hardtop, 1965 landau, 1966 hardtop, 1979 hardtop, 1986 Turbo Coupe, and a 1994 V8. The 64 convertible is my favorite. I had been my dream car for 40 years before I finally bought one. She turns heads everywhere. Thanks for the video.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Cool that you were able to get one.

[@lenpey]

I remember seeing the actor Deforest Kelley in a parking lot in Encino in 1987 get into and driving off in a baby blue c. 1964 Thunderbird....that car was immaculate!

[@thehopelesscarguy]

I would suspect so.

[@Awsom47Merc]

* My dad was an engineer for Ford. We had every other year TBird from 55 to 70 . He used to get his from his buddys at the Ford proving ground who experimented on them by putting newer engine in r+d into them. So we had some pretty wild TBirds ! Until the 1970 fastback that he died in getting in a head on with another car that was trying to pass without enough room. 😔

[@thehopelesscarguy]

A sad ending to an interesting story.

[@AirDOGGe]

I had the '66 with 390 engine and coupe roof (no 3rd window for rear passengers) for 8 years. Big, heavy, and fun!

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Nice.

[@itstherick]

Great story on T-birds! 😊👍 Love my 62 convertible!

[@chrismoody1342]

My best friend bought his dads 65 Lt Blue Convertible. Man with the top down the girls lined up and around the block to be seen in this car in high school. We did our best to accommodate all fine ones.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

I bet.

[@Primus54]

You’re really kicking out some great content and doing so quickly! I think once the Thunderbird got to the point it became the Ford version of the Lincoln Marks, it began to have an identity crisis. I had a ‘79 as a company car and really the only thing that made it a “Thunderbird” was the badging. The ‘57 has always been my favorite. Thanks for a thorough review and great photos, as usual. 👍👍👍

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Thanks, I try to keep a weekly schedule. I had a platoon sgt with a 77 T-bird and it was his baby.

[@Primus54]

@@thehopelesscarguy They were attractive and road well, for sure. But in terms of luxury and standard equipment, they were a shadow of their former self. I had a good friend who bought a downsized 1980 and it was truly a horrible and problem-plagued car. He dumped it in less than a year. Cheers!

[@sjbonadonna]

I just got a 55 and IMO the most understated, pinnacle of automotive design then 1967 happened.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

The 55 is a pretty car, congratulations.

[@brianmoore6306]

Loved the video! Thanks so much. We all Love The T-birds. I had a 1991 that I loved. I traded it in when it wore out. Loved it! Keep them coming!

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Thanks.

[@Mark1405Leeds]

I liked the early sixties styling - the UK Ford Corsair obviously got some styling tips from it!

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Oh yeah, and can see that. And similarities to the 61 Lincolns.

[@MITChemE65]

The first time I drove a car with an automatic transmission was a 1963 red Ford Thunderbird along Dewey Blvd in Manila,Philippines. The owner of that car,Jimmy Cabasada and I were chemical engineering students at Mapua Institute of Technology,class of 1965.

[@rebeccamayers2056]

Ford started with a beautiful aerodynamic design and over the years turned it into something very gaudy. The 1966 model reminds of the Batmobile from the Batman TV show starring Adam West.

[@arnepianocanada]

8:10 my exact '80 T-Bird paint job!! Got it used '89. I'm one of very few loving that era (e.g. best seats of my 24+ cars.) It then was 1st car for a Cambodian refugee to Canada. We both miss it.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Nice. Glad to hear it.

[@OLDS98]

Once again a excellent job. I was impressed and you doing a good job with the footage and of photos and videos. The last Thunderbird shared its instrumentation panel with the Lincoln LS which was on the same platform with the Jaguar. They all three shared a lot parts. You really went through the series indeed. I thought the ones 1983-1988 were a little over 200 inches long. I think they were. It did drop down to 198 in 1989. I recall the ones from the early 70's to the 1976 model year were so much like Lincoln Mark IV. They shared a lot of parts. You could see it especially on the exterior. Thank you for taking the time to put this video together. The 1977-1979 models were highly successful. I thought the bullet Birds 1961-1963 were successful. I guess I had that one wrong. You live and learn by watching. Maybe it was the ones afterwards 1964-1966. I look forward to your next video and hope to see more.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Thanks. I would say the early 60s t-birds were successful, just slightly less than those before them.

[@edwardautrey3671]

Always will have a soft spot for the 83-88 t bird , they changed the car industry with the modern design

[@thehopelesscarguy]

A step forward in aero design.

[@jimlubinski4731]

I was always very much a fan of the Thunderbird. as you said, each iteration had its admirers. I've had several over the years. I had a 1964 (which is actually my favorite year), and currently have 2 1966 (convertible and Town Landau), 1980 Silver Anniversary edition (another of my favorite years; when the "aero" look came out in 1983, I stopped buying Thunderbirds and went to Pontiac Trans Ams), 1994 LX with the V-8 (previously owned a 1991 with the 5.0L) and a 2004 Premium edition. I really don't consider the retro T-Bird a flop. In its price range, it would never have been a high volume seller, and unconscionable dealer markups limited sales.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Thunderbirds and Firebirds? The retro thunderbird wasn't a bad car, but I think the expectations were not realistic for what it was.

[@bretfisher7286]

As others have noted, the case of bloat that the Thunderbird demonstrated must have been one of the most tragic ever. It began as a competitor to the Corvette, if I understand it, but within five years in production was becoming obese and lost to its original concept. Not to say it didn't remain another fascinating and exciting automobile, but certainly this is a classic case of American carmaker's often-odd corporate strategies.

[@lorenzomagazzeni5425]

i distictly remember a T byrd with a steering weel not round but sort of squarish, I've seen it in Rome (Italy) when I was a kid in 60-62. Ciao.

[@TheRealDrJoey]

I was 10 in 1960 when a classmate of mine invited me to go to the Detroit Auto Show, showing next year's models. I remember his Dad, on the way home ,muttering to himself, "They've ruined the Thunderbird." I've always felt the 1957 was the last true Thunderbird.

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Always liked the T Bird, great vid!!!! 👍 👍

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Thanks, me too.

[@SugarstickMondial]

i like the 64er sport roadster most of all the Thunderbird models.

[@Dwayne6692]

Dad had a 1961. Garage for 40 yrs.. only took it to car show and drive out east. Very little miles. Sent generator to auto parts to get it rebuilt. Somebody at rebuild place stole it. Made the auto parts replace it.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Sometimes a good mechanic is hard to find.

[@arnepianocanada]

Oh, and a quick P.S. - this is one of the most misnamed channels on the entire web! Ain't nothing 'Hopeless' about you✨️🤩

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Thanks, it comes from my family's opinion of my constant rambling.

[@HenryFrederick]

Enjoyed the narration...

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Thanks.

[@chrisjeffries2322]

Thank you, I enjoyed this.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Thank you, glad to hear it.

[@mortimersnerd9991]

Of the older ones, I really like the 1966 for some reason. I think the design of the interior is why I like it. Most cars you envision from the outside. But the interior including the back seat look like a cool place to be in 1966. I talked to a guy that restored one at a swap meet. He said the hard part on these cars is all the pneumatic controls.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

I think the 66's look cleaner from the outside as well. Or at least less heavy.

[@joeseeking3572]

I've always been a nostalgic fan of the T-bird and can find something to like in most generations - though not the 77-79 (and I've driven those with no change of opinion) nor the 80-82 Fairmonts, though it would be interesting to drive a TRX 302 back to back with the then current GM coupes). The print ads from the 60's were generally beautifully done, and there was even some flair left into the Mark years.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

I have known someone that has had and loved each generation, each appealing to someone different.

[@rexspangler4641]

I like the 77-79 models!

[@thehopelesscarguy]

They certainly stood out at the time.

[@kennethswain6313]

I had a ‘55 In ‘56 they added a vent to help cool the interior. A/C was available but not standard

[@thehopelesscarguy]

I see.

[@jameshallett5395]

I love my 61 sports roadster

[@thehopelesscarguy]

As would I.

[@rjanderson7394]

Of my 80+ vehicles, loved my '70 T-Bird, however in'72 with its ridiculous 4MPG in town and people talking $1 a gallon gas had to let it go!

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Perhaps not a city car.

[@dr.elvis.h.christ]

I don't remember it, but the first car I rode in was a '56 T-Bird.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Might not have been the most kid friendly ride.

[@joshuas8258]

The first gen is one of those most stunningly beautiful cars of all time. Esp the 57. Also love the 61-63. I think the last good looking Bird was the 66. HATE the 70s barges and 80s aero coupes

[@iamsync2552]

Can you please help me identify an old car ? I only have a single picture of it

[@thehopelesscarguy]

I can always give it a shot.

[@JohnMokoena-p1p]

I have a ford Thunderbird 1981 with an immuculate what is the Market price if I would sell it and how do I go about the process of selling it I can send you photos

[@thehopelesscarguy]

You might try www.hagerty.com/valuation-tools or www.hemmings.com/how-much-is-my-classic-car-worth

[@KRW628]

New for 2026. The Ford Thunderbird SUV. Think about it.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

A concept that already haunts me.

[@lamper2]

11:07 Why no fins? not appealing to me for that reason

[@kc0lif]

i like 1967-1971 4 door.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

It has its own style.

[@arnepianocanada]

🎵Mem-rees🎶My piano teacher's hubby griped a lot at their kids for using up gas in his '73. Then the kids left home, escaped blame, and the Bird's 460 motor was 'found out'. He soon traded.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

I see.

[@OldDood]

I loved the 1950's through the 1960's Thunderbirds. My father owned a 1966 T-Bird that I highly enjoyed driving. (circa 1973-1975) What a 'Chic-Magnet' LOL The Thunderbirds from the 1970's until its ending in my opinion were ugly as sin.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

The Thunderbird changed direction more than any other car I can think of.

[@Genoveze-66]

Ford did the right thing at the time the Thunderbird out ran the Corvette from 55-57 and out sold it, but sold more cars in 58 and they made a segment called the "true" personal luxury cars and GM didn't catch up to Ford until 63 with Buick Riviera and they still had a stranglehold on the game. So I thought Ford won

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Certainly from a sales perspective. Even if it does seem odd in retrospect.

[@blackbiker1961]

Everybody skips over the 1963 1/2 Thunderbird.

[@courtneypuzzo2502]

that length made it a midsize car 14.6 Ft at first and just over 17 Ft long

[@thehopelesscarguy]

I suppose that is one way to look at it.

[@gustavoarguello5979]

The 1961 Lincoln Continental was going to be a Thunderbird.

[@arnepianocanada]

Big moans arose with '67-era 'glorified Galaxie' T-Birds; but Ford was solving a crisis of its own surprise making. Mustang's wild success made essential a less sporty, more classy T-Bird niche.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Internal competition was really starting become a thing around that time.

[@darcyhodges309]

T birds in the 80s were awful. So awesome in the 50s and 60s

[@walterappling6230]

OMG

[@JonathanBrown-xm3qz]

What a sad commentary on Ford's styling of a classic model. It is almost as if some designer said "I hate Thunderbirds, let's make them plain or ugly and see if they sell." in the final 2 decade of the production. Somewhere they took a wrong turn. the 60' were the best! A '67 was the first car I drove (of my father's) when I got my license.

[@TTGTO288]

One always has to wonder where the Tbird would've gone had Ford kept using it to compete against the Corvette instead of turning it into a big heavy land yacht. Would we have 2 affordable American supercars? Surely, they would regularly compete against each other on the track. Ford definitely dropped the ball on this one, while Corvette will always remain the best bang for the go fast buck. Just goes to show that Ford designers couldn't keep up with the Corvette and just gave up.