1957 Ford F-code Thunderbird. Photo courtesy of owner William Clark.
In the early fifties, Ford took a hard look at what had initially been an innocent question: Are the import sports cars a flash in the pan, or just the tip of the proverbial iceberg? Evidence suggested the latter, that indeed the two-seat movement had gained a foothold on domestic soil and was intensifying. And so after careful consideration and development by management and engineering, in September 1954 Ford Motor Company formally introduced the production version of “a new kind of sports car” for the 1955 model year, aimed directly at the previously disregarded market segment.
Called the Thunderbird, it was equipped with a spritely 292-cu.in. V-8 as standard equipment. The finely balanced 102-inch wheelbase cruiser was also fitted with a three-speed manual transmission, a removable hardtop, clean lines, rocket-like taillamps blended into finned quarter panels, and a dual exhaust system exiting through rear bumper guards in equally rocket-like fashion. Options included a soft-top (in addition to or in lieu of the hardtop), Ford-O-Matic transmission, wire wheel covers, and power windows, brakes and steering.
Though designed to steal sales from the imports, the road test media instead wrote of the Thunderbird’s ability to easily compete against Chevrolet’s Corvette. More than 16,000 T-Birds, as they were quickly dubbed, were built in its first year, but along the way Ford rapidly dropped the sports car reference and instead advertised the two-seater as a “personal car.” It’s a designation that gained a substantial foothold when the redesigned four-seat 1958 Thunderbirds were rolled out with unimagined success. In turn, the T-Bird became the ever-evolving benchmark for the personal luxury car market for more than three decades.
In recognition of their 60th anniversary, pre-1971 model year Thunderbirds will be honored at the ninth-annual Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance. The class will feature six generations of the personal luxury icon, and as the number of entries continues to grow, we’re pleased to announce that attendees will have an opportunity to examine some rare variations, including the F-Code example pictured atop the page.
Amidst the escalating horsepower war in Detroit during the latter half of the Fifties – fed by racing accolades that yielded bold headlines and, in return, spurred sales – manufactures began producing elaborate fuel induction systems. Ford’s exotic engine for 1957 started life as a standard 245-hp, 312-cu.in. Y-block; however engineers adopted a McCulloch/Paxton variable ratio supercharger that boosted output to a conservative factory rating of 300 hp. Known by its option designation, the F-Code Thunderbirds were produced in exceptionally low numbers; just 211 out of a total production run of more than 21,300.
Also scheduled to appear is the 1967 Ford Thunderbird Apollo pictured below; one of a mere five created for the flagship storefronts of Abercrombie & Fitch, and loaded with amenities such as leather upholstery, fold-down desks for rear-seat passengers, a Philco television set and a straight-from-the-future radio telephone.
1967 Thunderbird Apollo. Photo by Daniel Strohl.
Joining the Thunderbirds will be five other featured marque classes, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Chevrolet’s 1965-and-later Mark IV big-block equipped passenger cars; Mercedes-Benz 300SL “Gullwing” Coupes and Roadsters; Packards; Hudsons; and Police Cars thru 1990. These featured marques will be joined by our traditional classes, headlined by Full Classics, as well as American Open/Closed Models, American Muscle Cars, European Cars, Vintage Trucks and Preservation vehicles.
Presented by Gullwing Motor Cars and sponsored by Chubb Collector Car Insurance and ROGO Fasteners, the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance will be held on Sunday, September 27 in the picturesque Saratoga Spa State Park adjacent to the Saratoga Automobile Museum in Saratoga Springs, New York. The Concours will be preceded by the Hemmings Rally to Lake George on Friday, September 25, followed by Saturday’s Cruise-In Spectacular and Concours evening banquet, the latter headlined by a keynote address from this year’s Honorary Chairman, automotive legend Peter Brock. Joining us throughout the weekend once again will be Master of Ceremonies Ed Lucas.
If you would like to have your Thunderbird or another vehicle considered for Sunday’s Concours d’Elegance, please send photos and a brief write-up about it to Hemmings Motor News Concours, Attn: Matthew Litwin, 222 Main Street, Bennington, Vermont, 05201, or by email to concours@hemmings.com.
More information about the ninth Annual Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance, including Friday and Saturday registration and ticket packages, can be found at Hemmings.com/Events/Concours. A portion of the concours proceeds goes directly towards the Saratoga Automobile Museum’s educational programs focused on safety and distracted driving awareness. To learn more, visit SaratogaAutoMuseum.org.
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