Maybe a Thunderbird?
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Serbian Steamer
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From: Wisconsin / Serbia
Corvette was fiberglass, I6, looked European ... Back then Corvette was competing against European roadsters from MG and Jaguar.
Thunderbird was class for itself.
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From: Midlothian, Va
Originally Posted by SVTCobraR315
'57 all day! To compete with the vette! The idea in 1957 was to go up against the vette. That's the rightful glory.
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Some information on 1955. (In context with the 1995-1957 Thunderbirds. And remember the Thunderbird could be had with a Paxton supercharger. But I agree the Thunderbird was more refined as a personal luxury performance machine as opposed to the Corvette.)
http://www.corvettetopia.com/Article...d/Default.aspx
Where the Corvette did compete against the Thunderbird was under the hood. The Thunderbird featured a 292 cubic inch engine with a top rating of 198 horsepower. For the first time, the Corvette could boast a V8, the amazing new small block displacing 265 cubic inches and rated at 195 horsepower. Unlike the Thunderbird's Y block 292, the Chevy 265 was a high revving, responsive engine that transformed the Corvette into an exciting driving machine. The 265 was backed by either a three speed manual transmission or the two speed Powerglide.
Buyers flocked to the new Thunderbird, and sales were good, tallying 16,155. Corvette sales were not nearly as satisfactory. Chevrolet dealers had to move the six cylinder powered '54s and they were deeply discounted, which cut into sales of the new V8 powered models. When the dust settled at the end of the model year, Chevrolet had sold exactly 700 1955 Corvettes. That would have sounded the death knell for the Corvette, however thanks to the Thunderbird and supporters of the car within Chevrolet, the car was given a reprieve. In retrospect that was a sound decision, because three years later the Thunderbird would leave the two seat market and move up to the new four passenger, personal luxury market. Engineering, styling and comfort refinements to the Corvette, beginning in 1956, transformed the car and sales slowly began to blossom. After a tremulous first three years, the Corvette would come of age, and its future would never be as precarious again.
Buyers flocked to the new Thunderbird, and sales were good, tallying 16,155. Corvette sales were not nearly as satisfactory. Chevrolet dealers had to move the six cylinder powered '54s and they were deeply discounted, which cut into sales of the new V8 powered models. When the dust settled at the end of the model year, Chevrolet had sold exactly 700 1955 Corvettes. That would have sounded the death knell for the Corvette, however thanks to the Thunderbird and supporters of the car within Chevrolet, the car was given a reprieve. In retrospect that was a sound decision, because three years later the Thunderbird would leave the two seat market and move up to the new four passenger, personal luxury market. Engineering, styling and comfort refinements to the Corvette, beginning in 1956, transformed the car and sales slowly began to blossom. After a tremulous first three years, the Corvette would come of age, and its future would never be as precarious again.
Last edited by Evil_Capri; Jan 24, 2012 at 10:14 AM.
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This is the only classic Thunderbird that I ever drove ... A 1961 T-Bird with 390cid under the hood.
I almost bought it few years ago, but it had too many issues for $11,000 car.
I almost bought it few years ago, but it had too many issues for $11,000 car.
Last edited by Zastava_101; Jan 24, 2012 at 09:40 AM.
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It was Wisconsin car that sat outside for years and was fully restored in 1982.
Windshield had to be replaced, rear qiarter panel on driver's side had to replaced (too much rust), there are other places that had rust, the complete interior had to be redone ... Basically I was looking at least $15,000 investment for restoration in addition of $11,000 the owner was asking for a car. And for that much money (and a year or two of work) I could've bought a newer restoration 1958-1960 Thunderbird (which are my favorite years of Thunderbird).
Windshield had to be replaced, rear qiarter panel on driver's side had to replaced (too much rust), there are other places that had rust, the complete interior had to be redone ... Basically I was looking at least $15,000 investment for restoration in addition of $11,000 the owner was asking for a car. And for that much money (and a year or two of work) I could've bought a newer restoration 1958-1960 Thunderbird (which are my favorite years of Thunderbird).
Last edited by Zastava_101; Jan 24, 2012 at 10:10 AM.
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I'm indifferent to another Thunderbird. And I don't think a new one fits into FMC's current plan/structure.
Would a new Thunderbird need to be a 'halo' vehicle for Ford? I think Lincoln needs a 'halo' vehicle before Ford.
Would a new Thunderbird need to be a 'halo' vehicle for Ford? I think Lincoln needs a 'halo' vehicle before Ford.
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From: Minnesota
I always did like the 1955 and 1956 T-Bird. I hoped Ford would look at the design and realize how good it was and go back to the original timeless design and produce a two seat T-Bird sportscar. The closest they came was the 2003 T-Bird. I waited patiently for Ford to put a 450 to 500 horsepower engine in the new T-Bird, but they never did. Likewise, I waited for Ford to put a more powerefull engine in the Mercury Marauder, but they never did. As a result, I bought neither one. 
Last edited by 2 Go Snake; Jan 24, 2012 at 01:00 PM.
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Originally Posted by 2 Go Snake
I always did like the 1955 and 1956 T-Bird. I hoped Ford would look at the design and realize how good it was and go back to the original timeless design and produce a two seat T-Bird sportscar. The closest they came was the 2003 T-Bird. I waited patiently for Ford to put a 450 to 500 horsepower engine in the new T-Bird, but they never did. Likewise, I waited for Ford to put a more powerefull engine in the Mercury Marauder, but they never did. As a result, I bought neither one.
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