RE: 54 thunderbird

The latest Hemmings Classic Car magazine has a pic of one of these...

The article documents how the TBird came into being (a very convoluted story by the way).
One of the early designs pushed for the Fairlane style trim, but it was axed by the head of the team.

There's a pic of it and other early versions in the magazine article.

RE: 54 thunderbird

hi
Thanks but i am not a subcriber so i could not see the pic. did it have a pic with the fairlane trim?
thanks
Mark

RE: 54 thunderbird



Very rare trim, unique to the Thunderbirds. It does not interchange with the Fairlanes.



Alexander
1959 Hardtop
1960 Golde Top

RE: 54 thunderbird

hi
thanks for the pic. I use to have a 55 fairlane in the army for the short time i thought i could live without a 59 bird, that period lasted about 6 months. one day on my way back to the base (1975) i saw a 59bird and ran the guy down and ask if he might sell, he said come back in about 3 months around Christmas. I did and i got it for $200. he liked his 68 torino and could care less about the bird. i later got and still have a 68 torino, 59 tbird ht, 60 tbird conv. 65 tempest conv. 63 catalina conv. 66 gmc panel, 72 dart swinger, 63 1/2 galaxie xl, 67 ford pickup, and a few newer dead soldiers i have driven on my 100 mile round trip to work. 4 1/2 years from retiring and plenty of projects, of course none are pretty now but living in the country gives me the opportuinty to save a few. I probably need professional counsuling.
thanks
Mark

RE: 54 thunderbird

You have an incurable disease. I have it myself.

See this thread: http://www.lincolnsclub.org/forum/dc...id=24104&page=

Alexander
1959 Hardtop
1960 Golde Top

RE: 54 thunderbird

I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon back in the early nineties with Frank Hershey discussing his illustrious career in automotive design. I asked him about the check-mark moulding on the thunderbird and he indicated to me that, after the t-bird design was finalised he took a break and vacationed in Acapulco Mexico; upon his return, he discovered that George Walker (who was not a Ford employee but an outside consultant) had introduced the side moulding. Needless to say, Frank was not impressed and immediately ordered it removed. I distinctly got the impression that Frank was not a fan of George Walker!

RE: 54 thunderbird

Thank you for relating that story. It is rare that we learn how styling decisions are reached.

Alexander
1959 Hardtop
1960 Golde Top