Last squarebird??

[trim code 76]

I added this to the end of my previous post but thought I should post it on it's own. My car is at the paint shop right now (the factory paint could not be saved) The body is perfect and the rest of the car is 100% untouched and in fantastic condition. When I was taking everything out of the inside I discovered that on the inside of one of the door panels in black grease pencile it states "7/13" (last day of production), "last day, last car"! I had a pretty good idea it was possibly the last one and know there is some question as to the last actual number produced but this very well may be it!!!! I also found carefully placed under the factory carpet a paper shamrock that states "This is your lucky shamrock" built on the 13th.... I guess so!! The car is 99% factory original to the car, with the exception of the exhaust pipes and mufflers (Have factory date code mufflers in the box, they will be going on. I even have a factory oil filter) and the battery (Have a reproduction Power Punch, only reproduction part on the car). I bought it for the interior (my log in name) but got real lucky on the number!

[bird 60]

Congratulations, & for your sake I hope it is the Silver Chalice of the Squarebirds. Now some-one has to come up with the First.

Chris....From the Land of OZ.

[byersmtrco]

Wow . . . Now THATS something !!!
I'd be curious the last didgets of the VIN and the destination code.

Is it in the TB reg?

[LuckyJay]

When it says "7/13" does that imply July the 13th? I was under the notion that the 60 t-Birds were in production into September of 1960. What is the VIN of your car and what does the DATA plate code the date to be?

[trim code 76]

Data plate info: #OY71Y192784 (#92,784). Body:63A, Color:Z, Trim:76, Date:13W, Trans:4, Axle:3. 13W was the last day of production.

[fomoco59]

Greg,
You should get that car into the TBird Registry.

[YellowRose]

Last squarebird??

According to Automotive Mileposts, there were 92,843 '60 Squarebirds manufactured that year. The highest number ever for Squarebirds. Also, September 13th (13W) was the last day for production according to them. I don't know why "7/13" would have been written, instead of 9/13, unless part of the 9 wore off.

I do not know how you account for the other 59 that were manufactured between 92,784 and 92,843, but I recall reading somewhere, that Ford did not always manufacture cars in the exact order by serial number. It could be that the '59 other cars, where different models on different lines, like the J Code, or the convertible. I think that one of the line workers would not have taken the time to write what they did, and do with they did if that car was NOT the last car on their line.. And yes, it should be registered on John Rotella's Tbird Registry, since it is a very historical car.

http://automotivemileposts.com/tbird1960selections.shtml

[GTE427]

On the other end of the spectrum, I recall a VTCA piece in the seventies where someone scouting a yard turned up a 60 HT, serial number ONE. He bought the car and restored it.

I remember seeing the car in the registry, believe it's located in Pennsylvania.

Interesting concept, two last cars, last built and last numbered. Besides the pencil markings on the car, wonder if there is anyway to document this as the last one, such as a Ford newsletter or a photo shoot to commemorate the ocassion. This was the last 60, the last of the body series and a big sales success, my hope is the last car would have received some publicity.

Does anyone have the data on the Stainless Steel TBirds? These would have been near the end as it's been written the dies would have been damaged stamping the SS panels

[Guest]

Am I mistaken or wasn't the 1960 stainless steel Thunderbird the last one to be produced? Since stainless is so hard, once the sheet-metal stamps or dies were used they were destroyed.

[YellowRose]

Last squarebird??

Here is the information that I and others posted regarding the stainless steel Squarebirds.

http://www.squarebirds.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=5499&highlight=Stainless+Steel+Tbirds

I think you are right about them not making them until the end of the production run for the reasons stated.

[Dan Leavens]

Chris you definitely have to get your 60 accredited by Ford as the last off the production line somehow and get it registered.

[JohnG]

The last 1960 in the TBird Registry is 0Y71Y192834 and the Registry says it was produced Sept 13,1960. See

http://www.tbirdregistry.com/viewdatasheet.asp?RegistryNumber=14845

Any chance the "7" was a poorly made "9" ??

[YellowRose]

Last squarebird??

I just talked with Lou Paliani, Pres. of VTCI, here in San Antonio. I asked him if he knew how one could get Ford to write a letter authenticating this Tbird as being the last of production. He said, in essence, good luck! They get NO support from Ford whatsoever, which is a shame. One could contact the VTCI Ford Rep, and see if he could help.

His suggestion was to photograph everything you told us about, regarding dates, and inscriptions you found on the car, and under the carpeting. Then contact Alan Tast, who is sure to see this when he logs on next. Alan might be able to give you full details on this. Lou also said that even though there were 59 other cars in the serial number range, after yours, that they did run seperate lines for different models, ie, J cars, and convertibles. And lastly, that they did, supposedly run the stainless steel cars as the very last runs for the reasons stated below. Hope this helps! And YES, get it registerd in John Rotella's Tbird Registry!

[Guest]

The last 1960 in the TBird Registry is 0Y71Y192834 and the Registry says it was produced Sept 13,1960.
Any chance the "7" was a poorly made "9" ??

As was true of the 58 year model run, quite often date codes did not follow the VIN# in numerical sequence. Thus this may have happened in 59 as well. Not even for different date codes, but also as to when an early model VIN may have come off the line later then an earlier VIN. This was due to to the tree or flow chart of installing optional equipt in different cars. All basic models with no options or standard equipt followed the shortest line to the finish line. If a special paint job or a different engine was ordered, then that car was pulled out of the line and parked for the upgrade. For the 58 model year I have seen date codes off from numerical order by as much as 5 days.

Because our subject bird has a VIN# of 784 and the last numerical was 834, that is a moving quantity of 50 birds on the line at one time thru out the day. It would stand to reason that they got all mixed up to the finish line with optional installs and coffee/lunch breaks.

It would be fun to know if Sept. 13, 1959 was a Friday. Oooh, how macabre if that were the case.

[JohnG]

3 quick notes:

1) take a look at the comments on the next-to-last 1960 which is at
http://www.tbirdregistry.com/viewdat...tryNumber=1675 and are for VIN 0Y71Y192812

the comments are:

Registrar's Note: This Thunderbird has a higher consecutive unit number than Ford's official production records indicate would exist. Please see the Thunderbird Registry Lowest-Highest C.U.N. Information Page

2) the last two in the Registry have leather interiors. I wonder if that could cause things to get out of sequence?

3) your car and 0Y71Y192744 both have the rare interior combination 76. His was also produced on day 13W. (see http://www.tbirdregistry.com/viewdat...ryNumber=31937 )

All this has reminded me of what a remarkable resource John Rotella has provided us all with!

john