New For 1961
 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/wp-cont...=569&zc=1&q=80

I've always considered the Thunderbird a sort of "tweener" car. From its inception, it was never really a sports car, wasn't all that fast, and certainly wasn't as luxurious as the price tag might have lead consumers to believe. It just sort of sat s... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

Re: New For 1961
 

61-62 are the best t-birds in my opinion

Re: New For 1961
 

Love those T-Birds! I was new in '61 too.

Re: New For 1961
 

The "big birds" were really the first cars to use the "personal luxury" idea that became all-consuming by the mid 70's. And they were designer cars too, not meant to be exceptionally practical or to blend in.

Not only that, but they predated the Riviera by a good margin, too.

Re: New For 1961
 

The mid sixties T-bird had one of the best factory interiors of all time (IMO).

Re: New For 1961
 

thats my girl!

Re: New For 1961
 

I like them...

just finished
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/p...ctureid=416979

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/p...ctureid=416985

and Ive got a 59 in progress

Re: New For 1961
 

Ryan...

My first car was a '58 Thunderbird (White/B &W Interior)...in 1960. It was the cleanest, coolest car in the neighborhood at the time. Pix are in my Album Section. (Two of my buddies at the time who owned a '51 Ford Victoria, and, a '52 Plymouth Belvedere HdTp., literally drooled when they saw the fully-loaded 'Bird the first time.)

When I went to California in 1962 to visit my Aunt who lived in Fontana, she picked me up at the Riverside Airport. She, like me, was a car buff, had bought a '61 Bird (Tan/Beige Interior) brand-new.

After we loaded my bags in the car, she threw me the keys and said: "You're used to driving your 'Bird, let's try-out mine !". She let me use it for the rest of my vacation out there. Bless her heart, she only lived about a year longer...but she was THE B-E-S-T !! (And, after she died, someone stole the 'Bird, and it was never found.)

I also had a '66 Thunderbird (428 Q-Code/Fully Loaded) up until I got the '57 Dodge Coronet D-500 four years ago. But, yes, always a soft-spot for 58's & 61's. And, of course, I do love the 55's.


Jonnie www.legends.thewwbc.net

Re: New For 1961
 

right now, the one thing the early sixties birds are great at, is affordability. you get a lot of car for the money.

Re: New For 1961
 

'65 my favorite. My Grandfather had a cream colored one with black interior. It was the first car I ever saw with power windows, he would let me straddle the center-hump, reach over the console and play with them untill my Grandmother got anoyed.

Re: New For 1961
 

61s always reminded me of rocketships.but then alot of cars of that era were influenced by the rocketships. but as far as t birds go i like the 61s but lordy lordy give me a 55!!!

Re: New For 1961
 

My wife like the square birds but 61 is my favorite as well. My grandmother's favorite as well. My grandfather bought her a Desert Gold 61 on Christmas Eve 1960 which she drove until it was replaced with a 68 Thunderbird bought on Christmas Eve 1967.

Re: New For 1961
 

The prototype for the "personal luxury car." And, of course, the '63 Buick Riviera was GM's answer to success of the 'Bird.

Re: New For 1961
 

Right. What it's great at is allowing the driver to project a certain luxury sport image. None of the luxury cars of those days really did that (save perhaps the Chrysler 300).

I like the two-seat 'Birds the best, because I always envision them stripped of the luxury and hot rodded into sports cars, but it's undeniable the car found its niche when it added the back seat.

Re: New For 1961
 

I agree with this. Plus, they all had big enough motors to keep it interesting. Perfect car for the young, up and coming professional.

Re: New For 1961
 

A '61-'63 T-Bird is on my short list of cars I want to own.

Re: New For 1961
 

best of the birds.

Re: New For 1961
 

The 61 is my favorite of the later generations. The front is fabulous. But I've always felt the b-pillar was too heavy and the rear lights were too simple. If I ever own a 61, I will probably modify it heavily. A bubble top would look great.

Re: New For 1961
 

Having just got my drivers liesnce in 1955 and liking fords,the T-Bird was a sports car to every one then,even if ford didn't think so............. Anyway that took the down hill turn in 1958,but the body design may of looked good made smaller and a two seater,and same goes for all the way to 1961,guess what,they did sell a back seat cover that made them into a two seater=would of looked super had it only been built as small as 1955 to 57,was a much better design then vet had IMHO.
Point is,it's a bit hard saying it was this or that,if you were not there then,cus now I see guys saying things that is new BS based on not knowing crap of how it was. Not the same for everyone,ture but many it seems.:cool:

Re: New For 1961
 

I have always been partial to the '64 only because I got this Philco transistor radio in '64 when I was 11.:)

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