New For 1961

[Ryan]

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...

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[uc4me]

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

[s55mercury66]

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

[Squablow]

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.

[olskoolspeed]

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

[AustinThunderbird]

thats my girl!

[ynottayblock]

I like them...

just finished




and Ive got a 59 in progress

[Jonnie King]

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

[tb33anda3rd]

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

[GreenMtnBoy]

'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.

[outlaw256]

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!!!

[eddie1]

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.

[froghawk]

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

[Bigcheese327]

Originally Posted by froghawk

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

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.

[Comet]

Originally Posted by Squablow

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.

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

[Sweepspear]

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

[belair]

best of the birds.

[herbet99]

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.

[dana barlow]

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.

[BrerHair]

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