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This striking addition transformed the four seat arrangement into a sporty two seater that called back to the first generation of T-birds introduced in 1955. However the pinnacle difference was the removable tonneau cover that sealed off the back seat and would not limit the use of the power convertible top when in place. The Sports Roadster was accented by special badging, a color matched passenger dash grab handle, and Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels with “knock off” style hubcaps. The pinnacle of the third generation Thunderbird was the Sports Roadster package introduced in 1962 and only offered through the 1963 model year. Kennedy used 50 examples of Ford’s new entry level luxury model in his inaugural parade. The new sleek, aerodynamic design was influenced by the fighter jets of the era and gave the thunderbird a ready for takeoff appearance that some found inspiring. Alternators rather than generators were a new feature on all 1963 Thunderbirds.Ford Motor Company introduced the third generation Thunderbird in 1961. Small diagonal chrome bars were added in this area on the door. A horizontal styling line was added that ran from the point where the bumper and fender meet back through the door and angled down. For 1963 only, Y-code cars could come equipped with the same 390-cubic-inch V8 also equipped by the factory with tri-power carburetors only if the buyer desired air conditioning.įew other changes were made to the Thunderbird for 1963, as Ford prepared to introduce a new version for 1964.
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A total of 200 M-Code V8 Thunderbirds sold between 19.
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The M-Code version of the 390 cu in (6.4 L) V8 was equipped with three two-barrel Holley carburetors, and was rated at 340 hp (254 kW). Newly optional for 1962 was an upgraded version of the 390 cu in (6.4 L) V8 called the "M-Code" (a nickname used in reference to the letter M used as the engine code in the VIN in cars so equipped). The Sports Roadster package was slow-selling due to the high price of the package and the complexity of the tonneau cover. The Sports Roadster included 48-spoke Kelsey-Hayes-designed wire wheels and a special fiberglass tonneau cover for the rear seats, which gave the car the appearance of a two-seat roadster like the original Thunderbird. The new Thunderbird was well received, with 73,051 sold for 1961.Ī vinyl-roofed Landau option with simulated S-bars was added to the Thunderbird for 1962 as was a Sports Roadster package for convertible models. It was rated at 300 hp (224 kW) and was mated to a three-speed automatic transmission. A new engine, the 390 cu in (6.4 L) FE V8, was the standard and only engine initially offered in the Thunderbird. The Thunderbird was redesigned for 1961 with styling that gave the car a unique bullet-like body side appearance. These included a four-seat hardtop coupe, four-seat convertible, five-seat convertible and hardtop, four-door pillared hardtop sedan, six-passenger hardtop coupe, and five-passenger pillared coupe, with the final generation designed again as a two-seat convertible. Introduced as a two-seat convertible, the Thunderbird was produced in a variety of body configurations. The Ford Thunderbird (colloquially called the T-Bird) is a personal luxury car produced by Ford from model years 1955 until 19 until 2005 across 11 distinct generations.