Good morning Oppo

"JR1" (type35bugatti) 08/09/2015 at 09:24 • Filed to: Ford Thunderbird

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Think this looks a lot like the 61 Continental? You'd be right they shared the same basic design. However the Thunderbird was designed first.

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > JR1 08/09/2015 at 10:25

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This is my favorite generation of the Thunderbird. You can get fairly cheap too.

JR1 > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis 08/09/2015 at 11:26

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Everyone wants the baby Tbird but by doing so they overlook some gorgoues cars.

Your boy, BJR > JR1 08/09/2015 at 11:33

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Ford has also made some FUGLY Thunderbirds.

JR1 > Your boy, BJR 08/09/2015 at 11:42

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Or in other news 85% of the cars made between the 70s/80s looked horrible. Although the first one isn't terrible

TylerLinner > JR1 08/09/2015 at 11:50

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Small as it may seem, I think making the jump to the Conti’s square shaped side graphic was pretty difficult back then. There were those (like Exner) who seemingly pushed the late 50’s styling past its limits, and others who started building really, really clean cars. Eventually the clean cars won out, but I think at the end of the 50’s (fins and jets) it may have been hard to pick a new design direction.

Eventually the fins and graphics gave way to an emphasis on pure surface development for much of the 60’s. I think that’s why you see more simple, clean body sides and square shaped grilles after about ‘62-63 (‘62 Chevy, ‘63 Olds). Everyone was sick of 50’s graphics and soap bar forms. Of course, by the early 70’s they started pushing surfaces out again (see ‘70 GTO, ‘71 Satellite) and bending the square grilles into more complex shapes.

If you really want to see the difference in what was happening, look at a ‘59 Chevy truck vs. a ‘62. The Thunderbird up here was caught on the later end of that styling transition from round to square.

Your boy, BJR > JR1 08/09/2015 at 11:52

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Ugh it’s SO bad. And that pointy bit is supposed to be a beak. So not only is it hideous, it's also stupid.

desertdog5051 > JR1 08/09/2015 at 11:58

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59 or 61. Decisions, decisions.

JR1 > TylerLinner 08/09/2015 at 12:39

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It was a radical departure during the era I agree. Just look at the 61/62 Cadillac. It was struggling to find a new identity after the massive tail fins of the 59/60.

Lincoln and Fords departure to smooth and elegant lines was a huge step. I do not think it would have happened without Macnamera threatening to kill Lincoln because of the massive lose of money between 58/50.

JR1 > Your boy, BJR 08/09/2015 at 12:40

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Okay it looks a lot worse from those angles. Dear lord what where they thinking?

JR1 > desertdog5051 08/09/2015 at 12:42

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61 for me. 59 is beautiful no doubt but the 61 is timeless

Your boy, BJR > JR1 08/09/2015 at 12:49

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“Our car is named after a BIRD so let’s give it a BEAK! That way people know it’s a THUNDER BIRD ! BIRD! BEAK ! BIRD! BEAK! BEAK! BIRD! THUNDERBEAK !” *sticks head in not yet invented microwave*

wafflesnfalafel > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis 08/09/2015 at 13:33

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agree - better than 59, 64, 67, 70 etc. Beautiful especially in the several shades of blue, silver/blue they offered. So many examples have been messed with though...

desertdog5051 > JR1 08/09/2015 at 16:18

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No doubt about that. For me it’s like deciding which of 2 beautiful woman you want.

TylerLinner > JR1 08/10/2015 at 13:57

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True- and the ‘61 Cad also reveals its headlight “pod” a bit on the sides as well. I love that trick, and BMW just revived it with the F30’s peeking chrome grille surround.

I’m not very knowledgeable on Ford history, but yes, threats like that do tend to get results!

Meanwhile, the Ford line didn’t ‘square up’ for another few years. ‘64 Ford full sizers were still carrying on the legacy soap box surfacing, and their trucks didn’t move past that until ‘67.

JR1 > TylerLinner 08/10/2015 at 21:06

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The squaring up process began the slow movement to generalized bland cars if you ask me. Nothing really had indivudality anymore.

I never noticed the pod feature on the 61 before that was a nice touch

TylerLinner > JR1 08/11/2015 at 10:18

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I think it’s just a different style. You get exciting and bland cars in all eras.