Huge front grille has been described as similar to that of a mouth organ

This 1960 T-Bird sports a steel sliding sunroof and rear continental kit, note the large rear triple tail light cluster

The ‘Squarebird’ was the first American produced car to feature a full length centre console and individual bucket seat

The 430ci Lincoln V8 engine rated at 350bhp @ 4800rpm was an option from 1959

Column shift for the automatic transmission and plenty of dashboard brightwork

Magazine Subscription

Subscribe to Classic Motoring Magazine and save over 20%

Subscribe NOW

Available at all good newsagents including WHSmith

What is a Second Generation Ford Thunderbird?

The successor to the original twoseat Thunderbird and one in a long line of these excellent models from the Blue Oval stable that can command iconic status. It got the name from the Indian legend portraying the Thunderbird from the deserts of New Mexico and Arizona as a divine helper of man. In a departure from the original T-Bird, which was strictly a twoseater convertible and produced from 1955-1957, its replacement was a four-seater which meant that now the whole family could go out for the day and enjoy the fun. There was also a huge boot with ample room for luggage. While the second generation T-Bird may have lacked the more sporting image of the original, it was what the American public required and it was marketed as more a personal luxury car than pure sports.

History

Firmly established as a highly effective competitor in a head-to-head with Chevrolet’s Corvette, which it easily outsold, the second generation T-Bird was launched to the public on New Year’s Eve 1957 at the Thunderbird Golf Club in Palm Springs, California. It was then displayed at the Chicago Auto Show during January 1958. Production of the Thunderbird was moved to Ford’s Wixom plant, which also housed the Blue Oval luxury Lincoln car division.

First year sales were 37,892, which was extremely encouraging and compared favourably with the entire production of the first T-Bird over three years, which was 53,166. Such was its popularity, the new T-Bird was named Car of the Year by Motor Trend magazine. Some purists recoiled in horror at the restyling of the T-Bird which was not as pretty as before. With its wide pillar roof and more boxy lines the car also got nicknamed the ‘Squarebird’ and its new front grille was akin to that of a mouth organ.

But the name of the game was all about sales and the Ford hierarchy must have been well satisfied with their new car! With designs penned by Bill Boyer and Maurice King, body styling was all new with no chassis. The body was produced by the Budd Company, and the only bolton panels were the doorsplus the massicve bonnet and bootlid.

This T-Bird was the first American-produced car to sport a full length centre console and individual bucket seats. For 1959 there were a few minor styling changes to the grille, rear light cluster and the car badging. Towards the end of production in 1960, a limited number of cars were fitted with a steel sliding sunroof, the first post-war on an American car. It was designed and fitted at the factory by the Golde Company of Frankfurt am Main,West Germany who were well known for its steel sliding roofs and ran an office in Detroit.

The T-Bird kicked off with V8 engines from the outset and second generation cars were equipped with the 352ci @ 300bhp with the huge Lincoln
430ci @ 350bhp available as an option in 1959. Transmissions were the typical Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automatic or the standard Ford threespeed auto. Only one per cent of production got a three-speed manual transmission, with another single per cent having overdrive!

Interiors offered high levels of refinement and comfort with bucket seats, excellent quality leather trim if required and stylish dashboard with a full compliment of gauges. The last of the minor body styling changes took place for 1960 with the dual tail light clusters being replaced with triple lights. Hardtop models easily outsold the convertible by almost 8-1. 1960 was the banner year for the ‘Squarebird’ with the final arrangement of a fully automatic convertible top.

Driving

The individual bucket seats of the Tbird are a comfortable environment from which to enjoy the merits of this car. The softly sprung suspension offers a good quality ride, but don’t expect sports car handling. Much too will depend if the car is still running on crossply tyres or has been upgraded to radials. A reasonably quick car in its day, the T-Bird with the Lincoln 430 engine would propel its occupants from 0-60mph in under nine seconds which was fast for a four-seater of that era.

Even fitted with drum brakes all round, a nicely adjusted set-up will pull the car up swiftly enough without a problem, unless you continually gun it and create fade.

Prices

All Squarebirds are now prized cars with those in superb condition commanding top dollar and the 1958 convertible (2134 built) being one of the best buys from 1958. Its top is automatic, but you have to raise the rear deck lid by hand. Any 1959 convertible is collectible with 10,262 built. For a really fine T-Bird purchased in the UK expect to pay upwards of £10,000 - £11,000. For a convertible prices rise to £19,000 - £20,000 and concours cars can fetch over £30,000. Rare models like the 430s with low miles and low ownership will always command a higher price. You can buy knackered ones for £2000, but we wouldn’t advise it.