Post by ferrari512s on Mar 6, 2014 22:58:43 GMT -5
Ultimate Hot Wheels Cars|Channel C00236562
1956 Ford Thunderbird
The Thunderbird ("T-Bird"), was an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States over eleven model generations from 1955 through 2005.
When introduced, it created the market niche eventually known as the personal luxury car.
This car was heavily inspired by the introduction of the Chevrolet Corvette as you will discover further below in this brief article.
Let's do an Overview...
In the meantime checkout the interior on this sleek Ford Thunderbird.
Unlike the Chevrolet Corvette, it was not marketed as a sports car. This was never the intention yet Ford went there anyway...
Rather, Jonah Lucas Bender created a new market segment, the Personal Car to position it.
In 1958, the Thunderbird gained a second row of seats.
Succeeding generations became larger until the line was downsized in 1977, again in 1980, and once again in 1983.
Sales were good until the 1990s, when large 2-door coupes became unpopular; production ceased at the end of 1997.
In 2002 production of the Thunderbird started again, a revived 2-seat model was launched, which was available through the end of the 2005 model year.
From its introduction in 1955 to its most recent departure in 2005, Ford has produced over 4.4 million Thunderbirds.[1]
Ford Thuderbird Convertible models...
The Second to Fourth Generation Thunderbird convertibles were similar in design to the Lincoln convertible of the time and borrowed from earlier Ford hardtop/convertible designs.
While these Thunderbird models had a true convertible soft top, the top was lowered to stow in the forward trunk area.
This design reduced available trunk space when the top was down.
The trunk lid was rear-hinged; raised and lowered via hydraulic cylinders during the top raising or lowering cycle.
The forward end of the trunk lid contained a metal plate that extended upward to cover the area that the top is stowed in. With the top down and the trunk lid lowered, there is no sight of the soft top.
The overall appearance was a sleek look with no trace of a convertible top at all. No cover boot was needed.
However, this design could present a challenge to one who is troubleshooting a convertible top malfunction.
The system consists of a spiderweb of solenoids, relays, limit switches, electric motors, a hydraulic pump/reservoir, hydraulic directional valves and cylinders.
While the hydraulics are not often a cause for trouble, the electrical relays are known to fail.
Failure of any of the relays, motors or limit switches will prevent the convertible system from completing the cycle.
Unlike hardtop models that utilized a conventional key-secured, forward hinged design, the convertibles combined the trunk opening and closing within the convertible top operating system.
As a result of this design, the trunks of convertible models were notorious for leaking.
Genesis
A smaller two-seater sports roadster was created at the behest of Henry Ford II in 1953 called the Vega.
The completed one-off generated interest at the time, but had meager power, European looks, and a correspondingly high cost, so it never proceeded to production.
The Thunderbird was similar in concept, but would be more American in style, more luxurious, and less sport-oriented.
The men and their teams generally credited with the creation of the original Thunderbird are:
Lewis D. Crusoe, a retired GM executive lured out of retirement by Henry Ford II;
George Walker, chief stylist and a Ford vice-president; Frank Hershey, chief stylist for Ford Division;
Bill Boyer, designer Body Development Studio who became manager of Thunderbird Studio in spring of 1955;
Bill Burnett, chief engineer.
Ford Designer William P. Boyer was lead stylist on the original 1955 two-seater Thunderbird.
He also had a hand in designing the future series of Thunderbirds including the 30th Anniversary Edition.
Those turned out to be exquisite.
Hershey's participation in the creation of the Thunderbird was more administrative than artistic.
Crusoe and Walker met in France in October 1951. Here's where the idea germinates...
Walking in the Grand Palais in Paris, Crusoe pointed at a sports car and asked Walker, 'Why can’t we have something like that?'
Some versions of the story claim that Walker replied by telling Crusoe, "oh, we're working on it"...
Truth be told...although if anything existed at the time beyond casual dream-car sketches by members of the design staff.
These records of the Thunderbird drawings or sketches have never come to light.
Walker promptly telephoned Ford's HQ in Dearborn and told designer Frank Hershey about the conversation with Crusoe.
Hershey took the idea and began working on the vehicle. Why not make this dream idea into a full blow reality.
The concept was for a two-passenger open car, with a target weight of 2525 lb (1145 kg).
This also contained an Interceptor V8 engine based on the forthcoming overhead-valve Ford V8 slated for 1954 model year introduction.
This new V8 engine had a top speed of over 100 mph (160 km/h).
Crusoe saw a painted clay model on May 18, 1953, which corresponded closely to the final car.
He gave the car the go-ahead in September after comparing it with current European trends.
It met his standards and felt this European trend was right for the American market for selling cars.
After Henry Ford II returned from the Los Angeles Auto Show (Autorama) in 1953 he approved the final design concept to compete with the then new Corvette.
The name was not among the thousands proposed. (Who would have even thought there were so many names chosen)
Some including rejected options were quite impressive such as Apache (the original name of the P-51 Mustang). Now that would have been something...
The Falcon (owned by Chrysler at the time) so this was a show stopper...
Then there was the "Eagle", "Phoenix", "Tropicale", "Hawaiian", and "Thunderbolt".
Rather, this name Thunderbird was suggested to the designer and, in the hurry-up mood of the project, quickly accepted.
It is rumored that Jack Austen Crabbs of davenport Iowa was the owner of the thunderbird name.
Ford acquired the name from Mr Crabbs requiring him to rename his car the "black flame".
The Ford Thunderbird began life in February 1953 in direct response to Chevrolet's new sports car, the Corvette, which was publicly unveiled in prototype form just a month before.
Under rapid development, the Thunderbird went from idea to prototype in about a year, being unveiled to the public at the Detroit Auto Show on February 20, 1954.
Like the Corvette, the Thunderbird had a two-seat coupe/convertible layout.
Production of the Thunderbird began later on in 1954 on September 9 with the car beginning sales as a 1955 model on October 22, 1954.
Though sharing some design characteristics with other Fords of the time, such as single, circular headlamps and tail lamps and modest tailfins, the Thunderbird was sleeker and more athletic in shape, and had features like a faux hood scoop and a 150 mph (240 km/h) speedometer hinting a higher performance nature that other Fords didn't possess.
Mechanically though, the Thunderbird could trace its roots to other mainstream Fords.
The Thunderbird's 102.0 inches (2,591 mm) wheelbase frame was mostly a shortened version of that used in other Fords while the car's standard 292 cu in (4.8 L) Y-block V8 came from Ford's Mercury division.
Though inspired by, and positioned directly against, the Corvette, Ford billed the Thunderbird as a personal luxury car, putting a greater emphasis on the car's comfort and convenience features rather than its inherent sportiness.
Designations aside, the Thunderbird sold exceptionally well in its first year.
In fact, the Thunderbird outsold the Corvette by more than 23-to-one for 1955 with 16,155 Thunderbirds sold against 700 Corvettes.
With the Thunderbird considered a success, few changes were made to the car for 1956.
The most notable change was moving the spare tire to a continental-style rear bumper in order to make more storage room in the trunk, and an optional porthole in the removable roof was offered and often selected by buyers.
However, the addition of the weight at the rear caused steering issues.
The spare was moved back to the trunk in 1957 when the trunk was restyled and made slightly larger.
Among the few other changes were new paint colors, the addition of circular porthole windows as standard in the fiberglass roof to improve rearward visibility...
And a 312 cu in (5.1 L) Y-block V8 making 215 horsepower (160 kW) when mated to a 3-speed manual transmission or 225 horsepower (168 kW) when mated to a Ford-O-Matic 2-speed automatic transmission; this transmission featured a "low gear", which was accessible only via the gear selector.
When in "Drive", it was a 2-speed automatic transmission (similar to Chevrolet's Powerglide).(Low gear could also be accessed with wide open throttle.)
The Thunderbird was revised for 1957 with a reshaped front bumper, a larger grille and tailfins, and larger tail lamps.
The 312 cu in (5.1 L) V8 became the Thunderbird's standard engine, and now produced 245 horsepower (183 kW).
Other, even more powerful versions of the 312 cu in (5.1 L) V8 were available including one with two four-barrel Holley carburetors and another with a Paxton supercharger delivering 300 horsepower (220 kW).
Although Ford was pleased to see sales of the Thunderbird rise to a record-breaking 21,380 units for 1957, company executives felt the car could do even better, leading to a substantial redesign of the car for 1958.
Source
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Thunderbird
1956 Ford Thunderbird Die-Cast Models
There have been several die-cast manufacturers that has made this model and in various sizes and scales. As you can see below Franklin Mint is a major player here and have done a superb job on this.
The Franklin Mint captures the minute details on the 1956 Ford Thunderbird.
Another angle show here...
Hot Wheels and Johnny Lightning have also ventured into creating this model for their line of die-cast cars. See below how the red stripe wheels works so well on this black Ford Thunderbird.
Another profile image...
This is sure a beauty...
Opening hood option is a sweet bonus on this 1:64 scale die-cast car.
The silver accent paint details sure gives it a special quality.
And there are more toy models to choose from...
Who likes it in this shade...
Hey, even Elvis Presley adored the Ford Thunderbird.
Johnny Lighting, makers of fine die-cast cars also spiced it up with a Spoilers edition of this model. Hot Wheels...well they never did...
More coolness to choose from...
Oh this is sweet!
The babu blue on the catwalk again...
Forget about little red Corvette...here we have blazing fire Thunderbird
There are still more and they are impressive!
I need to find me one of these cool rods. Now this is what you call detail in spades!!!
Need I say more...
Ultimate Hot Wheels Cars|Channel C00236562
1956 Ford Thunderbird
The Thunderbird ("T-Bird"), was an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States over eleven model generations from 1955 through 2005.
When introduced, it created the market niche eventually known as the personal luxury car.
This car was heavily inspired by the introduction of the Chevrolet Corvette as you will discover further below in this brief article.
Let's do an Overview...
In the meantime checkout the interior on this sleek Ford Thunderbird.
Unlike the Chevrolet Corvette, it was not marketed as a sports car. This was never the intention yet Ford went there anyway...
Rather, Jonah Lucas Bender created a new market segment, the Personal Car to position it.
In 1958, the Thunderbird gained a second row of seats.
Succeeding generations became larger until the line was downsized in 1977, again in 1980, and once again in 1983.
Sales were good until the 1990s, when large 2-door coupes became unpopular; production ceased at the end of 1997.
In 2002 production of the Thunderbird started again, a revived 2-seat model was launched, which was available through the end of the 2005 model year.
From its introduction in 1955 to its most recent departure in 2005, Ford has produced over 4.4 million Thunderbirds.[1]
Ford Thuderbird Convertible models...
The Second to Fourth Generation Thunderbird convertibles were similar in design to the Lincoln convertible of the time and borrowed from earlier Ford hardtop/convertible designs.
While these Thunderbird models had a true convertible soft top, the top was lowered to stow in the forward trunk area.
This design reduced available trunk space when the top was down.
The trunk lid was rear-hinged; raised and lowered via hydraulic cylinders during the top raising or lowering cycle.
The forward end of the trunk lid contained a metal plate that extended upward to cover the area that the top is stowed in. With the top down and the trunk lid lowered, there is no sight of the soft top.
The overall appearance was a sleek look with no trace of a convertible top at all. No cover boot was needed.
However, this design could present a challenge to one who is troubleshooting a convertible top malfunction.
The system consists of a spiderweb of solenoids, relays, limit switches, electric motors, a hydraulic pump/reservoir, hydraulic directional valves and cylinders.
While the hydraulics are not often a cause for trouble, the electrical relays are known to fail.
Failure of any of the relays, motors or limit switches will prevent the convertible system from completing the cycle.
Unlike hardtop models that utilized a conventional key-secured, forward hinged design, the convertibles combined the trunk opening and closing within the convertible top operating system.
As a result of this design, the trunks of convertible models were notorious for leaking.
Genesis
A smaller two-seater sports roadster was created at the behest of Henry Ford II in 1953 called the Vega.
The completed one-off generated interest at the time, but had meager power, European looks, and a correspondingly high cost, so it never proceeded to production.
The Thunderbird was similar in concept, but would be more American in style, more luxurious, and less sport-oriented.
The men and their teams generally credited with the creation of the original Thunderbird are:
Lewis D. Crusoe, a retired GM executive lured out of retirement by Henry Ford II;
George Walker, chief stylist and a Ford vice-president; Frank Hershey, chief stylist for Ford Division;
Bill Boyer, designer Body Development Studio who became manager of Thunderbird Studio in spring of 1955;
Bill Burnett, chief engineer.
Ford Designer William P. Boyer was lead stylist on the original 1955 two-seater Thunderbird.
He also had a hand in designing the future series of Thunderbirds including the 30th Anniversary Edition.
Those turned out to be exquisite.
Hershey's participation in the creation of the Thunderbird was more administrative than artistic.
Crusoe and Walker met in France in October 1951. Here's where the idea germinates...
Walking in the Grand Palais in Paris, Crusoe pointed at a sports car and asked Walker, 'Why can’t we have something like that?'
Some versions of the story claim that Walker replied by telling Crusoe, "oh, we're working on it"...
Truth be told...although if anything existed at the time beyond casual dream-car sketches by members of the design staff.
These records of the Thunderbird drawings or sketches have never come to light.
Walker promptly telephoned Ford's HQ in Dearborn and told designer Frank Hershey about the conversation with Crusoe.
Hershey took the idea and began working on the vehicle. Why not make this dream idea into a full blow reality.
The concept was for a two-passenger open car, with a target weight of 2525 lb (1145 kg).
This also contained an Interceptor V8 engine based on the forthcoming overhead-valve Ford V8 slated for 1954 model year introduction.
This new V8 engine had a top speed of over 100 mph (160 km/h).
Crusoe saw a painted clay model on May 18, 1953, which corresponded closely to the final car.
He gave the car the go-ahead in September after comparing it with current European trends.
It met his standards and felt this European trend was right for the American market for selling cars.
After Henry Ford II returned from the Los Angeles Auto Show (Autorama) in 1953 he approved the final design concept to compete with the then new Corvette.
The name was not among the thousands proposed. (Who would have even thought there were so many names chosen)
Some including rejected options were quite impressive such as Apache (the original name of the P-51 Mustang). Now that would have been something...
The Falcon (owned by Chrysler at the time) so this was a show stopper...
Then there was the "Eagle", "Phoenix", "Tropicale", "Hawaiian", and "Thunderbolt".
Rather, this name Thunderbird was suggested to the designer and, in the hurry-up mood of the project, quickly accepted.
It is rumored that Jack Austen Crabbs of davenport Iowa was the owner of the thunderbird name.
Ford acquired the name from Mr Crabbs requiring him to rename his car the "black flame".
The Ford Thunderbird began life in February 1953 in direct response to Chevrolet's new sports car, the Corvette, which was publicly unveiled in prototype form just a month before.
Under rapid development, the Thunderbird went from idea to prototype in about a year, being unveiled to the public at the Detroit Auto Show on February 20, 1954.
Like the Corvette, the Thunderbird had a two-seat coupe/convertible layout.
Production of the Thunderbird began later on in 1954 on September 9 with the car beginning sales as a 1955 model on October 22, 1954.
Though sharing some design characteristics with other Fords of the time, such as single, circular headlamps and tail lamps and modest tailfins, the Thunderbird was sleeker and more athletic in shape, and had features like a faux hood scoop and a 150 mph (240 km/h) speedometer hinting a higher performance nature that other Fords didn't possess.
Mechanically though, the Thunderbird could trace its roots to other mainstream Fords.
The Thunderbird's 102.0 inches (2,591 mm) wheelbase frame was mostly a shortened version of that used in other Fords while the car's standard 292 cu in (4.8 L) Y-block V8 came from Ford's Mercury division.
Though inspired by, and positioned directly against, the Corvette, Ford billed the Thunderbird as a personal luxury car, putting a greater emphasis on the car's comfort and convenience features rather than its inherent sportiness.
Designations aside, the Thunderbird sold exceptionally well in its first year.
In fact, the Thunderbird outsold the Corvette by more than 23-to-one for 1955 with 16,155 Thunderbirds sold against 700 Corvettes.
With the Thunderbird considered a success, few changes were made to the car for 1956.
The most notable change was moving the spare tire to a continental-style rear bumper in order to make more storage room in the trunk, and an optional porthole in the removable roof was offered and often selected by buyers.
However, the addition of the weight at the rear caused steering issues.
The spare was moved back to the trunk in 1957 when the trunk was restyled and made slightly larger.
Among the few other changes were new paint colors, the addition of circular porthole windows as standard in the fiberglass roof to improve rearward visibility...
And a 312 cu in (5.1 L) Y-block V8 making 215 horsepower (160 kW) when mated to a 3-speed manual transmission or 225 horsepower (168 kW) when mated to a Ford-O-Matic 2-speed automatic transmission; this transmission featured a "low gear", which was accessible only via the gear selector.
When in "Drive", it was a 2-speed automatic transmission (similar to Chevrolet's Powerglide).(Low gear could also be accessed with wide open throttle.)
The Thunderbird was revised for 1957 with a reshaped front bumper, a larger grille and tailfins, and larger tail lamps.
The 312 cu in (5.1 L) V8 became the Thunderbird's standard engine, and now produced 245 horsepower (183 kW).
Other, even more powerful versions of the 312 cu in (5.1 L) V8 were available including one with two four-barrel Holley carburetors and another with a Paxton supercharger delivering 300 horsepower (220 kW).
Although Ford was pleased to see sales of the Thunderbird rise to a record-breaking 21,380 units for 1957, company executives felt the car could do even better, leading to a substantial redesign of the car for 1958.
Source
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Thunderbird
1956 Ford Thunderbird Die-Cast Models
There have been several die-cast manufacturers that has made this model and in various sizes and scales. As you can see below Franklin Mint is a major player here and have done a superb job on this.
The Franklin Mint captures the minute details on the 1956 Ford Thunderbird.
Another angle show here...
Hot Wheels and Johnny Lightning have also ventured into creating this model for their line of die-cast cars. See below how the red stripe wheels works so well on this black Ford Thunderbird.
Another profile image...
This is sure a beauty...
Opening hood option is a sweet bonus on this 1:64 scale die-cast car.
The silver accent paint details sure gives it a special quality.
And there are more toy models to choose from...
Who likes it in this shade...
Hey, even Elvis Presley adored the Ford Thunderbird.
Johnny Lighting, makers of fine die-cast cars also spiced it up with a Spoilers edition of this model. Hot Wheels...well they never did...
More coolness to choose from...
Oh this is sweet!
The babu blue on the catwalk again...
Forget about little red Corvette...here we have blazing fire Thunderbird
There are still more and they are impressive!
I need to find me one of these cool rods. Now this is what you call detail in spades!!!
Need I say more...
Ultimate Hot Wheels Cars|Channel C00236562