1959 Ford Thunderbird
The late 1950s marked the beginning of a new era for Thunderbird. The 1959 Ford Thunderbird did well in sales, unlike the 1955-57 two-seat Thunderbirds, which were originally designed as Ford's answer to the Corvette. While handily outselling the Corvette, the famed "Little Bird" failed to make money for Ford.Classic Convertibles Image Gallery
The 1959 Ford Thunderbird convertible was also known as the "Square Bird."
See more pictures of classic convertibles.
Determined to make the next-generation Thunderbird profitable, Ford aimed for the broadest audience possible. By 1959 the addition of two rear seats, longer and dramatically lowered bodywork, and a hardtop model paid off. Ford sold more than 76,000 "Square Birds" that year, 19,000 of which were convertibles -- nearly as many convertibles as the Little Bird's best year.
But the convertible Square Bird almost never was. Because of the limited funding available for the 1958 Thunderbird redesign, a decision was made early in the process to eliminate the convertible body from the line. Design work had begun on a hardtop with power-retractable roof panels as an alternative to a true convertible. Engineering issues halted development of the retractable roof, and the convertible was resurrected.
The 1959 Ford Thunderbird's 300-horsepower V-8 performed
sluggishly for its time.
Though low and sleek, base Thunderbirds were not stellar performers, even by the standards of the day. Early tests with the standard 300-horsepower, 312-cubic-inch V-8-equipped Square Bird resulted in 0-60 mph times of 13.5 seconds. But by 1959 an optional 350-horsepower, 430-cubic-inch V-8 would propel the T-Bird to 60 in a livelier 9.9 seconds.
The 1959 Ford Thunderbird convertible is a real prize find for collectors today.
Though
Thunderbird began life as a convertible, by 1958 the roofless T-Birds
would account for less than a quarter of production. Later generations
would see a continuing decline in convertible T-Birds until the coupe
took over completely for 1967. Today however, it is the convertible
Square Birds that are prized by collectors.
For more classic convertibles of the 1950s, see:
1950 Oldsmobile 88
1955 Cadillac Series 62
1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner
1951 Chrysler New Yorker
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air
1957 Lincoln Premiere
1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan
1955 Mercury Montclair
1957 Oldsmobile Super 88
1951 Rambler Custom Landau
1956 Ford Thunderbird
1958 Continental Mark III
1953 Oldsmobile Fiesta
1956 Lincoln Premiere
1958 Edsel Citation
1954 Hudson Hornet Brougham
1956 Packard Caribbean
1959 Cadillac Series 62
1954 Packard Caribbean
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
1959 Dodge Custom Royal
1955 Buick Century
1957 Chrysler New Yorker
1959 Pontiac Bonneville
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