The 1958 Thunderbird was only 52.5 inches tall, nearly 9 inches shorter than an average American sedan the Thunderbird had only 5.8 inches of ground clearance. The intent was to allow the maximum interior space in a relatively small exterior package. The four-seat Thunderbird was designed with unibody construction, eschewing a separate chassis shared with the all-new Lincoln built at the all new factory in Wixom, Michigan. ![]() However, the losing proposal, styled by Elwood Engel, would gain its own place in Ford Motor Company history: after minor revisions, it would become the 1961 Lincoln Continental. The design was one of two proposals, styled primarily by Joe Oros, who later worked on the 1964 Ford Mustang. The design was driven entirely by the styling department and approved before the engineering was considered. The new Thunderbird had a distinct new styling theme. Mercury also saw the introduction of a flagship hardtop coupe with a similar approach to luxury called the Mercury Turnpike Cruiser with a longer wheelbase and two inches more for width dimensions, then updated to the 1958 Mercury Park Lane. The listed retail price was US$3,408 for the base price ($35,509 in 2022 dollars ). As a response, Ford executives decided to add a rear seat to the Thunderbird. The Studebaker Speedster and the Chrysler 300C shared many appearances with the Thunderbird, while offering a rear seat. Market research suggested sales of the Thunderbird were limited by its two-seat configuration, making it unsuitable for families. Īlong with the 1958 Lincolns, the 1958 Thunderbird was the first Ford Motor Company vehicle designed with unibody construction.Īlthough the 1955-1957 Ford Thunderbird had proved successful (in comparison to the Chevrolet Corvette), Ford executives-particularly Robert McNamara-still felt its overall sales volume had room to improve. Sales totalled 198,191 over three model years, approximately four times that of the earlier two seat model. In response to Ford-conducted surveys two major changes were made to attract potential buyers: two rear seats were added and the level of luxury and features of a full-sized car were incorporated into a mid-size platform.Īs a result, sales soared and the new model dramatically expanded the personal luxury car market, winning the Motor Trend Car of the Year in 1958. If we can help you in any way with questions or a specific picture, you can call our office at (865)988-8088.The second generation Ford Thunderbird (also called Square Bird ) was produced by Ford for the 1958 to 1960 model years as a successor to the popular 1955–1957 two-seater. The final exterior touch is the set of 17” Cragers with Low Profile Tires. This TBird retains the fender skits and the trunk mounted antenna. At the time of the resto the bumpers were either replaced or rechromed. All the glass looks good with new window felt. The paint is slick with a deep rich shine. Everything is covered in the Ralley Red that's accented by the White Top. The body is laser straight with the fit of the trim being as good as any you'll find. Or feel free to call Daniel at (423) 807 0600, Devvin at (865) 256 2366, or you can e-mail us at for sale we have a 1958 Ford Thunderbird. If we can help you in any way with questions or a specific picture, you can call our office at (865)988-8088. When you look under this Thunderbird the floors look very good with the fuel tank and lines being replaced at some time. It also has Disc Brakes up front along with Power Steering. Also you'll see the brakes have been upgraded to the dual master cylinder and booster. They did a nice job fitting the Vintage A/C. The engine looks stock but has an Edelbrock Intake and Holley Carb under the Chrome Breather. Under the hood you'll see what we were told is a 390 Engine that's hooked to a C6 Trans. ![]() Looking at the dash it looks stock with the Vintage AC working with the factory heater controls. This is a column shift car with the stock column and steering wheel. It houses the custom gauges as well as the controls for the Power Windows and the Disc Changer located in the trunk. On the inside it's done in Red and White vinyl. Up for sale we have a 1958 Ford Thunderbird.
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