Options for the 1961 Ford Thunderbird included air conditioning, power windows, power seats, AM radio, fender skirts and white wall tires. ![]() On the convertible models, the forward end of the trunk lid was still rear-hinged. The new hard-top model had softer roof lines than its “ Square-Bird” predecessor. The interior design featured a dash which curved at its outboard ends to blend in with the door panels, and the first “ Swing Away” steering wheel, which would swing to the side when the car was in park and the door was opened to help with entry and exit. Others referred to these automobiles as the “ Projectile Birds“. Many referred to the third generation Ford Thunderbirds as the “ Bullet Birds“. The body shell was all new with a prominent pointed front prow, modest fins above the Thunderbird’s large round tail lights. In fact the Ford Thunderbird was lower than just about any car on the road in 1961.The third generation cars came with many firsts. In 1961 the Thunderbird went through a complete redesign. The chassis design was similar to the second generation Thunderbirds, 1958-60, but was modified slightly to provide better handling and a smoother ride. ![]() It should be noted that Engel’s design did have a lot to do with the Lincoln Continental design. This was advantageous on a production standpoint since both the Thunderbird and Lincoln were able to share many aspects of their unibody construction and the cars were both built at Ford’s Wixom production plant. Ford President Robert McNamara saw the Thunderbird design and liked it so much he also turned it into the 1961 Lincoln. As it turned out, Elwood Engel’s design proposal lost out to the winning one by Alex Tremulis. There were several designs on the drawing board for the 1961 third generation Thunderbird. Chevrolet Corvette went the sports car route and never looked back. Ford called their Thunderbird a personal luxury car. The Ford Thunderbird was always considered somewhat sporty but in a luxurious way. After several years each model went their separate ways. Thunderbirds were the cars from Ford which in 1955 started out competing directly against the Chevy Corvette. The first Ford Thunderbird was introduced at the 1954 Detroit Auto Show. Ford of course wanted to follow suit and did so with it’s first Thunderbird. 1961 Ford T-BirdĬhevrolet was the first of the Detroit automakers to test the sports car market with the introduction of their Corvette. ![]() There is also a very cool 1967 Ford 100 Stepside pick-up nice Turquoise Blue paint w/factory straight 6 cylinder 3 speed w/orig camper cap a real good hard to find original truck and a restored kept all original 1926 Buick master Six Sedan serious inquires see last pix posted.The 1961 Ford Thunderbird represented the beginning of the third generation Thunderbirds and they were sleeker than the ones before them. Priced well below its market value to sell fast 1st 8k firm takes it. Reply to Seller through Craigslist's email to: ġ961 T-Bird Hardtop T-Bird Blue/with matching bucket seat interior, Factory V-8 runs smooth quiet, nice paint solid straight no visible rust, auto, ps pb, Swing-away wheel, fender skirts, low 78k miles showing on the clock? nice driver quality garage kept classic fin styling Bird, drivers seat has minor tear, owner has serious health issues can no longer drive. For saleon Craigslist: 1961 Ford Thunderbird Hardtop in East Stroudsburg, PA - $7,999 - No phone # provided.
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