| Ford Thunderbird Second Generation | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Also called | Square Bird |
| Production | December 1957–1960 |
| Model years | 1958–1960 |
| Assembly | United States: Wixom Assembly Plant, Wixom, Michigan |
| Designer | Joe Oros |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Personal luxury car |
| Body style |
|
| Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
| Chassis | unibody |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission |
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| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 112 in (2,845 mm) |
| Length | 205.4 in (5,217 mm) [1] |
| Width | 77 in (1,956 mm) |
| Curb weight | 3,957 lb (1,795 kg) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Ford Thunderbird (first generation) |
| Successor | Ford Thunderbird (third generation) |
The second generation Ford Thunderbird (also called Square Bird[2][3][4][5]) was produced by Ford for the 1958 to 1960 model years as a successor to the popular 1955–1957 two-seater. 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.
As 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. Sales totalled 198,191 [6] over three model years, approximately four times that of the earlier two seat model. [7]
Along with the 1958 Lincolns, the 1958 Thunderbird was the first Ford Motor Company vehicle designed with unibody construction.
- ^ Flory, Jr., J. "Kelly" (2008). American Cars, 1946-1959 Every Model Every Year. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7864-3229-5.
- ^ "The Autocar: A Journal Published in the Interests of the Mechanically Propelled Road Carriage". 1984.
- ^ "Cars and Parts". January 1996.
- ^ "Sports Car Market magazine - May 2008".
- ^ Mike Bumbeck (February 2011). "Four-Place Ford Thunderbird - Big Square 'Bird was th - Hemmings Motor News". Hemmings.com.
- ^ Dunton,Pete (27 January 2017). "1958-1960 Ford Thunderbird – the Square Bird". oldcarmemories.com. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ^ Mueller, Mike; Batio, Christopher (1999). Thunderbird Milestones. MotorBooks/MBI Publishing. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-7603-0474-7. Retrieved July 31, 2015.