1950s–1960s
1960 Ford Thunderbird
Known as the 'Square Bird' Ford
About This Vehicle
Conceived in 1956 mid-way through the original two-seater Thunderbird's production run, the second-generation Ford Thunderbird was officially introduced in January 1958. Markedly different from and much larger than its predecessor, the 1958–60 'Square Bird' emphasized 'Jet Age' styling and luxury over sportiness with seating for up to four. The motoring press agreed, with the new Thunderbird winning Motor Trend magazine's coveted 'Car of the Year' award.
While the 1960 Thunderbird was much the same in styling as the previous two model years, a new grille, new triple taillight clusters, and small trim revisions kept the glamorous Ford fresh. Under the hood, a high-torque 352 cubic-inch V-8 engine was standard, offering 300 horsepower on command. Nearly 93,000 Thunderbirds were produced in all for 1960.
This example was assembled in March of 1960 and is finished in its original color of paint code 'A,' Raven Black. It has been tastefully upgraded with Brembo brakes, American Racing Wheels, and dual exhaust pipes for enhanced performance and presence.
Specifications
| 352 cid V-8 engine |
| 300 HP |
| three-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission with overdrive |
Grand Rapids Classics Auto Museum · grclassics.com