1960 achieved a whopping sales increase to 92,843. The car was a huge hit with American buyers with 37,892 sold and 1959 saw production leap to 67,456. The 1958 Thunderbird used rear coil springs which created wheel hop, for ’1959 and ’1960 the system was re-engineered with parallel leaf springs. Furthermore, the carpet kick plates are inscribed with the Thunderbird logo and the chunky decorative glove box contributes further to the car’s plush interior. The dashboard, driver’s gauges, steering wheel and shifter along with the console are a work of art evoking a real luxury feel. The car boasted an industry first with bucket seats and a full-length console as standard. This version became known as the ‘square bird’ owing to its boxy styling. By 1958 the second-generation T-bird was totally re-designed and grew bigger all round, by adding an extra row of seats so it could accommodate four people. The ’1955 -’1957 T-Birds were known as ‘little birds’ being two-seater models only, and as such they were also labelled as ‘personal luxury cars’.

The first time I ever saw a 1956 Thunderbird was in that film a white car driven by the ‘mystery girl’ Suzanne Summers. Some say the cars were the real stars of the movie, yet it is also the music that evokes that early Sixties era, combined with a great screenplay. I too in 1973 was a teenager and this movie opened up my world to American cars, lifestyle, rock ’n’ roll and good times. It featured a host of up-and-coming young actors, many of whom would go on to have successful careers. Filmed mostly in Petaluma, north of San Francisco in California, it was set in 1962 and documented early Sixties small-town teen life.

The film dealt with the last day of summer vacation before a group of teenage friends matured into adult life and went their separate ways. Turning the clock back to 1973, I, like many thousands, flocked to the cinema to experience the feature film American Graffiti, produced by Francis Ford Coppola and directed by the legendary George Lucas.

59 ford thunderbird convertible