Styling of the Retro

[AyPapiii]

I have read a number of articles related to the original inspiration for the early Thunderbirds. A car and designer I have never seen mentioned in relation to the Thunderbird is Pinin Farina and his 1946 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Speziale, a car featured in a recent Hemmings article.

Given there is quite some time separating the Retro, the early birds and this one, I see some strong influences or at least commonalities in the styling. In my opinion this car looks much closer to the Retro than the typical mid-forties cars it competed against.

Oddly, the color is a close match to the 2005 Bronze, the leather is awfully close to the 2003 saddle in color and there are even fender skirts similar to those popular on the early birds.

[11TH GEN]

For me it would be a real stretch to see any similarities between that and a retro.

[AyPapiii]

For me it would be a real stretch to see any similarities between that and a retro.

I imagine that is the case.

You may look at the wheel well shapes, the hood scoop, basic grill shape beneath the chrome, the headlamp positioning, the side grills and not see a similarity. Others might.

[11TH GEN]

If I squint I see more of a Nash Healey

[chromer]

Must be the headlights. Don't care for sun visors...someone's color blind? I want a Healey.

[EllisonCal]

There is an excellent book by Alan H. Tast, "Thunderbird Fifty Years", which starts with the 1955-1957 chapter 'Instant Classic' and ends with Chapter 13, '2002-2005' Resurrection. I would suggest go to the library and read this book if you want to know where the styling for the retros came from. I bought the book at the Ford Museum in 2007 while at Motown Thunder and it is an excellent history of our Cars.

[11TH GEN]

I have the same book.....It is available for $12.74 on Amazon and free shipping with Amazon Prime.

[RetroGeorge]

I have the same book.....It is available for $12.74 on Amazon and free shipping with Amazon Prime.

It is a WONDERFUL book! It is the pride of my coffee table. It has the look and feel of a $50 book. I "won" it as a door prize at the TBN event in Arkansas last year. God bless the TBN!

While I am on the subject, here is another TBN "service." While in the hotel parking lot, getting ready for a local Arkansas drive, one of the TBN members kindly informed me that I was missing a wheel trim ring. A small crowd formed, and we discussed the situation. The gist of the conversation is that I am SOL. Then, a member stepped forward and informed me that he has an extra ring at home, which he will be happy to send me. I offered to pay for it, but he would not hear of it. Sho nuff, a few days later, I received his trim ring in the mail. Is this a great club, or what?

[Rondor]

That type of generosity is common in car groups, and I think unique to the car hobby. I have both given and received items from total strangers over the uears. It was a little more prevalent years ago when fewer people were into the hobby as an investment or a business..

[DaiUyTed]

I've given away many items here over the years.

Two days ago, I received a dash mat for my Genesis from a stranger on that forum. He refused even the $10 postage. Told me to just "pay it forward".

[AyPapiii]

If I squint I see more of a Nash Healey

While the Pinin Farina I referred to was produced almost a decade before the Nash Healey and two decades before the Thunderbird, I do see the similarities.

Nash seems to have as well in that they had Farina redesign their car for 1952.

[sumoscooter]

I still only see uncanny similarities to the 1956 and 1957 T-birds folks....sorry !

[Rondor]

I have the same book.....It is available for $12.74 on Amazon and free shipping with Amazon Prime.

I just got it. A real bargain for the quality it is.