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A review of the 55-57 with an ending that includes a comment about our retros:
http://www.theweeklydriver.com/ford-...57-car-review/
http://www.theweeklydriver.com/ford-...57-car-review/
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Limited Edition databases for 007 msg..#26 , PCR sticky, and Cashmere msg.#64
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Porthole Authority
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Re: Another Tbird article
There's nothing like the original! -
Re: Another Tbird article
The article states that the handling was imporived in '56 when they moved the spare outside to a continental format. I always thought the handling deteriorated because there was too much weight on the rear and the front ended up too light. Which is correct?Unbelivable TBN trips including ALL of the lower 48 States plus 9
Canadian Provinces, 8 European Countries, 3 Caribbean Countries, Countless National Parks and have attended well over 100 TBN Events since 2001 and counting. Best of all ... fabulous friends.Comment
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Re: Another Tbird article
Originally posted by DavidA View Post
David:
Everything I've read about the '56 says you are. Dot?
Skipsigpic
Skip
2002 Ford Thunderbird Premium, Torch Red with Full Accent Red Interior
2013 Ford Escape SEL (Ecoboost), Frosted Glass
2018 Ford F150 XLT Sport, Ruby Red MetallicComment
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Re: Another Tbird article
I agree with you, David and Skip. Having driven one back in the 70s and a 55 at around the same time with our 57 to compare to at the time, handling didn't really improve until the 57 came out.Limited Edition databases for 007 msg..#26 , PCR sticky, and Cashmere msg.#64
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Porthole Authority
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Re: Another Tbird article
I've always loved the original TBirds and that article made me think of 1955 TBirds a few people from my past drove. The first was a '55 coral (or pink) w/a white top a friend of my grandmother's drove in Pasadena, California. She had it since new and drove it until she stopped driving in the mid-1990s. The owner was a character and the car was a perfect fit for her. I remember she always wore these huge white round glasses and pinkish colored clothes! The car as I remember had been stolen twice and returned to her in various states of repair when it went back to the body shop for restoration. The second '55 had an interesting life. It belonged to a friend of my former employer. I saw the car for the first time back in the mid-1980s parked in the garage of a house in Beverly Hills. The well-worn white 'Bird was owned by Mrs. Lee Minnelli (wife of the director Vincente Minnelli) and she told me she had purchased it new in 1955. She shipped it to the south of France (where she lived) on the ss Cristoforo Colombo that same year and drove it all over Europe until it returned to America several years later. It still had the metal Monaco ID badge on the rear bumper when I saw it. Mrs. Minnelli lived in that house for another 20-years until her late 90s when she moved. I have no idea what her step-daughter did with the car but I'm sure it found a good home.Last edited by lasuvidaboy; Mar 8, 2011, 12:09 PM.Comment
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Re: Another Tbird article
I HAVE HAD ONE 55 AND TWO 56'S, BOTH YEARS ARE ALL OVER THE ROAD OVER 100 MILES PER HOUR AND AS FOR CURVES BOTH WERE BETTER THAN MY 55 AND 56 FULL SIZE FORDS. EITHER ONE WILL SCARE THE CRAP OUT OF YOU.02 Nieman Marcus-SS htp-f/sil. #165 - 21 states-DC
02 TB-TB htp-p/blue acc.-Nancy Gioia-28 states-DC
03 007-Coral htp-f/white acc. #468 7 states
03 WW-WW htp-p/red 8 states
04 VMG-VMG htp-p/white - 20 states-DC
04 Merlot- Merlot htp-sand- B. Grassnig-48 states-DC
04 TR-TR htp-blk 20 states-DC
04 LIB-LIB htp-p/white 16 states-DC
05 Cashmere htp-stone #408 21 states-DC
05 Dusk Rose-DR htp-cashmere seats - 48&DC
05 IG-IG htp-p/white #82 - 48&DCComment
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Re: Another Tbird article
Not an article but a movie. Saw a bit of a 'made for tv' movie on "Show Case" tonight called or titled "Double Cross" that was made in 2005. It had a 2002 Thunderbird (in blue) with hard top on. Movie may have been made in Canada as the wheels were for Canadian market. Dont know if this one has been mentioned before.Comment
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Re: Another Tbird article
I NOTICED THE WRITER, OF FORTY YEARS EXPERIENCE, MENTIONED THE POWER SOFT TOP ON THE FIRST THUNDERBIRDS. HAS ANYONE SEEN ONE OF THOSE?02 Nieman Marcus-SS htp-f/sil. #165 - 21 states-DC
02 TB-TB htp-p/blue acc.-Nancy Gioia-28 states-DC
03 007-Coral htp-f/white acc. #468 7 states
03 WW-WW htp-p/red 8 states
04 VMG-VMG htp-p/white - 20 states-DC
04 Merlot- Merlot htp-sand- B. Grassnig-48 states-DC
04 TR-TR htp-blk 20 states-DC
04 LIB-LIB htp-p/white 16 states-DC
05 Cashmere htp-stone #408 21 states-DC
05 Dusk Rose-DR htp-cashmere seats - 48&DC
05 IG-IG htp-p/white #82 - 48&DCComment
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Re: Another Tbird article
I WATCHED "WANDA THE FISH" LAST NIGHT AND SAW A 55 GOLDEN ROD YELLOW THUNDERBIRD.Originally posted by snowbird View Post02 Nieman Marcus-SS htp-f/sil. #165 - 21 states-DC
02 TB-TB htp-p/blue acc.-Nancy Gioia-28 states-DC
03 007-Coral htp-f/white acc. #468 7 states
03 WW-WW htp-p/red 8 states
04 VMG-VMG htp-p/white - 20 states-DC
04 Merlot- Merlot htp-sand- B. Grassnig-48 states-DC
04 TR-TR htp-blk 20 states-DC
04 LIB-LIB htp-p/white 16 states-DC
05 Cashmere htp-stone #408 21 states-DC
05 Dusk Rose-DR htp-cashmere seats - 48&DC
05 IG-IG htp-p/white #82 - 48&DCComment
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Re: Another Tbird article
I drove all three years (55 through 57). I really wanted the 1957, but ended up buying a black 1956 model with both tops in 1964 for a whopping $1,500 dollars. The 1957 was clearly the best of the three years in many ways including ride, and handling. I agree with much of what has been said in this thread, however, I drove the 56 full throttle many times and would have to respectfully disagree with the handling on one point. At speeds of 70 mph and higher, the car would actually settle down and hold the road MUCH better than at lower speeds. In fact, I would show off to friends by letting go of the steering wheel at interstate speed to show that it became rock steady! Idiotic to be sure, but I was 19 or 20 at the time and indestructible!Originally posted by 4LOWBIRDS View PostRichardComment
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Re: Another Tbird article
I own and drive both a 55 and a 56 weekly and can say there is not a nickels worth of difference in handling under 60 mph(IMHO). Above 60 the 56 bird has a very slight improvement in handling. Braking on the other hand is an adventure with the old style drum brakes it is anybody guess which way they will pull and stopping can be a thrilling event. I decided to convert the 55 to power assist disc brakes and that made a vast improvement. What I found interesting in the article is they mentioned a front power bench seat implying there was a back set????T-Bird Obsessive Compulsive (TOC)2002 Blue/Full Accent Blue/Blue/White
1956 Black/Red and White/White
1955 T-bird Blue/Blue and White/WhiteComment
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Re: Another Tbird article
My memory is that all three didn't handle too well and I loved how much the front end would rise on acceleration. The big Fords wren't much different, but this is the era of BIG and HEAVY cars. I never thought of our retro's as a copy but merely a reminder amd very poorly marketted.Comment
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Re: Another Tbird article
It was the '56 with 3speed stick and O/D that I drove when I was 16 in 1958 that started my romance with Thunderbirds. Took my mechanics sister's car for a short road test and the thing I liked best was the way the front end would lift when you shifted into 2nd and punched it. And, oh what a beautiful sound that 312 made when either accelerating in 1st or 2nd and or letting it back off using engine braking, oooohhhh. I loved it!
When in 2000 Ford said they were going to make another 2-seater I just grabbed up every magazine I could find that said anything about it. Finally in 2006, got my '05 and I drive it every chance I get. It does almost everything the '56 did but just with a little more refinement. I've mellowed too, since I was 16!
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