The drive for longer/lower/wider in Detroit in the mid/late 1960s created some memorable automobiles, but it’s arguable that it was a positive thing. Especially in the moment when government regulations were creeping in, it’s entirely possible that the trend was a negative aspect in the evolution of personal luxury models. Our Pick of the Day, a 1970 Ford Thunderbird Landau two-door, shows how the personal luxury car from Dearborn weathered the new decade before finding new success with a 1972 redesign. It’s listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. (Click the link to view the listing)
Thunderbird folks have names for different generations:
- 1955-57: Classic Bird
- 1958-60: Square Bird
- 1961-63: Bullet Bird
- 1964-66: Flair Bird
- 1967-71: Glamour Bird
- 1972-76 Big Bird
When the 1967 Thunderbird was introduced, it was readily apparent it was larger and more luxurious than before, though it was less sporty. In many ways, it looked like a show car that came to life, especially with the wide-mouth grille hiding quad headlamps with a distinctive jutting “lip” that give the impression of the front end popping out from the fenders. The full-width looped taillights were another fancy element (sequential, of course!). Inside, styling was more traditional to the Thunderbird’s lineage.
The body styles were also shuffled, with the convertible disappearing and a four-door Landau replacing it, the first time a four-door Thunderbird was ever offered. The four-door Landau even featured suicide doors, something that was a signature of its upscale cousin, the Lincoln Continental.
Power among the first three years evolved from FE-series 390 and 428 V8s to the 385-series 429 Thunder Jet. This engine was the only one available during Thunderbird’s 1970 restyle. The hidden headlights were tossed, while the coupe was given a semi-fastback roofline. A protruding proboscis (aka “beak”) was the most apparent feature up front, rumored to be instigated by Ford President “Bunkie” Knudsen, a former general manager of both Pontiac and Chevrolet.
There were several packages to personalize your Thunderbird. Order the Special Brougham Option for two-doors (Thunderbird and Thunderbird Landau) and you’d get high-back bucket seats, center console, three-spoke Rim-Blow steering wheel, cut-pile carpeting, rear center armrest, door pull handles, and courtesy lights, but outside you’d find auxiliary grill lamps, color-keyed wheel covers, moldings that included color-keyed inserts, and color-keyed front stone shield and deflector, the latter which gave the Thunderbird a striking, almost bumper-less appearance.
Another way to make your Thunderbird fancy was with the Brougham Interior Trim package, which gave you a choice of rich quilted cloth and vinyl, or vinyl with leather seating surfaces, plus special door trim, wood-tone appointments, cut-pile carpeting, courtesy lights, Rim-Blow steering wheel, and rear seat fold-down armrest.
This 67,000-mile 1970 Ford Thunderbird Landau two-door is in the stunning color combination of what appears to be Burgundy Fire metallic with light tan vinyl top. A Ginger Brougham interior is furnished in cloth and vinyl. Like all Thunderbirds, it is powered by the 429 V8 and automatic transmission. We spy the optional Driver’s Control Console Armrest with power windows, power door locks, power seats, and outside remote-control mirror, cruise control, AM/FM radio, rear defogger, and turbine wheel covers, though the seller doesn’t indicate much otherwise.
These Thunderbirds are often squeezed between the earlier 1967-69 Glamour Birds and the redesigned 1972-76 Big Birds, both of which sold better. With sleeker looks and the last of the sequential taillights, they are an interesting and underrated collectible. At $13,970, affordable too!
Click here for this ClassicCars.com Pick of the Day.
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