![]() The seats featured pleated vinyl or cloth inserts with vinylīolsters color keyed to match exterior paint colors. Ran door to door, and the door trim panels and rear side panels were covered Polished ribbed aluminum trim to dress up the panel. Speaker, and power windows, along with ash trays for front and rear passengers.Ī padded instrument panel was standard, and featured brushed and highly Separated by a functional panel console that ran down the middle of theĬar between the seats and housed controls for the optional heater, radio Unique interior, which provided individually adjustable seats up front, Was awarded Motor Trend Magazine's coveted Car of the Year designation for its compact size, and ![]() So revolutionary was the personal luxury car concept, the 1958 Thunderbird It for its performance, but rather for its prestige. And that didn't matter, because most didn't buy T-bird was powered by a new 352 Interceptor V-8 engine with 300 horsepower,Įnough to move it swiftly from a stop, although most would not call itĪ high performance car. Just the thing for those who wanted to stand out from the rest of Time like the Cadillac, Lincoln, or Imperial, the compact T-bird providedĪll the luxury and convenience items one would expect in a luxury car,īut in a new smaller size that was easier to park and manipulate in congestedĪreas. Smaller than the traditional luxury cars most were accustomed to at the All of that changed with the new four passenger Thunderbird. Sports cars were all small and somewhat utilitarian, and compact cars wereĪlmost unheard of. The 1958 Ford Thunderbird appeared on the scene, luxury cars were all big, Despite this, the 1958 Thunderbird convertible was not only popular in its time, but continues to be prized by collectors.This is the car that started the personal luxury car market segment. Other luxury convertibles at the time had tops that were power operated, but the 1958 T-Bird required another person to manually assist in lowering the top. ![]() Most of the equipment was very basic, but buyers had the option of getting a heater and defroster, power equipment and exterior rear view mirrors. The car also boasted a new 300 horsepower 352 cid V-8 engine. The new features on the 1958 T-Bird weren’t just stylistic. Although it was offered as both a hardtop and a convertible, the 1958 convertible was delayed, making it the rarest convertible from the second generation line. ![]() Along with its dual headlights and prominent tailfins, the 1958 Thunderbird was also given a bolder chrome grille. Style was just as important with the 1958 model as with older T-Birds. Nicknamed the “Squarebird” due to its shape, the new model had a longer 113-inch wheelbase and was over 800 pounds heavier. In order to accommodate the new back seat, the 1958 Thunderbird convertible was expanded considerably. Although bulkier than its predecessors, the 1958 Ford Thunderbird still achieved widespread success and easily outsold the previous model. The 1958 Thunderbird convertible was the first T-Bird model to have four seats. Encouraged by this, Ford executives decided that a larger model would increase sales. These sleek two-seat automobiles were a great success. The first generation of cars entered production in 1954. The Thunderbird, also known as the T-Bird, helped usher in an era of personal luxury cars that favored style over practicality.
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