Ford Thunderbird 1957: Still beautiful 60 years later

Frédéric Mercier

Thursday, 27 July 2017 18:17

UPDATE
Thursday, 27 July 2017 18:17

Look at this article

In more than a century, Ford has built, iconic models. The F-150 to the Mustang, some legends have crossed time and remain alive today. Others, like the Thunderbird, are nothing more than a distant memory. Fortunately, some copies have been preserved in brilliant way.

This is the case of the vehicle of Robert Camerlain, a Thunderbird 1957 wearing a pretty pink dress. For him, the owner of several other vehicles of that era, the Thunderbird has always struck a chord for this resident of Mirabel.

“This is a model that I’ve always liked. It is simply a beautiful car, ” he says. I’ve owned a red one in the past, but I really wanted a rose. And I stumbled on this one,” he continued.

Ford Thunderbird 1957

Old cars of Granby

A vehicle with onions

Its Thunderbird, Robert Camerlain takes great care since it has made the acquisition of a particular in quebec in 2011. Even today, the car has only 74 000 miles on the odometer. Its V8 engine, 292 cubic inches is so clean that you could almost eat it.

Ford Thunderbird 1957

Old cars of Granby

Even if the restoration of the vehicle was completed prior to the acquisition, Robert Camerlain has ensured that its Thunderbird remains in form, with great bursts of development and sessions cosmetic.

“It is the same as at the time, he insists. The only change that has been made, it is the wheels of pins,” he says, estimating less than 1000 km, the total distance that he travels with her jewel every summer.

A response to the Corvette

Iconic vehicle of the 50 years, the Ford Thunderbird would have probably never seen the light of day if it was not another model even more legendary, the Chevrolet Corvette.

Presented in 1953 at the auto Show in New York, the Corvette began a real small revolution in the automotive industry. The interest for this model was instant, and the rest of the story speaks for itself.

A year later, it was the turn of Ford to launch a two-seater, and the public response was going to be all positive. And one can understand why. From the front to the rear, the design of the first Thunderbird remains one of the most successful of his time.

Ford Thunderbird 1957

Old cars of Granby

To dissociate from General Motors and its Corvette, Ford introduced the Thunderbird as a model that is less focused on performance and more as a “personal car” top of the range. Still, the comparisons between the two models remain inevitable.

Regardless of the way it is presented, the Thunderbird and the Corvette offered both a configuration with two passengers, a roof fold, the wheelbase is similar, and a look that’s simply alluring.

At the time, however, the models were changing quickly. So well that after only three years, the design of the Thunderbird has changed all that. As early as 1958, we gave up on the configuration of two seats to move to four squares. Therefore, the purpose of the vehicle is separated from the original one.

The years have passed and the Thunderbird continued to grow. In the 70s, it was no longer the shadow of what it was in the mid 50’s. The Thunderbird is still in the automotive landscape in north america until 1997, where she finally bowed out.

In 2002, Ford has attempted to revive the model with a vehicle that is a retro design heavily inspired by the Thunderbird from 1955 to 1957. The public welcomed her again with open arms, but the sale remained rather quiet. The adventure lasted only four years; in 2005, Ford relinquished his Thunderbird.

Six decades have passed since the release of the factory of the Thunderbird 1957 Robert Camerlain. Many things have changed since then, but the next admirer of the drivers remains the same.

Whether in 1957 or 2017, the Ford Thunderbird continues to do what she has always done best. She stamps a smile in the face of all those who are fortunate enough to cross his path.

Ford Thunderbird 1957

Old cars of Granby