Ford Thunderbird Concept

Ford Thunderbird Concept

An automotive legend was reborn as the Ford Thunderbird made its return as an all-new concept car at the 1999 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Since its introduction in October 1954, the Thunderbird has been an American cultural icon - with trademark design cues that set it apart from the crowd of sports cars available at that time. Today, the all-new Thunderbird concept draws on that rich heritage and introduces a modern interpretation of an automotive legend.

The new concept features design elements from Thunderbirds of 1955-57 and 1961-62, simplified into contemporary forms. The cues include port-hole windows, aluminum-finished chevrons, hood scoop, round headlamps, taillamps and fog lamps, and the trademark Thunderbird badge. The Thunderbird concept's stance is designed to be relaxed and confident - achieved through a negative-wedge design in which the front of the vehicle appears to be set slightly higher than the rear. The 18-inch, eight-spoke aluminum wheels and P245R50-18 tires help give the car an equally sporting stance.

A circular theme runs throughout the vehicle, starting with the round headlamps and fog lamps and back to the taillamps. The removable hardtop with its porthole windows has the signature cue from the original Thunderbird. The oval grille opening remains true to the original with an aluminum-finished egg-crate design. Two large fog lamps are set into the front bumper along with a secondary grille opening below them. The scoop is integrated into the hood design - rather than serving merely as a prominent addition. The wraparound windshield is set at a 64-degree angle and is surrounded by a wide band of chrome, as are the porthole windows. The signature windows are also functional, allowing additional light to enter the vehicle and providing better rearward visibility when the top is on.

Chrome slash marks on the front quarter panels are cut into the sheet metal. They are a modern interpretation of the chevrons that were prominent on the original car. The concept also features cues from 1961-62 Thunderbirds, which were more equally proportioned than their predecessors. Thus, doors are set to the center, rather than to the rear, and a crisp line runs from the headlamp straight back to the taillamp, hinting at one of the car's legendary fins.

The car's interior continues the design theme by combining modern materials and finishes with the flair of two-tone interiors of the past. Two black leather-wrapped bucket seats are specially stitched with a washboard-like pattern. The interior door panels are covered in black leather with yellow leather inserts and brushed aluminum accents. The instrument panel sports white gauges with turquoise pointers. The upper instrument panel, steering wheel and floor-mounted shifter are covered in black leather. The lower instrument panel and glove box are accented in yellow leather, matching the car's sun-mist yellow exterior. A black leather-wrapped tonneau cover is visible when the hardtop is removed. The aluminum-finished Thunderbird badge features a turquoise insert across the wings and is prominently placed on the vehicle's nose, rear and across the front seat backs. The aluminum-finished Thunderbird script stretches across both rear quarter panels.

Year:
2000
Engine:
V8
Power:
252 bhp
Transmission:
5-speed auto
0-60:
n/a
Top speed:
145 mph


Related Links

The Ford Website
http://www.ford.co.uk