Bigger Bird
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- čas přidán 31. 07. 2023
- This Fourth-Gen Ford Thunderbird brought rear coil springs, hideaway headlights and even more bloated luxury than ever to the fabulous Thunderbird. And what’s up with the bizarre sliding rear windows? Watch and see!
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My dad would NEVER buy a car that had the fake bar like Steve pointed out on the T-Bird. My dad said, "those are only suppose to be on a hearse, and I ain't dead yet".
Hey Steve MAGMAN, great job, as always with your work!! The first auto with rear window into B pillar, was 1967 Cadillac Eldorado! That's what I found out, anyway. PEACE MAN!!!
Back in the day we used to call them old man sports cars because the people that bought them were 35 -55 in age and when your 13 that seemed pretty old.
If I only lived closer, I'd be snagging that 429 (if it was still there). 8:58 Katy does an Alfred Hitchcock cameo.
Psycho,Rear Window, The Birds by the way I’ve visited that School house twice.
Had 69 T-bird with suicide doors in high school back in the eighties. Really like that car as it was different. Rebuilt the engine in auto shop class with a bigger cam and carb. That engine had some torque and fun to roast the tires.
Mr. B. Here ! Morning Mags ! ☕️☕️🍩 have a good day !
Morning
@@tomwesley7884 👀☕️☕️🍩👍👍
The 1967 Cadillac Eldorado had rear windows that went back into the sail panels also....Well done Steve.
These videos bring back a lot of memories.
The rear windows on the 67 Eldorado also opened into the B-pillars if I’m not mistaken
You are not mistaken.
I always liked these bigger birds, a little quirky but lovable. I believe the headlight doors were vacuum like the LTD's were, at least the 1970 LTD I owned years ago had a vacuum actuator. Thanks Steve!
Nice shout out to Martin Landau. He was great in Mission Impossible, too.
Space: 1999
My Dad bought a 69 4 door in 1972.....429....had suicide doors white with blue interior....nice ride.
LOL..."electric razor coming down the road". Perfect!
Me Likey big thunderbird! Me like both two door and four door! Like riding on a cloud ,very comfortable car!❤
I had a 68. It was like driving your living room! 😂
@@barberjeff67 yeah, only with more comfortable seating than the living room,at least my living room anyway!
@@jeffreycarleton1535 lol!
That wrap around back seat back always impressed me.
This is my favorite gen Thunderbird.
Yes it was a stunning design
Great looking cars without the vinyl roof!
So glad to learn you’re back upright again. Hope you have continued good health.
I learned to drive in a 64 coupe. I loved that big old car. Had to sell it in the 70’s for a house down payment and still miss it. Hope you are doing well.
We're all pulling for you Steve. Hope to see you soon
in 1972 while going through a tool and die apprenticeship , took a tour of the Cleveland plants 1 and 2 that were producing the thunderbird engines ... i guess they would had been the 400 and 429
I liked the Thunderbird up through 3rd gen. When they went to four door my enthusiasm dwindled. Might as well get a Galaxy.
I love this era birds
Get well soon Steve!
Space 1999,Steve. Now UFO, that was another great show!
Good morning gang 👍👍🇨🇦
Morning!
It also had sequential tail lights!
Nice, I have a 1968 fordor tbitd, 60,000 original miles. Fully loaded with hydrulic windshield wipers
"Honker Pedal" lol
The Mercury Cougar was slotted between the Mustang and T-Bird. I think the Cougar looked the best of the three.
FYI - the 1967 series Eldorado has similar rear passenger windows that rolled into the sail panel!
As did 70s Lincoln Mark #
The Lincoln Mark III was based on the Thunderbird, Lincoln added a Rolls type grill.
I saw that scene stealing pooch in the woods behind you!
Thanks Steve!
Martin Landau appeared in Space 1999 not UFO, it was meant to be a sequel series. Curiously, UFO was a Gerry Anderson production the same guy who brought us… Thunderbirds!
Glad to know you’re a fellow ‘70s pop-culture geek .
I loved the show Space 1999!! Martin Landau and Barbra Bain, who were mariied (1957 - 1993). They worked together on Mission Impossible too.
@@kengoodwin5906 and it was so much better than the Tom Cruise stuff
There was so many great choices of cars to choose from in this era, it would be so hard to pick one.
Brand loyalty
were*
Not me I I bought 69 396 chevelle still have it. And have a 70 454 also.
So true and if I were choosing a car for highway use I'd certainly take a T-bird over the Mustang.
I've seen this video two months ago. Thank you for the reminder.
Steve's on vacation?
😊
Thank you Steve
I grew up in a Ford household. My Dad lusted for a T Bird in the late 60’s, but in 69 couldn’t stomach the price so he bought a Mercury X100 instead for about $800 less than the bird. Same 360 hp 429 plus a traction lock rear. H70 bias plies up in smoke. 😁
Wonderful video as always! Thank you!
Another great vid Steve!
Yup, with the (driver's door) VIN, we win: 9 for 1969 model year, Y for Wixom, MI assembly, 84 for Thunderbird two door Landau blind quarter, N for 429 V8 with four barrel and the rest is the production sequence. The Wixom, MI plant operated from 1957 to 2007 and produced over 6 million vehicles during the time it operated.
We got the (driver's door) tag, we can brag: 65B for Thunderbird two door Landau with blind quarter and bucket seats, Z for Dark Gray Metallic exterior paint (a Thunderbird color), 2AA for Black interior trim (2A) and likely the third "A" is for the black vinyl top, (although the interior trim looks more blue than black), 05C for Wednesday March 5, 1969 production, 11 for Boston, MA sales district, 4 for 2.80:1 rear axle ratio, non-locking, and U for C-6 automatic transmission.
As noted many times, no, no, no, no, and no, again on the "letter is better" for the differential codes with regard to Ford products and 1969 is a perfect example that. In 1969, letter codes "A" through "E" are in fact NOT locking differentials, they are non-locking. Always, always, always, always, always go year by year, vehicle by vehicle as codes switch and swap during various years. There are plenty of good reference materials out there that you can refer to when pulling parts. Also, since the tag is on the door of many Fords of this era, parts could have been swapped from other vehicles and you have to be careful and check it for yourself to be sure you're getting what you think you are. Remember, some of these cars have been in the "wild" for decades and "if it fits, send it" was often the mentality when these cars got to the end of their roadworthy lives.
There's a chance that driver's door came from another vehicle as some things don't add up. Other tags such as the under hood buck tag would be needed to verify what's what. It's more like code "Q" Brittany Blue exterior paint, based on what's in the trunk, assuming that's original to the vehicle. The address for that Ford dealership stamped on the brochure cover no longer exists and it appears it's a big shopping mall/strip mall now from what I can tell.
So, addditionally without the buck (tag) we're out of luck.........
Good commentary, Mr. Google
@@tomwesley7884 Sure thing, nice of you to say.
When I read googleuser, suddenly an EMP attack seems to have some positive results.
@@michaelatkins9780 ?
@@michaelatkins9780I had to look that up. Electro Magnetic Pulse attack?
Always thought the front end of these Birds was cool. Slight Toronado overtones, but still distinctly T-Bird.
Steve, I had a 70 T-Bird. Speaking of the deep trunk, my car was the “go to” car when we went to the Drive In. I got 5 people in there one night. 😂😂
Z tread snow tires were the noiseist but the best traction
I was thinking the same thing! I can still hear the singing of the Goodyear Suburbanites or the Firestone Town and Country snow tires on my parent's Chevy station wagon!
My favorites were Kelly Springfield 60 series extra wide z treads with studs. Popular in the late 60,s
Never knew that a four door was offered. My dad had a 69 two door. I remember him saying how heavy the car was…a tank.
Hi Steve hope all is well with you. I do enjoy all your clips. Even is it's a repeat. Big fan of the baby bird. Had a friend who had a 4 door t bird. If I remember correctly it was suicide doors.
Ford used fake laundau irons on their Model A Sport Coupes starting in 1928 or 29. At least those had actual cloth and wood (non-folding, just lighter weight) tops.
Steve, instead of showing us this Thunderbird again, why don't you show us that teal Plymouth Sundance/Dodge Shadow convertible behind it?
Geez three weeks of reruns... Is Steve on hiatus for the summer or ill? Maybe he's on a road trip scouting new locations to shoot?
Steve if you are alive knock three times!!!
Maybe he's working on the 62 Plymouth.
Think he sold that car?
I had a 1970 4dr. (Used) Never knew it had tilt wheel until I sold it.
I love this model but the vacuum system is an absolute nightmare which is why you do not see many of these anymore.
Morning Steve.....
The first Eldorado and early Lincoln Marks also had the quarter glass which retracted straight back into the C pillar.
et well soon Steve !!!
Steve is my fashion influencer
I believe the '67 Cadillac Eldorado's rear windows were the first to retract like that.. also Lincoln Mark III in '69.
maybe Ford had it before Cadillac?
@@ValdezJuthe 56/60 Lincoln if remember right had them.
I want one.
LOL! Electric razor coming down the road; Great description. My dad had a 68 4 door he bought used; I remember the rear suicide doors; Also I remember Hot Wheels had the 2 door model which looked awesome at the time. Thanks for the video Steve.
Not at all a Ford guy but I had the 1967 Hot Wheels Redline "Custom T-Bird" too. Mine was a medium aqua with a flat black simulated vinyl top. Ford or not, it was one of my favorites.
@@corvairjim1 I have 3 Corvair's myself. I'm not a Ford guy either, But I did like the styling of these big birds.
Yard down here has 70 suicide door thunderjet.
Steve. How about featuring a Bronco II ? They have a rather interesting story
As a young boy in the 60's, I remember the media going whacko over the Thunderbird going 4 door.
The 4 door T-birds didn't last very long though. I guess people thought why should they pay all that money for one of them, when I can get a bigger, fully loaded 4 door Ford LTD or Mercury Marquis for the same price?
And shame on the Ford designers for copycatting Oldsmobile! Couldn't those designers use their brains to figure their own designs? The sculpted front of those T-birds looks a lot like the '62 Oldsmobiles.
You're right about the Olds reference.
The last cool one in my opinion. Thanks for the daily videos Steve!
Great video thumbs up, those were big cars in the day
The 67 Eldorado rear windows retracted into the b piller
Studded snow tires = sparks when you do burn outs until the studs fall out
That is a ‘68. The healight doors are vacuum operated.
Good morning gents ! 🇺🇲
I think one of the first generation fwd Cadillac Eldorado retracted the rear windows horizontally also.
Yes indeed
I never knew that rear panel was referred to as the Dutchman panel.
You mean the sail panel aka the C pillar? I had to look that one up, too. This is from Motor Trend (we all know the story)"One area that often gets rotted out due to poor storage is the rear filler tray or Dutchman panel, which fits in between the rear window support and the upper rim lip of the trunk opening."
@@kenttalsma7906 Sail panel, yes. Dutchman no. I'm 69 and I've worked as a bodyman and mechanic on cars since I was 14.
Hey Steve! Love these Thunderbird coupes!
According to my Google search, this is the 5th gen from '67 - '71 or has something changed? I even love the "beak" on the '70 - '71!
Wish I had a car brochure collection like yours, started collecting some in earlier days when I'd ride my bicycle to all the dealerships to see the new models!✌🇨🇦
Adding a short commercial snippet about the car would be cool to see
I have a friend who had a 69 with the suicide doors . The vehicle had low mileage, but had rust.
Would have been a great engine to build for different body style Ford product.
Martin Landau and Barbara Bain were in Space 1999 not UFO. Both were done by Jerry Anderson's company
I'd forgotten about Space 1999, but do remember them in Mission Impossible.
@@hackfabrication139
they were married during Mission Impossible / later divorced
I had a friend growing up whose Mother had a 1970 four door Thunderbird. It was dark green with an alligator skin pattern style vinyl top and had those Landau bars. I remember how there was a panel on the back doors that was kind of part if the top and when you sat in the back seat it felt like you were sitting in a limo, no one could see you from the side. I always thought the suicide rear doors were kind of cool. I remember it was a pretty quick car with that 429. Cool stuff!!!
martin landau & barbara bain were in the space 1999 tv show.
Im a firm believer that the biggest mistake ford ever made was putting a back seat in the thunderbird
Today's closed caption..."Steven Yonder"
I want a four door...
The 67 Eldorado had rear windows that opened that way. Power was an option!
👍
3 bodies will fit in that trunk easily.
Thanks
Martin, Landau and Barbara Bain wete on a show called space 1999
These are 5th gen birds.
I'll wager the VIN on the dash and the VIN on that driver's door do not match.
The reflector on the qtr panel is 1968-only. No bulb behind it.
1969 use a rectangular marker lamp with a T-bird logo and no reflector.
1969 also lost the wall-to-wall taillamps.
Is the "letter is better" thing still true for Ford rear axles? I'm looking for an 8.8" to replace the 7.5" that's currently under my 94 Ranger V-8 swap project.
👍👍😎
Headlight covers open with torque spring, close with vacuum. Default open for safety.
That was implemented for 1968. Not on the 67s. Ford Lincoln and Mercury cars of that era with hidden headlights after several days of no use would have the headlight doors creep open as vacuum was lost.
@@HFX1955 The torque was pretty strong…I had laid my tool carrier upon the headlight cover, and when the vacuum faded the tool tray was jammed in there, and partialy crushed😹
Your information is very good.. rebadging Mustang??
Really??
Cheers from Vietnam
Hi Steve, good car, good video! The third generation Thunderbird shared the the same chassis as the Lincoln Mark III. The Mark III also used the horizontal opening rear quarter glass as did the Thunderbird, as did the first generation FWD Cadillac Eldorado, they doubled as opening rear vent windows. Horizontal opening rear quarter glass windows where not used later on, in favor of opera windows, "no room to move back", and opera windows where cheaper. What would you rather have? Please reply. Dave...
The later T-Bird / Mark IV rear windows moved back 2” on the Mark but were fixed in place on the Bird.
@@sammolloy1 Thank you! Dave...
1967/8/9 Thunderbirds were 5th gen, not 4th.
I thought the same thing.
Like the LTD? I thought it was based on the Lincoln Continental. The suicide back doors bear this out, as does Continental offering a 2-door coupe version for the first time since the incredible 1956-7 Mark II, coinciding with the introduction of the 4th-gen -Bird. I could be wrong on this being primarily a GM guy, but I'm pretty sure that I've read somewhere that it was Continental-based, not full-size FoMoCo.
Something that I find interesting about the 4-door sedan version is the way a good chunk of the sail panel opens with the back door to make it possible for anyone larger than a 6 year old to actually enter the back seat! The cutline was partially obscuerd by the standard simulated landau irons. Tricky!
Continental had unitized body and frame 1958 through 1969, while Thunderbird went to separate body and frame in 1967, so 1967 Thunderbird probably was based on the 1965 Galaxie platform.
Rear window can be fixed, go back, go down or be hinged and pop out ? Wasn’t that an option on some small imports ?
Yeah VWs
When the Road Runner debuted in 1968, pop outs were the only available quarter windows. Mid year they added the roll down option. Ford Mavericks had them too. They weren't just foreign cars.
Morning Folks.
Thanks as always. These repeats have been fun as I quiz myself on what I retained. Hope you’re doing well sir. ~ Chuck
This is what Steve has been doing
czcams.com/video/GL51SX6GCPw/video.html
He is fine, on vacation!
@@MauiWauiPineappleExpress Posting again on High octane classics and Instagram. Not dead!
@@MauiWauiPineappleExpress Well earned and well deserved! Thanks for letting me know.
🏆🍀😎✌️
I thought the 429 was avaliable in 1968?
Yes, same VIN code "N" engine for a 1968 429 V8.
The Continental Mark III was released April '68 as a '69 model. It carried the 385 series 460 4v.
The 429 was a late year introduction.
Where do you find cars like this at?
What's a better platform to make power fe 428 or the 429 engine
The 429 was a copy of the big block Chevrolet, which was a copy of the Chrysler Poly engines.
Space:1999 not UFO.
Oops, it was Space 1999, not UFO. ;-)
Ist generation of Front drive Eldorados rear side windows went into the B pillar also.