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ID 430- 1970 Ford Thunderbird
Right you are @revvedup!
ID:430 is a
1970 Ford Thunderbird two-door GT Fastback.(Big Bird)
It has the rare bucket seat and console option.
The front seats were electrically adjustable (six-way).
The side windows were power-operated even for 1970.
The engine was a 429 cubic inch, 7.0 Ltr V8 that developed a max. of 360 bhp.
The car could be ordered with Traction-Lok differential for $47 extra.
The 1970 Big Bird shared basic body structures and assembly facilities with the Lincoln Continental Mark III.
The two door models got a new, low roofline that looked as if it had been customized by chopping the top. This gave it a racy muscle car look.
The sharply pointed "Pontiac" front end jutted out dramatically in the center. Advertising copy said "Shaped to slice the wind".
New features debuted
The 1970 Thunderbird was the first American car to include radial tires as std. equipment. The radial-tuned suspension's handling impressed the auto magazines of the period very much. The 1970 T'bird also debuted concealed wipers -- wipers that parked under the bonnet, when switched off. Another new feature debuted was a radio antenna that was embedded inside the windshield glass.
The 1970 Thunderbird represents a time when American quality control was very good, performance and handling were breathtaking for such a large car. Its road manners and ride were impeccable. Ford said the 1970 Thunderbirds were the most beautiful Thunderbirds ever built.
Gauges and controls on the well laid out instrument panel were placed logically and easily accessible.
Comfort
People unaccustomed to 1970 Thunderbird are often surprised at its power and agile handling, considering its size and weight. It is also a very comfortable car to sit in, and one becomes comfortable and familiar driving it within a few minutes.
The ride and the interior quietness is still among the best ever today.
All 1970 Thunderbirds underwent extensive pressure testing when new; the trunk lid was sealed off, and the interior compartment was pressurized. Testers with stethoscopes then proceeded to check around doors and windows for leakage. If anything was found, the car was pulled out of the assembly line, repaired, and tested again!
But why does it look like a Pontiac, snout et al?
There's a story to that.
Semon E. ("Bunkie") Knudsen (1912-1998). In 1968, at the age of 55, after a successful 29-year career at GM rising to head of the Pontiac Division, Bunkie left GM to become
a President at Ford Motor Company.
Henry Ford II personally recruited him in January 1968. Ford secretly visited Knudsen's mansion in Bingham Farms near Detroit and sealed the deal.
But Knudsen was too tough a designer to be President.
He sometimes arrived for work at 07:15 a.m., toured the Ford Design Center and ordered changes that would clash with the desires of designers like Lee Iacocca.
The 1970 Thunderbird's center grille and hood section protruded forward in a very Pontiac-like snout -- decidedly not a Thunderbird styling tradition.
The full width tail lamps had an inverted "U" design, very reminiscent of Pontiac tail lamps at the time.
Ford dealers were bitterly disappointed with a Ford Thunderbird that looked like a Pontiac.
As a result Knudsen was terminated from FoMoCo.
After a two-year holiday, Knudsen became President of White Motor Co. the Cleveland, OH based truck mfr and worked there until his retirement in 1980.
Ford Thunderbird generations from 1955 - 2002 had these additional monikers.
1955-57 Baby Bird/Classic Bird
1958-60 Square Bird
1961-63 Bullet Bird
1964-66 Flair Bird
1967-69 Glamour Bird
1970-79 Big Bird 1
1980-82 Big Bird 2
1983-88 Turbo Bird/Aero Bird
1989-97 Super Bird/Aero Bird
2002-03 Retro Bird
ID:431
What is this cute little two-seat spider?
Well friends, 69 hours are now up without anybody identifying this Fiat relative.
ID:431 is a
1964 Autobianchi Stellina -- the first Italian car with a fiberglass body.
A total of 503 Stellinas were mass-produced by Autobianchi -- a Fiat subsidiary, in 1964 and 1965.
This little cabriolet used Fiat's water-cooled 767 cc 4 cyl. 31.4 bhp engine, mounted in the rear. The engine drove the rear wheels, through a 4-speed gearbox. Wheels were shod with 5.20x12 Pirellis.
The Stellina was based on Fiat 600D mechanicals.
Although the original Fiat 600D was a body on chassis, the Autobianchi Stellina had a unique unitary body, with fibreglass outer panels on a steel frame.
This was an important step in the development of new technology for Fiat and the rest of the auto industry.
This cute and simple barchetta was designed by Stevens Thompson Tjaarda van Starkenberg a.k.a Tom Tjaarda, the American designer of Dutch origin who also designed the De Tomaso Pantera, Fiat 124 Spider and De Tomaso Deauville.
Ram
ID:432 Identify the make and model please.
Welcome fourwheeldrift. Its heartening to know that you have taken the pains to go through the entire thread unlike a lot of people. Please note that this thread is for only production cars and ID:432 looks like a race special therefore does not belong here (if it is not then I will stand corrected) Will look forward to more posts from you.:)
I would hazard a guess as an Alfa.
Meanwhile guys guess this easy one!!
ID:433
ID 433
Mazda Cosmo Sport
ID 432
Is it the rally version of the Dutch made Gatso?
@V-16, thanks for the welcome. Am honoured to be in the company of stalwarts of this thread - such as ram, karlosdeville, ajmat, yourself et al.
While going through the thread, I came across several posts of "one-off" cars, yet classified as "production". This particular car is certainly not a one-off ... there were several made, with variations as production went along.
This car is probably a competition special ... as most cars from this marque were / are made for competition ... but then that is the case with some other special marques that we know and love. The car was / is completely road legal, however ...
No, it's not an Alfa.
@Nitin, no it's not a Dutch made Gatso.
Looking forward to someone identifying this one soon.
Cheers,
FourWheelDrift
P.S. It appears this thread has gone pretty quiet, what with none of the regulars weighing in for quite a few days, even on ram's ID:431.
P.P.S. Won't hold up the thread beyond tomorrow.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FourWheelDrift
(Post 794332)
ID:432 Identify the make and model please.
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is it a Fiat 8V?, or perhaps a Siata? or even a Ferrari ? Lancia?
Quote:
Originally Posted by FourWheelDrift
(Post 798769)
This car is probably a competition special ... as most cars from this marque were / are made for competition ... but then that is the case with some other special marques that we know and love. The car was / is completely road legal, however .
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A wild guess from my side on ID 432 would be an early Cisitalia or even a late Allard. Just a wild guess. But then again thats what the thread is about isnt it?:)
Nice to see fresh faces here, looking forward to a rebirth on this thread.
ID:432 is a Stanguellini 1100 Sport Nazionale.
The image was taken from
Stanguellini.it
Here's a picture of a very similar car (different windshield) that is registered and street-legal.
Cheers,
FourWheelDrift
So you cant say I was too far off on the Cisitalia...both were probably based on the Fiat 1100 anyways:)
Good find
Quote:
Originally Posted by ajmat
(Post 798656)
ID 433
Mazda Cosmo Sport
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Absolutely right. Its a 1967 Mazda Cosmo Sport 110
Hello !
Trying to get the regulars to return and fire up this thread ...
Please identify ID:434 ... make and model will do.
This car is relatively simple to identify as there are some dead give-aways ...
Cheers,
FourWheelDrift
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