The Diecast Zone · Model Car Club Since 1997
Diecast Collector Forums
Eight forums, every scale, and thirty years of shop talk — new arrivals, restorations, reviews, and the finds you won’t see posted anywhere else, with the full archive back to 2002 restored and searchable. Free to Register.
8Forums
195,000+Topics
1,276,000+Posts
10,000+Members
1997Research From
Notifications
Clear all
Topic starter
22/02/2025 6:52 am
'58 or '61 Thunderbird?
Be sure to make your selection.
Of course, please “Reply” to share your comments.
If selection is greater than 2 rank them.
Click on the picture to enlarge the image.
John Bono
North Jersey
22/02/2025 8:00 am
I prefer the square bird look but really a fan of both. 😎👍
Frank Reed
Chesapeake, VA
22/02/2025 8:49 am
The 1961 by a landslide. I especially love the taillights.
Retired in Dunedin, Florida.
22/02/2025 10:13 am
'61 rear and interior are great, but the front I totally dislike. I'll go with the '58 today, but for me any/all T-birds must be a convertible. Hate the hardtops, the roof is too tall to look good.
22/02/2025 10:29 am
I much prefer the look of the '61-'63 T-Bird and recall how pleasantly shocked I was when it was introduced, even though I was only a 9 year old car freak. I do like the Squarebird design though, save for the unfinished looking grille mesh of the '58. The '61 was a much more modern looking design with rocket ship styling cues; it made the Squarebird immediately dated looking.
22/02/2025 10:33 am
A without thought vote here for me. THE '58 HANDS DOWN! Only thing I'd change is the color. Any color but white!
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
22/02/2025 11:00 am
A prejudiced vote for the 61. When the square birds came out in 1958 I liked them immediately and when the bullet birds came out in 1961 I loved them immediately.
22/02/2025 11:27 am
@bob-jackman Bob; your stunning T-Bird is IMHO why this comparison is very one sided.
22/02/2025 11:39 am
I was upset when the 1958 Thunderbird came out, really liking the 1955 through 1957 versions. I had got over my disgruntlement by 1961 and rather liked that ‘streamlined’ design.
22/02/2025 11:41 am
I was mad at the '58 for changing over to four seats. But grew to like it over time. Then I got angry again when they replaced the square birdies with bullet birdies. I'm now over that too with time mellowing my viewpoints.
Guess I must have been pissed at the '58 more because I love the '61 much better.
22/02/2025 12:06 pm
@perrone1 I agree the change from Babybird to Squarebird styling was a shocking disappointment Tony; those '55s and '57s (delete the connie-laden '56) were so beautiful and of course sporty. But as we all now know, the decision by Ford execs to broaden the customer base by changing to a 4-seater was reflected in a major sales increase and may well have saved the T-Bird from an early demise.
22/02/2025 12:09 pm
disgruntlement
I can confidently state that, even though it's still morning, this is definitely the best word I will read (or hear) all day today!
Barry Levittan
Long Island, NY
22/02/2025 5:57 pm
I like them both but, for this comparison, I am partial to the bullet bird.
Tony Perrone and John Bono reacted
23/02/2025 9:43 am
@jack-dodds Thanks Jack. While I like the Sports Roadster, It was the most difficult restoration I ever did and I vowed that I would never do another. Come to think of it, at my age, I don't think I have another restoration in me anyway.
Page 1 / 2
Next