Hangar 3 · the classic car
Ford Thunderbird
Scale models of Ford’s personal luxury car, sold for the 1955 to 1997 model years and again from 2002 to 2005 — from 1:18 die-cast to plastic kits.
6 specimens
Ford Thunderbird die-cast
Ready-made metal models of the Ford Thunderbird, in scales such as 1:43 and 1:18 — search by model year and scale. Open this shelf
- American Muscle 1957 Ford Thunderbird Roadster (1:18 die-cast) A large 1:18 die-cast 1957 Thunderbird in Raven Black with a white porthole hardtop, modelled on an “E-Code” car. Current
- Motormax 1956 Ford Thunderbird convertible (1:18 die-cast) A first-generation two-seater convertible with opening doors, bonnet and boot. Current
- Lucky Die Cast 1955 Ford Thunderbird (1:18 die-cast) The very first Thunderbird model year, as a 1:18 die-cast with opening doors, bonnet and boot. Recent
- Sun Star 1960 Ford Thunderbird (1:18 die-cast) A second-generation “Square Bird” as a 1:18 die-cast. Current
- KK-Scale 1966 Ford Thunderbird (1:18 die-cast) A fourth-generation Thunderbird in several colours and body styles, including a convertible with removable soft top. Current
- Oxford Diecast 1956 Ford Thunderbird (1:87) A tiny 1:87 (HO railway scale) 1956 Thunderbird, sized for model railway layouts and dioramas. Current
5 specimens
Ford Thunderbird kits
Plastic kits of the Ford Thunderbird — chiefly AMT’s 1:25 range, still made by Round 2. Open this shelf
- AMT 1956 Ford Thunderbird (1:25 kit) A first-generation two-seater with removable porthole hardtop and continental spare wheel. Current
- AMT 1957 Ford Thunderbird (1:25 kit) A three-in-one kit of the 1957 two-seater: convertible, hardtop or custom fastback. Current
- AMT 1962 Ford Thunderbird (1:25 kit) The third-generation “Bullet Bird” as a 1:25 kit. Current
- AMT 1966 Ford Thunderbird hardtop/convertible (1:25 kit) A fourth-generation Thunderbird as a three-in-one kit: convertible, hardtop or custom. Current
- AMT 1971 Ford Thunderbird (1:25 kit) A fifth-generation Thunderbird, reissued by Round 2 and reviewed by IPMS USA in 2015. Recent
Ford Thunderbird
Background
The car
Ford built the Thunderbird for the 1955 to 2005 model years, with a break from 1998 to 2001. It went on sale as a 1955 model on 22 October 1954 as an upscale two-seat convertible, and more than 4.4 million were made across eleven generations. The last generation (2002–2005) returned to the two-seat convertible layout.
Nicknames you will see in model listings
- Baby Bird — the original two-seaters of 1955–57.
- Square Bird — the four-seat second generation of 1958–60.
- Bullet Bird — the third generation of 1961–63.
- Flair Bird — the fourth generation from 1964.
Collecting tips
Check which model year a model depicts — AMT, for example, makes separate kits of the 1956 and 1957 cars — and which scale it is. AMT’s Thunderbird kits are 1:25, a common scale for American car kits, while die-cast cars are often 1:18 or 1:43. See scales explained.
Sources
Key dates
- 1954
The Ford Thunderbird goes on sale
Sold as a 1955 model: an upscale, sporty two-seat convertible.
- 1997
Thunderbird production pauses
Production ends with the 1997 model year after ten generations.
- 2002
The two-seat Thunderbird returns
The eleventh and final generation is a two-passenger convertible, built until July 2005.