Body style: Convertible (spider/spyder, cabrio/cabriolet, drop/open/soft top)
Segment: Roadster & Convertible
Production years: 1966
It was the last year of manufacture for the fourth generation of the Thunderbird, but it was important for the novelties the car brought.
Back in '66, the Mustang got most of the attention of the market. But the Thunderbird was something different. It was built more like a luxury convertible than a sports car. It was more expensive than the original pony-car and offered more comfort than most cars on the market.
The '66 Thunderbird (or T-Bird) featured a metallic grille with vertical slats. Instead of the blue-oval badge, it featured a stylized bird. The headlights cluster mimicked an eagle's eye shape. A small central bulge enhanced the look of the, otherwise, flat surface on the flat hood. The quarter panels featured covers for the rear wheels, with a distinct chromed rim around the wheel-arch. As a luxury convertible, the Thunderbird was available with a power-roof that was hidden behind the cabin when retracted.
Ford designed the Thunderbird as a personal luxury coupe, inspired by the European luxury cars. Inside, it took inspiration from the "jet-era," with a tilted forward-center stack where it placed the controls for the stereo and the air-conditioning unit. The instrument cluster featured a linear speedometer and four, round, with aviation-inspired gauges for the oil-pressure, fuel-gauge, coolant temperature, and charging. The steering-column mounted gear-selector showed its position on a separate dial.
In 1966, Ford introduced a 6.4-liter engine that provided 320 hp paired as standard with a three-speed automatic transmission.
ENGINE SPECS - 6.4L V8 3AT (320 HP) | |
---|---|
Cylinders: | V8 |
Displacement: | 6391 cm3 |
Power: | 235.4 KW @ 4600 RPM 320 HP @ 4600 RPM 316 BHP @ 4600 RPM |
Torque: | 427 lb-ft @ 2800 RPM 579 Nm @ 2800 RPM |
Fuel System: | Carburetor |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
---|---|
Top Speed: | 130 mph (209 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 9.5 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 3-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 215/75 R 15 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 205.4 in (5217 mm) |
Width: | 77.3 in (1963 mm) |
Height: | 52.5 in (1334 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 61/60 in (1,549/1,524 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 113.2 in (2875 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.5 in (140 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 6.1 cuFT (173 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.5 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 4691 lbs (2128 kg) |