Independent · Source-led · American performance history Issue 01 · 1951–2023
American Muscle Car Facts

Showroom arguments.
Race-bred answers.

Ford · 1955–2005

Ford Thunderbird

Every Ford Thunderbird model year from 1955 to 2005: production counts, engines, options, paint, prices and the stories behind them, with a source for every figure.

47 model years offered · 47 fact sheets · 0 stories

Beige 1957 Ford Thunderbird seen head-on on a black studio backdrop, showing the hood scoop, round headlamps and the wide eggcrate grille and bumper
1957 Ford Thunderbird, head-on Ford Motor Company Archives

Production by year

Each year's headline total, exactly as its source scopes it. Scopes differ from year to year (some include related models or other markets), so read the label before comparing years. Every year's fact sheet has the full breakdown.

YearWhat was countedCountStatus
1955 Thunderbird, allbuilt, model-year 16,155 Reported
1956 Thunderbird, allbuilt, model-year 15,631 Reported
1957 Thunderbird, all enginesbuilt, model-year 21,380 Reported
1958 Thunderbird, all bodies (Over-Drive production table)built, model-year 37,892 Disputed
1959 Thunderbird, all bodiesbuilt, model-year 67,456 Reported
1960 Thunderbird, all bodiesbuilt, model-year 92,843 Reported
1961 Thunderbird, all bodies (Over-Drive production table)built, model-year 73,051 Disputed
1962 Thunderbird, all bodiesbuilt, model-year 78,011 Reported
1963 Thunderbird, all bodiesbuilt, model-year 63,313 Reported
1964 Thunderbird, all bodiesbuilt, model-year 92,465 Reported
1965 Thunderbird, all bodiesbuilt, model-year 74,972 Reported
1966 Thunderbird, all bodiesbuilt, model-year 69,176 Reported
1967 All Thunderbirds, 1967 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 77,976 Disputed
1968 All Thunderbirds, 1968 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 64,391 Disputed
1969 All Thunderbirds, 1969 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 49,272 Reported
1970 All Thunderbirds, 1970 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 50,364 Reported
1971 All Thunderbirds, 1971 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 36,055 Reported
1972 All Thunderbirds, 1972 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 57,814 Reported
1973 All Thunderbirds, 1973 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 87,269 Reported
1974 All Thunderbirds, 1974 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 58,443 Reported
1975 All Thunderbirds, 1975 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 42,685 Reported
1976 All Thunderbirds, 1976 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 52,935 Reported
1977 All Thunderbirds, 1977 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 318,140 Reported
1978 All Thunderbirds, 1978 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 352,751 Reported
1979 All Thunderbirds, 1979 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 284,141 Reported
1980 All Thunderbirds, 1980 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 156,803 Reported
1981 All Thunderbirds, 1981 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 86,693 Reported
1982 All Thunderbirds, 1982 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 45,142 Reported
1983 All Thunderbirds, 1983 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 121,999 Reported
1984 All Thunderbirds, 1984 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 170,551 Reported
1985 All Thunderbirds, 1985 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 151,852 Reported
1986 All Thunderbirds, 1986 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 165,965 Reported
1987 All Thunderbirds, 1987 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 128,135 Reported
1988 All Thunderbirds, 1988 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 147,243 Reported
1989 All Thunderbirds, 1989 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 122,909 Reported
1990 All Thunderbirds, 1990 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 114,040 Reported
1991 All Thunderbirds, 1991 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 84,719 Reported
1992 All Thunderbirds, 1992 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 74,149 Reported
1993 All Thunderbirds, 1993 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 130,750 Reported
1994 All Thunderbirds, 1994 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 121,082 Reported
1995 All Thunderbirds, 1995 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 115,397 Reported
1996 All Thunderbirds, 1996 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 112,302 Reported
1997 All Thunderbirds, 1997 model year (every series, body and engine)built, model-year 85,276 Reported
2002 All Thunderbirds, 2002 model yearbuilt, model-year 31,368 Reported
2003 All Thunderbirds, 2003 model yearbuilt, model-year 14,678 Reported
2004 All Thunderbirds, 2004 model yearbuilt, model-year 12,757 Reported
2005 All Thunderbirds, 2005 model yearbuilt, model-year 9,295 Reported
Red 1955 Ford Thunderbird two-seat convertible with the top down, rear three-quarter view on an airfield apron, showing the small round taillights
1955 Ford Thunderbird convertible in red Ford Motor Company Archives
Pale green 1956 Ford Thunderbird two-seater in a factory lot, front three-quarter view, showing the continental spare tire and fender vents
1956 Ford Thunderbird in pale green, with the rear-mounted spare Ford Motor Company Archives
Two 1958 Ford Thunderbird hardtops, one turquoise and one white, on a test-track road, the turquoise car in front three-quarter view
1958 Ford Thunderbird hardtops, the first four-seat Thunderbird Ford Motor Company Archives
White 1959 Ford Thunderbird convertible in full side profile on a dirt road in front of pine trees, with two occupants
1959 Ford Thunderbird convertible in white Ford Motor Company Archives
Grey 1960 Ford Thunderbird hardtop on a test-track apron, front three-quarter view showing the triple-taillight era front with a hood scoop
1960 Ford Thunderbird hardtop at a test track Ford Motor Company Archives
Red 1961 Ford Thunderbird convertible with a white interior on grass beside a pond, rear three-quarter view showing the bullet-shaped body
1961 Ford Thunderbird convertible in red Ford Motor Company Archives
Red 1962 Ford Thunderbird Sports Roadster on grass, high rear three-quarter view, showing the two-headrest fiberglass tonneau over the rear seat and Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels
1962 Ford Thunderbird Sports Roadster with its fiberglass tonneau and wire wheels Ford Motor Company Archives
Black-and-white studio photo of a 1963 Ford Thunderbird convertible with the top down, side view, with wire wheels and the 1963 door-line spears
1963 Ford Thunderbird convertible with wire wheels, catalogued by Ford as a Sports Roadster Ford Motor Company Archives
Red 1964 Ford Thunderbird convertible with the top down, front three-quarter side view in front of a low house
1964 Ford Thunderbird convertible in red Ford Motor Company Archives
Cream 1965 Ford Thunderbird hardtop on a studio turntable, front three-quarter view
1965 Ford Thunderbird hardtop in cream Ford Motor Company Archives
Red 1966 Ford Thunderbird hardtop on a pale apron, rear three-quarter view showing the full-width taillight panel
1966 Ford Thunderbird hardtop in red Ford Motor Company Archives
Black-and-white photo of a 1967 Ford Thunderbird two-door hardtop, front three-quarter view, showing the full-width grille with hidden headlamps
1967 Ford Thunderbird two-door hardtop Ford Motor Company Archives

Model years

  1. 1955 Fact sheet
  2. 1956 Fact sheet
  3. 1957 Fact sheet
  4. 1958 Fact sheet
  5. 1959 Fact sheet
  6. 1960 Fact sheet
  7. 1961 Fact sheet
  8. 1962 Fact sheet
  9. 1963 Fact sheet
  10. 1964 Fact sheet
  11. 1965 Fact sheet
  12. 1966 Fact sheet
  13. 1967 Fact sheet
  14. 1968 Fact sheet
  15. 1969 Fact sheet
  16. 1970 Fact sheet
  17. 1971 Fact sheet
  18. 1972 Fact sheet
  19. 1973 Fact sheet
  20. 1974 Fact sheet
  21. 1975 Fact sheet
  22. 1976 Fact sheet
  23. 1977 Fact sheet
  24. 1978 Fact sheet
  25. 1979 Fact sheet
  26. 1980 Fact sheet
  27. 1981 Fact sheet
  28. 1982 Fact sheet
  29. 1983 Fact sheet
  30. 1984 Fact sheet
  31. 1985 Fact sheet
  32. 1986 Fact sheet
  33. 1987 Fact sheet
  34. 1988 Fact sheet
  35. 1989 Fact sheet
  36. 1990 Fact sheet
  37. 1991 Fact sheet
  38. 1992 Fact sheet
  39. 1993 Fact sheet
  40. 1994 Fact sheet
  41. 1995 Fact sheet
  42. 1996 Fact sheet
  43. 1997 Fact sheet
  44. 1998 Not offered
  45. 1999 Not offered
  46. 2000 Not offered
  47. 2001 Not offered
  48. 2002 Fact sheet
  49. 2003 Fact sheet
  50. 2004 Fact sheet
  51. 2005 Fact sheet

“Not offered” means this nameplate or performance model wasn't sold that year. It doesn't mean we're missing the research.