A Bit of 8th Generation T-Bird Lore

[Lindy]

Hey to all,

Back in the 90's we had new next-door neighbors who moved to Wisconsin from Michigan, when the Mister retired. They wanted to spend their retirement in their hometown. The Misses had told my wife that he was retired from the Ford Motor Company. His retirement was short-lived, however, because he came down with pancreatic cancer. Just before he passed away in February of 1998, he sold what I believe was a silver/gray eighth generation T-Bird, for about $1400 and it only had about as many miles on it (I could kick myself for not buying it). His wife said that it he designed that one. The gentleman's name was Raymond Behmer.

Is there anyway to verify the designers of past generations of T-Birds?

--Lindy

[tbird6t4]

Re: A Bit of 8th Generation T-Bird Lore

I did a cursory check and this is the 1980 thru 1982 Thunderibird also known as the Fox platform or Fairmont Bird. I could not find any reference to who the designer of this body style was but I am sure that that information may be contained in one of the many books on the History of the Thunderbird. I have to find my collection of those books but perhaps someone else has this at their fingertips.

The car was very boxy in it's styling and the body design was almost the demise of the Thunderbird. In 1983 the Thunderbird was launched on a totally new platform known as the first Aero Bird and was the begining of the rebirth of the Thunderbird which would continue progressing in it's styling thru to 1997 when the first full interruption of Thunderbird production took place since the beginning of the Bird in 1955.

Luckily for us with the demise of the Thunderbird in 1997 came the re-birth of the RetroBird in first prototypes shown in 1999 and first production models turned out with the launch of the Neiman Marcus Retro Bird in December 2000.

Gord R.

[5bird7]

Re: A Bit of 8th Generation T-Bird Lore

oh, Gord..., just a little correction - The NM bird was presented to the public on Aug 18 of 2000 at the Pebble Beach concours in California, pre-ordered on September, 25 2000 thru the NM Christmas catalog but not produced for customers until the months of June thru September of 2001. From that, I wouldn't say the NM was launched in December 2000.

I don't have any info on who was the lead designer for the 80-82 Thunderbird so hope you're able to find it in a book.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: A Bit of 8th Generation T-Bird Lore

I HAD THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ON THE 1980 THUNDERBIRD AND WHEN I FIRST SAW THE CAR IN LATE 1978 I COULD NOT FIND ANYONE WHO KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT THE DESIGNERS. I STILL BE BELIEVE THAT CAR WAS DONE BY THE SAME GUY WHO DID THE 1964 COMETS. THERE WAS NOTHING GOOD ABOUT THOSE CARS.

[rick3]

Re: A Bit of 8th Generation T-Bird Lore

Looking through my MANY Thunderbird books and came up with these 1980 designer's names...
Veteran "Birdman" Bill Boyer and Jack Telnack headed the 1980 styling team.
Additional Designers Dennis Jameyfield, Kyu Kim.
Arthur Querfield helped design the 25th Anniversary Edition.
Those are the only names that I could find.

[birdfan]

Re: A Bit of 8th Generation T-Bird Lore

I am the original owner of a 1980. It has 76k miles and is all original in excellent condition. While I admit it isn't the most classic T-bird design, it holds its own with contemporary designs. It has a smooth running V8, is still tight without one rattle, cruises all day at highway speeds, has the amazingly comfortable optional Recaro bucket seats, and a huge trunk that will fit almost anything. It has served me reliably for almost 30 years with no end in sight. I absolutely cannot agree with the statement, "There was nothing good about those cars."

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: A Bit of 8th Generation T-Bird Lore

I AM GLAD TO SEE THERE IS ONE GOOD ONE OUT THERE. HOWEVER, THEY WERE HORRIBLE TO BUILD, TOO MANY OPTIONS IN TOO LITTLE SPACE. PRODUCTION WAS HELD FOR THREE WEEKS WHILE WE TRIED TO FIND A WAY TO BRACE THEM SO THEY DID NOT FOLD IN HALF WHEN PICKED UP BY A WRECKER. I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT PROBLEMS WE HAD. THE ASSEMBLY DIVISION COULD NOT WAIT FOR THE 1983'S.

[birdfan]

Re: A Bit of 8th Generation T-Bird Lore

Yes, there is one good one out there. You know the old adage - never buy a car made on a Monday or Friday - (presumably because people were taking long weekends and they were made poorly)? Well, I must have one that was built on a Wednesday. LOL

[tbird6t4]

Re: A Bit of 8th Generation T-Bird Lore

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[tbird6t4]

Re: A Bit of 8th Generation T-Bird Lore

Yes, there is one good one out there. You know the old adage - never buy a car made on a Monday or Friday - (presumably because people were taking long weekends and they were made poorly)? Well, I must have one that was built on a Wednesday. LOL

I know of quite a few others out there that are still running and in great condition. They are not common so when one does show up at say the International Thunderbird Club or the Vintage Thunderbird Club International conventions it usually draws a lot of interest since many people bought them and drove them and dare I say loved them.

I have relatives who owned the Silver Anniversary Edition and it's first cousin the Cougar. They were fairly reliable but rust was their enemy as it was with most cars of that era......especially up here in the salty north.

Right or wrong they are still Thunderbirds and are part of the heritage of the cars we all love and cherish. I guess we had to go there to get here and I like where we are now.



Gord R.

[tbird6t4]

Re: A Bit of 8th Generation T-Bird Lore

oh, Gord..., just a little correction - The NM bird was presented to the public on Aug 18 of 2000 at the Pebble Beach concours in California, pre-ordered on September, 25 2000 thru the NM Christmas catalog but not produced for customers until the months of June thru September of 2001. From that, I wouldn't say the NM was launched in December 2000.

I don't have any info on who was the lead designer for the 80-82 Thunderbird so hope you're able to find it in a book.

Thanks Dot:

I stand corrected. I didn't even know the RetroBird existed until I saw the first ones in Battle Creek Michigan in August 2002 as I joined a group of Thunderbirds with my 64 Thunderbird heading to Chicago to commence a trip down Route 66 to L.A.

There were several NM on that trip along with Yellow Wing and Tweatie of this group. And a good time was had by all.

Gord

[ScottyNeutron]

Re: A Bit of 8th Generation T-Bird Lore

I did a cursory check and this is the 1980 thru 1982 Thunderibird also known as the Fox platform or Fairmont Bird. I could not find any reference to who the designer of this body style was but I am sure that that information may be contained in one of the many books on the History of the Thunderbird. I have to find my collection of those books but perhaps someone else has this at their fingertips.

The car was very boxy in it's styling and the body design was almost the demise of the Thunderbird. In 1983 the Thunderbird was launched on a totally new platform known as the first Aero Bird and was the begining of the rebirth of the Thunderbird which would continue progressing in it's styling thru to 1997 when the first full interruption of Thunderbird production took place since the beginning of the Bird in 1955.

Gord, I believe the Fox platform underpinned the '83 through '88 Aero 'Birds as well before being retired in favor of the MN12 platform for '89 through '97.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: A Bit of 8th Generation T-Bird Lore

SCOT, YOU ARE CORRECT THE T-BIRD STAYED ON THE FOX PLATFORM UNTIL THE 89 THUNDERBIRD WAS PUT ON THE MN-12 PLATFORM. I CANNOT SAY ENOUGHT GOOD THINGS ABOUT THOSE. THEY WERE OVERBUILT AND OVER BUDGET BUT SO NICE FOR THEIR TIME. THE KUKA AUTOMATION THAT WAS DESIGNED IN GERMANY TO BUILD THE FRONT AND REAR SUPENSION WAS A NIGHTMARE TO KEEP RUNNING, BUT SOME OF US SURVIVED.

[MATBird]

Re: A Bit of 8th Generation T-Bird Lore

How many generations were there? If anyone cares....
Wikipedia says:
3.1 First generation (1955-1957)
3.2 Second generation (1958-1960)
3.3 Third generation (1961-1963)
3.4 Fourth generation (1964-1966)
3.5 Fifth generation (1967-1971)
3.6 Sixth generation (1972-1976)
3.7 Seventh generation (1977-1979)
3.8 Eighth generation (1980-1982)
3.9 Ninth generation (1983-1988)
3.10 Tenth generation (1989-1997)
3.11 Eleventh generation (2002-2005)

I didn't know that

[tbird6t4]

Re: A Bit of 8th Generation T-Bird Lore

Gord, I believe the Fox platform underpinned the '83 through '88 Aero 'Birds as well before being retired in favor of the MN12 platform for '89 through '97.

That is just what I pulled off the internet it said it was a Fox platform and we all know that the internet is never wrong.....(much).

Gotta find my Thunderbird books!

Gord