1956 Ford Thunderbird "Mexico"

[Sierra977]

This is a new one to me...

Alex Tremulis design

"Alex Tremulis' design philosophy had always been to strike a happy marriage between aircraft and automotive styling.

As Tremulis put it: "I have always considered the Mexico as a milestone. It opened the door to the windtunnel for the first serious investigation of the new aerodynamic art of the automobile."

http://www.carstyling.ru/en/car/1956_ford_thunderbird_mexico/

Rounded nose looks better



Time has not been kind to the design

[merlot4]

Re: 1956 Ford Thunderbird "Mexico"

With all due respect to Tremulis' statement, it looks like wind tunnel use in design predates his work by at least a decade, probably longer. Still, it's very interesting to see how art and science were being combined, particularly with regard to Thunderbird possibilities. Thanks for sharing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Airflow

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/classi...rodynamics.htm

[Guest]

Re: 1956 Ford Thunderbird "Mexico"

Here's a Concept rendering of a proposed design for the 2002 Thunderbird done by James R. Powers. Powers was the youngest designer ever appointed to Ford's Advanced Design Studio which at the time was headed by Alex Tremulis.
Powers had long since retired from Ford, however, in 1999 he was commissioned by Jack Telnack, then Chief of Design for Ford, to create renderings for a new Thunderbird.

Interesting to note that this rendering, along with others by Powers, were completely hand-drawn ... no computer, no CAD, no modern graphic design tools.

[11TH GEN]

Re: 1956 Ford Thunderbird "Mexico"

I kike that Phil...Looks like a Cervinni hood and C 4 Corvette wheels.

[Skip]

Re: 1956 Ford Thunderbird "Mexico"

Here's a Concept rendering of a proposed design for the 2002 Thunderbird done by James R. Powers. Powers was the youngest designer ever appointed to Ford's Advanced Design Studio which at the time was headed by Alex Tremulis.
Powers had long since retired from Ford, however, in 1999 he was commissioned by Jack Telnack, then Chief of Design for Ford, to create renderings for a new Thunderbird.

Interesting to note that this rendering, along with others by Powers, were completely hand-drawn ... no computer, no CAD, no modern graphic design tools.

My guess is that this is pre-99. The concept that was little different from the production version was shown at the Detroit Auto Show in January 1999.

[94mcd]

Re: 1956 Ford Thunderbird "Mexico"

More like a Buick Regatta

[11TH GEN]

Re: 1956 Ford Thunderbird "Mexico"

More like a Buick Regatta

That must be the Yacht club model.

[Guest]

Re: 1956 Ford Thunderbird "Mexico"

That must be the Yacht club model.

LMAO

[Sierra977]

Re: 1956 Ford Thunderbird "Mexico"

Never understood the marketing decision naming the Buick chick-car after the ranch in the 1956 movie "Giant".

Back on topic...

[lasuvidaboy]

Re: 1956 Ford Thunderbird "Mexico"

I know but it's a nice sounding name.

[CVCashmere]

Re: 1956 Ford Thunderbird "Mexico"

More like a Buick Regatta

i agree-it looks like the Buick "Reatta". Not enough connection to the 1955 Thunderbird.

CVCashmere

[geb@abq]

Re: 1956 Ford Thunderbird "Mexico"

Looks like a Corvette StingRay front end ...70/s ???