| |
About the 1969 Ford Thunderbird
1969 is probably the most misunderstood and least appreciated year of the
classic Ford Thunderbird era. However, a close inspection of the car shows
that Ford nearly achieved perfection in 1969. And it was all in the details.
Instead of trying to recreate the car completely, Ford stylists and engineers
took all the strengths of the 1967 and 1968 models, and fine tuned them.
Then they took all the negatives and improved on them. The result? Likely
the finest T-bird of the 1960s, as far as reliability, ease of service,
convenience, and drivability are concerned.
There are those who will scoff at this statement, but they have missed
the point, and they have overlooked the details. Details like the gorgeous
jewelled turquoise insets in the new grille ornament, S-Bars and tail lamp
emblems. The fine black painted detailing that surrounds the jewelled insets.
Even the eye of the Bird is touched by this detail, and seems to be looking
you straight in the eye, putting you on notice that this car will show
you how to fly. New rocker moldings that match the grille and rear tail
lamp panel, with distinctive linear chrome lines set against a black background
which make the sides of the car visually flow around to meet the tail panel.
Separate tail lamps that harken back to the rear appearance of the popular
1964-1965 cars, with sequential turn signals, of course, to make sure others
know which direction you are headed. And for '69, to ensure better reliability
of this feature, the rear signals were controlled by a transistorized solid
state control box, eliminating the troublesome motor and cam unit. The
back-up lights are concealed behind the horizontal bright bars on the rear
panel, and even the rear side marker lights have a T-bird emblem mounted
on the surface of the red lens, its silhouette illuminated at night to
inform others that this is no ordinary automobile!
Open one of the front doors, and you'll notice that "Thunderbird"
appears in flowing metallic blue script on the sill plates, an elegant
invitation to step inside, and delight in the tailored luxury that abounds
for all the senses. The standard pleated vinyl upholstery uses no less
than three different vinyl patterns on the seats alone, and is so soft,
supple, and realistic in its appearance that many believe it is genuine
leather. Front bench seats, introduced as standard equipment on all models
in 1968, were the most popular seating option for the year, and were able
seat three people comfortably, but include a fold down armrest in the center
to give the feeling of buckets seats when the middle position isn't needed.
The trademark coved rear seats on two door models provide a cozy cocktail
bar atmosphere for those lucky enough to find themselves ensconced in the
rear compartment, and the blind quarter roof panels ensure privacy for
rear passengers. On four door Landau models, interior courtesy lights are
ingeniously integrated into the interior roof quarter S-Bars to light the
way in and out.
New simulated Teak-patterned woodgrained inserts dressed up the instrument
panel and steering wheel padded hub, and if one of the optional Brougham
interiors were ordered, additional Teak inserts were added to the steering
wheel rim, lower instrument panel area, and door trim panels. The Teak
pattern replaced the Burled Walnut used in 1968, and would be retained
through the 1971 model year.
Underway, the car is swift footed, sure, lean and mean. You feel confident
driving it. It has an aggressive stance, due in part to the new segmented
front grille, and rectangular turn signal indicators mounted below the
bumper, which simulate the road lamps found on some high performance muscle
cars of the time. The powerful 360 horsepower 429 Thunder Jet V-8 engine
that soars high above other cars on the road set new standards for smoothness
and performance. A new standard heavy duty suspension system was installed
on both two door models, and made sure the tires gripped the road with
an improved level of authority and assurance, while still providing the
quiet and smooth ride Thunderbird is known for.
 Standard front cornering lamps light the way around dark corners, and spring-loaded
motors open the headlamp doors quickly and automatically (shown at left)
to make sure the Bird's beams are always available to light the way, even
if the vacuum system fails or the doors are covered with snow or ice. If
you forget to turn off the lights, an optional warning light and buzzer,
a new feature included as part of the optional Convenience Check Group, remind you to do so.
A Power Sunroof option was added to the list of optional equipment for
the first time, and takes occupants closer than ever to the heavens above.
This feature was heavily advertised for the year, but was a rarely ordered
item. As such, cars so equipped are highly coveted today, and are not often
seen. Operated at the touch of a button mounted just in front of the opening,
an electric motor mounted in the roof header area glides the panel open
and closed with dual steel cables. The rear of the panel drops down and
slides backward into an open area under the roof panel. When open, the
panel is almost completely concealed between the roof of the car and the
headliner. With the Power Sunroof, the open air exhilaration of a convertible
is yours for the asking, yet the protection, safety, and comfort of a hardtop
is just a few seconds away, just press the switch and you're done, with
no top boot to install or rear window to unzip, and the panel can be opened
or closed while underway. Check out a few of the survivors listed in the
Thunderbird Sunroof Registry, a record of 1967-1979 cars equipped with this feature, or the T-Roof
Convertible option offered in 1978-1979.
Other options first introduced in '69 include Electric Defrost, which melts
frost and ice from the rear window in just minutes at the touch of a switch,
by heating the rear glass through wires embedded in a ceramic grid embedded
on the inside surface, and Kelsey-Hays state of the art technology ensures
emergency stops, especially on slick roads, are more controlled and precise
than ever before with SureTrack anti-lock brakes, an important safety feature
available for the first time on any production car, and shared only with
the Continental Mark III.
In its February 1969 edition, Motor Trend Magazine road tested and compared a 2-Door Landau with a Buick Riviera,
Oldsmobile Toronado, Pontiac Grand Prix, and Mercury Marauder. The Bird
got high marks for acceleration and stopping ability, even though it was
the heaviest of the group. MT also praised the placement of the interior
door handles, the full instrumentation, and the comfort and support of
the front bucket seats. Emphasis was placed on the fact that Ford had made
definite, worthwhile improvements right down the line—in ride, comfort,
handling, and convenience. The T-Bird was the best all-around car of those
tested based on its versatility, comfort, minimum noise levels, performance,
handling, and features. Despite the rave press reviews, this was the only
year to date that Buick's Riviera would outsell the Thunderbird, and it
would be the only time that this would happen.
Several unique, one year only paint colors were available, which widened
the spectrum of possibilities for car buyers, and just about any color
one could want was available. Two shades of purple were offered, as was
a shimmery metallic copper that looks up to date even today. Add to that
three shades of blue, three shades of green, two aquas, and you get the
idea: picking just one color was not an easy task.
Small touches not even noticed by many enhanced the long list of changes
for the year. For instance, the door lock plunger was conveniently moved
forward on the front door panel on two door models to make locking and
unlocking the doors easier. Considerations were given to how people used
their cars, and what could be done to make them more functional and usable.
Attention to the details made the '69 T-Bird a masterpiece to be admired
and cherished from behind the wheel as well as from the curb. Like no other
before or after, the 1969 Thunderbird truly was and is unique in all the world. |
