![]() It really does look like an after thought, but I have to admit the bugeye look eventually grows on you. It's my understanding the '57 full size was actually intended to have dual headlights but because of the lack of government approval, got the bug eyed design you mention. '57 was a transition year as dual headlights were awaiting legislative approval. I also predict that won't last too much longer. Both are great cars, and I agree with the others that the 2-seat Thunderbirds are currently under-valued. The two cars never really did compete directly with one another - they appealed to entirely different audiences - and once the T-Bird grew to 4-seater status, that became even more apparent. When the T-Bird appeared, GM was not willing to concede that entire market to its rival, and kept the Corvette in production - and thankfully, in development. Nearly every Corvette history shares the thought that Ford's introduction of the 2-seat Thunderbird in 1955 (Actually late 1954 as a 1955 model) in actuality helped to "save" Chevrolet's Corvette - which was faring pretty poorly in the sales picture, and may otherwise have been cancelled. Again, the resulting sales figures proved this to be a wise move. The sales figures for the "Baby Bird" bore out the soundness of Ford's thinking, and led to the decision (championed by bean-counter extraordinaire Robert McNamama) to take the T-Bird even further upstream by stretching it to a four-seater that would appeal to an even larger market. ![]() Of course, being a smaller, 2-seat convertible, comparisons with the Corvette were bound to be made. ![]() FoMoCo rightly theorized that there was more of an audience for a "boulevard cruiser" than a sports car. The 1955-1957 Thunderbird was marketed from the beginning as more of a "personal car" than a sports car. certainly more in line with what was coming for 1958 & 1959.
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