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Thunderbird Club

All started downhill when engineers started using wind tunnels to design cars so that mileage would improve.
In the US the greatest push downhill was gov average fuel-economy requirements (mid 70s). Forcing engineers to look at and consider every option. I don't blame them. They had a fuel pump to their heads. Which is why the gov should stay out of Thunderbird decisions. We would end up with with a Titmouse instead of mighty Thunderbirds. It's cute, but ain't no Thunderbird.
new-titmouse-sorenson.jpg
 
I have a Radio Shack Optimus turntable with a linear tracking arm. I bought it for about $100 in the early '90s. Still kickin' - never had any issues and never replaced the stylist either. (LP looks a bit dusty!)

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A friend of mine had a Radio Shack Stereo system in the late 70s. Some might laugh, but it was crazy good! Rocked out many afternoons.
 
....... NOTHING comes close to a large displacement high torque American OHV small block coupled to a manual transmission in a short wheelbase chassis...

Well, there is the large displacement high torque American OHV big block coupled to a manual transmission in a "short" wheelbase chassis....

:D


Hey, at least a Thunderbird HSC will fit in a Smart Car. Just barely.

View attachment 4151448

That's one of the several & varied reasons I now have a Suburban, much more easy-peasy to carry things :thumbsup:

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(nbd - not a Thunderbird :crying: )


It used to was I could tell the make of car from 100+yard away. Now I gotta see the emblem. They're all shaped pretty much the same. No personalities

There's always been a bit of that to some extent (Olds/Buick/Pontiac/Chevy, Ford/Mercury, Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler....a lot of "same car with different sticker"), but it's been getting progressively worse since....imo, probably since the Daytona Charger & Road Runner Superbird very visibly proved what aerodynamics could do....
 
Well, there is the large displacement high torque American OHV big block coupled to a manual transmission in a "short" wheelbase chassis....

:D




That's one of the several & varied reasons I now have a Suburban, much more easy-peasy to carry things :thumbsup:

View attachment 4151713
(nbd - not a Thunderbird :crying: )




There's always been a bit of that to some extent (Olds/Buick/Pontiac/Chevy, Ford/Mercury, Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler....a lot of "same car with different sticker"), but it's been getting progressively worse since....imo, probably since the Daytona Charger & Road Runner Superbird very visibly proved what aerodynamics could do....
too heavy for my liking....720lbs for an elephant block...540lbs for an AMC small block...
 
too heavy for my liking....720lbs for an elephant block...540lbs for an AMC small block...

True, true.....but I grew up w/ my dad's & uncle's drag car in the garage, & helped my dad with tech inspections & timing system (my start into electronics & computers) at a drag strip throughout high school. Big heavy motor helps keep the front wheels from getting too high off the ground :smug:
 
Well, there is the large displacement high torque American OHV big block coupled to a manual transmission in a "short" wheelbase chassis....

:D




That's one of the several & varied reasons I now have a Suburban, much more easy-peasy to carry things :thumbsup:

View attachment 4151713
(nbd - not a Thunderbird :crying: )




There's always been a bit of that to some extent (Olds/Buick/Pontiac/Chevy, Ford/Mercury, Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler....a lot of "same car with different sticker"), but it's been getting progressively worse since....imo, probably since the Daytona Charger & Road Runner Superbird very visibly proved what aerodynamics could do....
Up until the 90's(?)there was still sufficient different details that I could tell them apart pretty accurately. For example, noticing the differences between 49, 50, and 51 Fords, however many doors they have. Or the differences between a 2 door sedan and a "business man's" coupe(those died by ~56-57). But, yeah, in a straight on side shot on most of today's cars, ya hadda get within 10-15 feet to tell 'em apart.
BTW, the bit I mentioned about shifting my 69 Ford van w/o a clutch? I drove 18 wheelers for 23 years. No clutch? No problem.
 
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Up until the 90's(?)there was still sufficient different details that I could tell them apart pretty accurately. For example, noticing the differences between 49, 50, and 51 Fords, however many doors they have. Or the differences between a 2 door sedan and a "business man's" coupe(those died by ~56-57). But, yeah, in a straight on side shot on most of today's cars, ya hadda get within 10-15 feet to tell 'em apart.
BTW, the bit I mentioned about shifting my 69 Ford van w/o a clutch? I drove 18 wheelers for 23 years. No clutch? No problem.

I've had to do the same, with the same thing saving me. I've had 3 "cars" ('86 Shelby Charger, '89 Supra, & '92 Wrangler) lose clutch function while driving. Float-shifting ftw. At this point, I may not be able to drive a manual any other way...:unsure:
 
I've had to do the same, with the same thing saving me. I've had 3 "cars" ('86 Shelby Charger, '89 Supra, & '92 Wrangler) lose clutch function while driving. Float-shifting ftw. At this point, I may not be able to drive a manual any other way...:unsure:
I attempted that with a relatively new rental car. Nope. Some sort of interlock on it. Booo!
EDIT: Not all like either of my 2 Freightliners. Push clutch in, pick starting gear, let clutch out, shift away with feet on floor 'til next full stop.
 
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