1959 Ford Thunderbird Facts, Figures, and Specifications
Five Fast Facts You May Not Know
1959 Ford Thunderbird Convertible
1959 Ford Thunderbird Coupe
1. 430 CID V-8 Arrives
2. Grille and Rear Fascia Changed
3. Power Steering Improved
4. Side Trim Revised
5. Production Almost Doubles
1959 Ford Thunderbird –
The 430 CID V-8 Arrives
For 1959, the Thunderbird featured a new grille and a newly optional 350 HP 430 CID MEL V-8 engine. The honeycomb grille was replaced by a horizontal bar grille, and the new look was duplicated in the small grilles behind the taillights. Sales increased to 67,456 units.
1959 Ford Thunderbird Facts: Resources
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1959 Ford Thunderbird Facts – Car Shop Manual
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1959 Ford Thunderbird Facts – Body Paint Color Mix Codes
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1959 Ford Thunderbird
| E,2 Colonial White | |
| H,8 Tahitian Bronze | |
| C,24 Baltic Blue | |
| D,12 Indian Turquoise | |
| F,19 Hickory Tan | |
| G,28 Glacier Green | |
| J,23 Steel Blue | |
| K,17 Standstone | |
| L,25 Diamond Blue | |
| M,18 Doeskin Beige | |
| N,22 Starlight Blue | |
| Q,27 Sea Reef Green | |
| R,20 Brandywine Red | |
| T,21 Flamingo | |
| U,15 Cordovan | |
| V,18 Casino Cream | |
| W,26 Tamarack Green | |
| Z,14 Platinum |
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1959 Ford Thunderbird Facts and Specifications
General Year Information – 1959 Ford Thunderbird
For 1959, the Thunderbird featured a new grille and new side trim as well as an optional 350 HP 430 CID V-8 engine, borrowed from the Mercury, Edsel, Lincoln line (hence its “MEL” designation). For the first time since its introduction, a full-power top was introduced mid-year for the convertible version. The instrument panel dial faces were white for 1959, instead of the black used in previous years. Little else was changed other than minor powertrain improvements.
Sales increased to 67,456 units.
1959 Ford Thunderbird Factoids
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Originally planned as an option for 1958, the 430 CID 350 HP “MEL” V-8 was introduced as an option. The additional 50 HP and 95 ft. lbs. of torque helped push the weighty Thunderbird forward at a good rate, however the over 700 lbs. of engine in the front did not help handling.
Ford wisely chose not to change the look of the new T-Bird appreciably for 1959 with only minor side trim and grille tweaks. It was a smart move, considering that over 30,000 additions to the total of “Square Birds” were sold.
1959 Ford Thunderbird Facts – Models Offered
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The 1959 Thunderbird hardtop coupe. The car continued on its 113.0 inch wheelbase and was now firmly established as a 4-seater. Other than minor trim changes, the coupe continued as in 1958.
The 1959 Thunderbird continued to offer a convertible body style. The most significant change was a fully automatic operation for the top, whereas previously, the trunk had to be opened manually to stow away the top.
1959 Ford Thunderbird Facts – Engines
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Thunderbird V-8 All Transmissions: Overhead valves. Cast Iron block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 352 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 4.00 x 3.50 inches.
Compression ratio: 10.2:1.
Horsepower: 300 @ 4600 RPM.
Torque: 395 @ 2800 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft timing: Intake: 270°, Exhaust: 270°, Overlap: 49°; Lift: Intake 0.401″, Exhaust 0.401″.
Carburetor: Autolite 4100 four-barrel model 5752308.
Thunderbird Special V-8, Automatic Transmission: Overhead valves. Cast Iron block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 430 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 4.30 x 3.70 inches.
Compression ratio: 10.5:1.
Horsepower: 350 @ 4400 RPM.
Torque: 490 @ 2800 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft timing: Intake: 270°, Exhaust: 270°, Overlap: 49°; Lift: Intake 0.408″, Exhaust 0.408″.
Carburetor: Carter AFB Model 2853S.
1959 Ford Thunderbird Facts – Chassis Features
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- Wheelbase: 113.0 inches.
- Overall length: 205.3 inches.
- Overall width: 76.9 inches.
- Overall height: Convertible: 53.1 inches; Hardtop: 52.5 inches.
- Front tread: 60.0 inches.
- Rear tread: 57.0 inches.
- Tires: 8.00 x 14 4-ply tubeless.
1959 Ford Thunderbird Facts – Powertrains
- Three Speed Automatic Transmission Ratios
- All: 1st – 2.40:1, 2nd – 1.47:1, 3rd – 1.00:1, Reverse – 2.00:1.
- Three Speed Manual Transmission Ratios
- 1st – 2.49:1, 2nd – 1.59:1, 3rd – 1.00:1, Reverse – 3.15:1.
- Three Speed Overdrive Manual Transmission Ratios
- 1st – 2.49:1, 2nd – 1.59:1, 3rd – 1.00:1, Overdrive – 0.72:1 Reverse – 3.15:1.
- Rear Gear Standard Ratios
- 3-Speed SMT – 3.70:1, Optional 3.10:1.
- 3-Speed SMT with Overdrive – 3.70:1, Optional 3.10:1.
- 3-speed AMT – 3.10:1, Optional 2.91:1 (Note: 430 CID V-8 2.91:1 only- no optional rear gear).
1959 Ford Thunderbird Facts – Powertrain Options
- Transmissions
- Three speed manual was standard equipment.
- Three-speed with automatic overdrive was optional. Approximate drive ratio: 0.70:1.
- Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission was optional.
- Engines
- 352 CID 300 HP Single 4-barrel carburetor V-8 was available with all transmissions. NOTE: a “race engine” mechanical camshaft was available over the counter. There were no factory HP figures reported for this engine.
- 350 HP 430 CID MEL V-8 with Carter 4-barrel.
1959 Ford Thunderbird Facts – Significant Options
-
- 3-speed Dual-Range Cruise-O-Matic transmission ($242).
- 3-speed Manual transmission standard.
- 3-speed Overdrive Manual transmission ($145).
- 70-amp battery ($8).
- Air Conditioner ($446).
- Backup lights ($10).
- Fender shields, rear ($27).
- Front seat belts ($23).
- Heater/defroster ($83).
- Leather interior ($106).
- Outside rear view mirror ($5).
- Power brakes ($43).
- Power driver’s seat ($86).
- Power steering ($75).
- Power windows ($102).
- Radio, push button and antenna ($105).
- Radio, signal seeking and antenna ($199).
- Thunderbird Special 350 horsepower V-8 ($177).
- Tinted glass ($38).
- Tu-tone paint ($26).
- Undercoating ($13).
- Wheel covers, full ($17).
- White sidewall tubeless tires, 8.00 x 14 four-ply Rayon ($36 exchange).
- Windshield washer ($14).
1959 Ford Thunderbird – Downloads and Images
1959 Ford Thunderbird
Facts – Related Document Downloads
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1959 Ford Thunderbird Press Release Photo
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1959 Ford Thunderbird Road Test – Hot Rod Magazine
1959 Ford Thunderbird Test – Road & Track Magazine
1959 Ford Thunderbird Facts – Related Images
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1959 Ford Thunderbird Convertible
the 1959 Ford Thunderbird Convertible was improved with a fully automatic top mechanism. 9,093 were equipped with the 352 CID engine and 1,168 had the 430 CID V-8.
1959 Ford Thunderbird Hardtop Coupe
The 1959 Ford Thunderbird Hardtop Coupe was little changed from 1958. 54,041 were produced with the 352 CID V-8 and 3,154 with the 430 CID engine.