Word: thunderbirds
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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Ford also has a zippier (300 h.p. or more), completely restyled, four-seater Thunderbird aimed more at the family than the sports-car market. But the car Ford worked hardest on is the Lincoln, frankly aimed at knocking Cadillac from leadership of the luxury market. Longest car on the road (229 in.), the Lincoln looks like a popular version of the Continental, which now becomes the top-priced Lincoln series, has horsepower boosted to 375 h.p., and new weight distribution that makes it handle like a sports car. Says Stylist Walker: "If that Lincoln doesn't beat Caddy...
...rear-fender lines; all cars are 9 in. longer, 4 in. wider, 2 in. lower, have optional air-suspension ride and a slight horsepower increase to 290 h.p. Two new models: a sporty Impala hardtop and a convertible, both with 280 h.p. to compete with Ford's Thunderbird. Pontiac is just as new, with revamped, rocket-ornamented body, double-barreled taillight and a bigger, 300-h.p. engine...
...Stylist George Walker's $185 million restyling: flashy new grilles, a lower-and longer-looking body, and a bigger, more economical V-8 engine that Ford hopes will cut gasoline bills as much as 15% (TIME, July 8). One major surprise: Ford will discontinue its famed two-seater Thunderbird, replace it with the long-planned four-seater model that is longer (113 in. wheelbase v. 102 in. wheelbase). but just as low and rakish. While the small T-bird has been a big success, with sales of 53,000 cars since 1954 (five times as many as Chevrolet...
...clubs, he is the center of a game of "Can you top this?"-an endless recital of domestic triumphs and defeats. The plumber who forgets his tools is legendary; now, says one pained Washington housewife with murder on her mind, "he just rides around in that white Thunderbird and never even comes." The counterplay comes from the housewife who has discovered a reliable Mr. Fixit, a possession as chic today as the little dressmaker who could copy the latest Paris fashions. Whether villain or hero, the repairman is indispensable; he dominates a vast area of dripping faucets, faulty percolators...
...troops were moving into position to take over Bangkok, the army radio broadcast frantic appeals for Pibul to surrender. "Please report, please report as soon as possible," said the military announcers. But Pibul, accompanied only by a military aide, was already speeding south at the wheel of his Thunderbird. Somewhere along the coast of the Gulf of Siam, Pibul and his aide boarded a navy LCM manned by his personal guards. Three days later Pibul and a skeleton personal staff disembarked some 200 miles away at the Cambodian seaside resort of Kep. On hand to meet him was a covey...