1986: Bubble Back Bird

The Ford Thunderbird wasn’t due for a complete makeover until 1989, so how did stylists plan to keep the sales fires burning? Why, graft on a bulbous glass hatch in a metamorphosis similar to the one the Corvette went through in 1977-78. In this case , however, the hatch wasn’t all glass. Instead, the severely curved backlight was bonded to a metal frame. This resulted in a wider opening and lower lift up height. Also new was a grille-less font end treatment that was to undergo such cosmetic treatments as wider, flush headlamps, before it went into production. What’s interesting about the revamped T-Bird was the fact that Ford seemed confident about the future of a fastback with a hatch in a segment that traditionally favored notchbacks with a standard trunk. Well, it’s clear, the result.