After nearly two years of roped off fame on the tour circuit, Ford had planned to retire the car to the scrap yard as it had so many other concepts. The Italien’s short life of photo shoots and car shows was to cumulate with an appearance at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. The concept was a hit on the show circuit, so much so that model car maker AMT made 1/25 th scale kits available. It would be a few years off before the first production Fords would feature fastback styling. The dash was otherwise similar to the regular production Thunderbird of 1963.įastbacks were just becoming the next automotive styling trend in the US with cars like the AMC Rambler leading the way in the first half of the 60’s. The interior got a more subtle special treatment with customized leather bucket seats. The rest of the car was actually a 62’ model that Ford sent to DST that would later get 63’ fenders towards the final stages of construction. Under its long hood was a 3 carburetor 390ci V8. It’s primary feature was the fiberglass fastback top. The Italien was more than a pretty candy apple red face, it was a factory supported concept. The so-called Ford Thunderbird Italien was even named in a quasi European vernacular, sort of like how the Italians might name one of their Ferrari’s California or Maserati’s Indy. This Thunderbird was like no other and was heavy on Italian style influences, or at least an American’s interpretation of them. Vince Gardner of Dearborn Steel Tubing designed and built a special one-off fastback version. It was the spirit that counted with the end result looking like it could have come from Pininfarina or Zagato.įord stylists had been toying with the ideal of a fastback Thunderbird and had done a number of sketches before outsourcing the final design and construction. While Chrysler had a few limited edition cars actually designed and built by real Italians in real Italian factories, Ford saw fit to commission a car built by an American in the exotic locale of Dearborn Michigan. Before all of those tension came to a boil, Ford was star struck with Italian influenced design like any other big global manufacturer. After Ford proved its point if quietly de-scaled its Le Mans racing program efforts. From 1966 to 1969 its GT40 dusted the boys from Maranello. Ford’s revenge was producing a Ferrari beater in the 24 hours of Daytona race.
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