Today In History: The Ford Thunderbird Takes Flight

On August 20, 1962, the first Ford Thunderbird was produced. Designed to serve as a prototype, the Ford Thunderbird was Ford’s rapid-fire response to the 1953 Chevrolet Corvette. When it finally rolled into the commercial market in 1955, the Ford Thunderbird quickly outsold the Corvette. With a 292 V8 193-hp engine, the T-bird was unlike anything Ford had ever produced before. The early T-birds were all fiberglass hard-top convertibles with a few canvas-tops being offered in ‘56 models. After it became apparent that Ford had stumbled upon a guaranteed formula for success, engineers began to tinker with the design. Ultimately, the Ford Thunderbird lasted for 12 successful generations and sold approximately 4.2 million units. Although Ford officially pulled the plug on T-bird production in 1997, limited edition ”Retro Birds” were produced from 2002-2005. So celebrated was the brief comeback, the 2003 Thunderbird earned a coveted spot in the James Bond film “Die Another Day.”

First Gen. Ford Thunderbird 1955-1957 "Classic Two-Seat Thunderbird"

To View All 12 Generations of the Ford Thunderbird, Click “Read More”

Second Gen. Ford Thunderbird 1958-1960 "Four-Seat Square Bird"

Third Gen. Ford Thunderbird 1961-1963 "Bullet Birds"

Fourth Gen. Ford Thunderbird 1964-1966 "Jet/Flair Birds"

 

Fifth Gen. Ford Thunderbird 1967-1971 "Big Birds"

 

Sixth Gen. Ford Thunderbird 1972-1976 "Bigger Birds"

 

Seventh Gen. Ford Thunderbird 1977-1979 "Torino Birds/Birds of a Feather"

 

Eigth Gen. Ford Thunderbird 1980-1982 "Fairmount/Silver/Box Birds"

 

Nineth Gen. Ford Thunderbird 1983-1986 "Aero Birds"

 

Tenth Gen. Ford Thunderbird 1987-1988 "Bubble Birds"

 

Eleventh Gen. Ford Thunderbird 1987-1997 "High Tech/Super Birds"

 

Twelfth Gen. Ford Thunderbird 2002-2005 "Retro Birds"

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E85 Dodge Viper Sets a 220mph Standing Mile Record

A new record has just been set for the standing mile by a production, street legal vehicle and the car itself is only half the story. The car is an 1100 horsepower Dodge Viper that was built by SVS Power, but the story on top of the story is that the record breaking car was fueled by E85. Take a look at the following video of the completed Viper undergoing some dyno testing.

Pardon me for a moment… the pure throttled rumble of this beast brings a little E85 tear to my eye.

Breaking any speed record in a Dodge Viper does not seem unlikely as they are designed exclusively to pin you fast into the back of your seat. What this acheivement does is fly in the face of all the E85 and ethanol detractors who focus on the loss of power and fuel efficiency in the use of such fuel. Watch the video below as the modified E85 Viper surpases the prior record of 217.6 mph that was recorded by a gasoline powered auto with a 220.7 mph run at the standing mile.

The new record set by the E85 Viper is made just weeks before Ford in collaboration with Ohio State University, Roush and pilot Rick Byrnes will head to the Salt Flats with their Hydrogen powered Ford Fusion racer. The Hydrogen Fusion is equipped with a 770-hp electric motor supplied by OSU and will be seeking to break the 315mph record set by OSU in a prior car. Both records just fuel the enthusiasm behind further research and development in fuel alternatives. Just as in most cases these new car technologies are getting tested in their infancy in race cars before they are put into regular production cars.

Source[AutoBlogGreen]

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Speed Trap , which has gathered the in data provided by its members, who ...

The National Motorist Associations (NMA), have announced the top ten speed trap locations for this weekend holiday period.

The list has been compiled by the pro safe speeding group Speed Trap, which has gathered the in data provided by its members, who send in details of tickets etc, that they have had or know someone else who has been ticketed for speeding.

Speeding is not condoned, but the issuing of tickets at such high rates is, so I believe that the theory of informing drivers that there are speed traps at certain locations, is not to help them avoid being caught, the idea is that if driver know that they are entering an area where they are likely to get a speeding ticket, even if they carelessly go just a couple of miles over the limit, they will drive more carefully and thus make the roads safer, without the issuing of tickets etc.

All motorists would be well advised to keep these locations in mind while driving this holiday.

1. Detroit, Michigan suburbs
2. Colorado Springs, Colorado
3. Houston, Texas
4. Orlando, Florida
5. Nashville, Tennessee
6. Ann Arbor, Michigan
7. Albuquerque, New Mexico
8. Washington, D.C.
9. Denver, Colorado
10. Virginia Beach, Virginia

This weekend is one of the busiest for people to take the road, therefore there will be more traffic on the roads and so it follows that there will be more traffic police looking for bad and speeding drivers, don’t spoil your weekend by getting a speeding ticket, you have been warned!

Source [The Car Connection]

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