Don’t See It

In this article (thankee Reader MG), the author talks about the styling similarities between the Ferrari 212/225 Barchetta and the early Ford Thunderbird, and how the two cars were linked.  Here are the side-by-side pics:

Honestly, apart from the obvious ones (embedded exhaust pipes, spoked wheels and round tail lights), I think they’re about as different as can be imagined.  The T-bird is part of that era’s American obsession with chrome and fins (part of the jet/space thing) and has not a single aspiration towards airflow and streamlining, while the Barchetta is all flowing lines and grace, with minimal chrome fittings.

And let it be known that I don’t actually dislike the T-bird’s shape — in fact, I think it’s excellent and so much better than their later iterations of the model.  But I don’t see the cars as stylistically comparable.  (Of relative performance, of course, we will not speak.)

I will admit to being not much of an automotive-styling cognoscentus, so if you think I’ve missed something, feel free to enlighten me.

6 comments

  1. Black. They are both black … with whitewalls. Not the most common color for either marque. Now if the Ferrari were pink, that would be different.

  2. Well, only from 50 feet- maybe. There more differences than similarities. My stepmother had a T-bird ( possibly one of the reasons she was my stepmother.) It certainly made an impression on 10 year old me.
    The “wire wheels” on the T-Bird were just hubcaps. On the Ferrari, they were real Borranni wire wheels with a center knockoff ( and a Brass Hammer in the tool kit). The Ford was stamped Steel, The Barchetta was hand formed aluminum. The Ferrari had bucket seats. The Ford had a bench seat. The T-Bird had a straight 6, and not a V-12. They made more T-birds in a day than the total production of 87 Barchettas. and finally, assuming Enzo would sell you one, For the cost of a Barchetta, you could buy several T-Birds.

    1. Straight-6?
      Are you sure? Course I was only 13 when the T-Bird came on the scene, but everyone I remember seeing was badged (like the one above) as a V-8 – the Y-block IIRC.

      1. The 1955 Ford Thunderbird’s base engine option was a 292-cubic-inch V-8 engine, also known as the “Y” block. This engine had pushrod-actuated overhead valves and produced 193 horsepower with the standard 3-speed manual transmission, or 198 horsepower with the optional Ford-o-Matic transmission.

        The ’53-’55 Corvette, the Thunderbird’s competition, was equiped with the 235 CI OHV inline “Blue Flame” six.

    2. OK Yes You’re right V8 not 6 But the hood scoop was non functional on the T-Bird and the radiator grill was more a screen rather than slats that directed air.

  3. both black convertibles with two doors and white wall tires. Actually the T Bird looks like the box that the Ferrari came in

Comments are closed.