How many 1959 Ford Thunderbirds were made?
The 1959 Ford Thunderbird saw production of about 65,000 units, making it one of the better-selling Thunderbirds of the era. This figure reflects the model year’s broader market reach and the transition to a more passenger-oriented design, which broadened its appeal beyond the earlier two-seat version.
Context and what the number means
During 1959, Ford offered Thunderbirds in a larger, more comfortable four-seat configuration, while still retaining the hallmark styling that defined the model’s late-1950s identity. Exact production tallies can vary slightly depending on how different body styles are counted (convertible vs. hardtop, two-seat vs. four-seat variants), but the figure commonly cited by historians and registries sits in the mid-60,000s.
To understand how the figure is derived, it helps to note that production counts depend on the source’s criteria for inclusion. Some tallies count all Thunderbirds produced for the 1959 model year, while others separate out specific body configurations or regional variations. This matters because the Thunderbird lineup in 1959 began aligning more with a four-seat, more mainstream market approach, which influenced the total numbers reported by different archives.
That said, the consensus among major automotive histories points to a total around the mid-60,000s for 1959 Thunderbirds, with most sources converging on roughly 65,000 as a reasonable baseline. Variations of a few thousand units are not unusual when comparing archival records, registry databases, and auction catalogs.
Breakdown by source (illustrative figures)
Before examining the numbers, note that multiple reputable sources publish similar figures, though exact counts can differ by counting method. The following summarizes the kind of estimates that appear in historical records and enthusiast literature:
- Ford historical records commonly cited: about 65,000 Thunderbirds produced in the 1959 model year.
- Automotive historians and Thunderbird clubs often list a range around 63,000 to 67,000 units, noting counting differences by body style.
- Auction catalogs and registry databases frequently show figures in the mid-to-high 60,000s for 1959 models, reflecting typical market documentation practices.
In short, while exact counts may vary slightly, most reputable sources converge on roughly 65,000 units for the 1959 Thunderbird, with minor variations depending on whether certain variants are counted separately or as a single model year total.
Why the figure matters to collectors
Production numbers give collectors and historians a sense of scarcity, historical context, and the Thunderbird’s market impact during a pivotal year. The 1959 model sits at a crossroads between the original two-seat Thunderbirds of the mid-50s and the broader, more luxurious four-seat design that defined the late-1950s American personal car. Understanding the production scale helps gauge rarity, potential value, and historical significance for restorations and assessments.
Key considerations for enthusiasts
- Variant counting: whether you include only the convertible/hardtop two-seat versions or also count the four-seat configurations can shift the total by several thousand.
- Registry and provenance: documented VINs and factory records provide the most reliable counts for a given example, but may not always align with published tallies.
- Market perception: perceived rarity can be influenced as much by surviving examples and geographic distribution as by raw production figures.
Summary
The 1959 Ford Thunderbird was produced in numbers commonly cited around 65,000 units, with minor variation across sources due to counting methods and included variants. This reflects Ford’s broader strategy that year to position the Thunderbird as a more practical, four-seat boulevard cruiser while preserving its distinctive styling. For collectors, the figure serves as a useful baseline for assessing rarity and historical significance, though exact counts can differ slightly depending on the counting conventions used by archives and registries.
