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As collectors we have been asking for a, “Square Bird” for some time. I am grateful, personally, that it was the Danbury Mint who came to our rescue. Fresh off of my new love affair with their 1955, “Baby Bird”, in Goldenrod Yellow, I have been anxious to review the four-seater that replaced Ford’s beloved ’55 through ’57 two-seater cars. Robert McNamara, CEO of Ford in 1958, decided to give customers their requested extra trunk space and back seat with the new-for-1958 model. Also on his mind was Chevrolet’s competing Corvette, a car that developed the two place sporty car concept for America’s highways, two years earlier than the Thunderbird’s debut. With the addition of quad headlights, a cube-like roof and lack of rounded body lines, the cars were termed, “Square Birds”. They were well accepted and the ’58 was named as Motor Trend’s Car of the Year. With a new unitized body, all new 352 cubic inch V-8 and very well appointed cabin, the T-Bird was now being touted as a, “Personal Luxury Car”.
Danbury has captured the unmistakable flair of this automobile perfectly. True to the era, many of the square bird’s styling cues, as with a good number of marques in the late fifties, were taken from aeronautic design menus. DM wonderfully replicates the side spears that appear as external rocket engines sweeping rearward. Above them, the car’s tailfins provide rudder stabilization while the taillights take on the appearance of afterburners. Even the, "Fashion Ray" wheelcovers gave the car a futuristic look in '58. The diecast sits true and level and their color choice is period superb in the lovely Monarch Blue with a Winterset White top. Not too light, not to dark, the blue paint, applied elegantly, showcases the car’s lines amazingly well. The mastery of metallic scaling has never been done better. Of course this is an all-new tooling and with it came some challenges but also, some new advances. For instance, the rear bumper is removable. You may choose to replace it with the supplied extended bumper with continental kit spare tire. Piece of cake, right? Well, no, not exactly. You see, in that particular automobile, the gas filler neck was located deeply between the trunk lid and the conny kit. A long funnel was needed to gas up. The standard rear bumper had the gas cap conveniently located behind the license plate. DM had to replicate both. With the continental spare, there is a small black square panel that lifts up to reveal the cap and filler neck. On the standard bumper the cap behind the license plate is visible once you flip the plate down. DM has thoughtfully supplied us with a pick-type tool making the chore of viewing either cap a breeze. It also makes lifting hoods and trunk lids much easier.
Speaking of which, the trunk lid is yet another example of a challenge met. Borrowing technology from their ’62 Thunderbird and improving upon it, the lid is a marvel of detailing genius. The internal hydraulic systems replication, metal hinges, wires and materials are outstanding. The jack lies at the rear of the trunk amid wires and working hydraulic pistons. As with the real car, there is a folding panel on the forward edge of the trunk lid that unfolds and extends to fill the gap behind the seat when the top is down. Trunk fabric liner engulfs the removable spare tire. Remember; only display it in the car when you have the standard bumper in place. When the conny kit has been added the spare comes out, just to be correct.
The interior is beyond lovely. Seat patterning is deeply scored and stitching can be seen outlining the tops and side bolsters. The dashboard has been intricately detailed and the floor pedals and carpeting are flawless. The doors are on those marvelous internal hinges and even the door kick panels are treated to nicely embossed texturing. The visors fold forward or under, the passenger seat back folds flatly to allow rear passengers access to the rear cabin and stop for a minute to examine the rear windows in their down position. The 1:1’s window is a triangular shape, necessitated by the slant of the roof. When rolled down, only the smaller top portion of the glass is seen in the window cavity and DM, not missing a beat, duplicated this to a ‘T’. High marks on that boys, great attention to detail. By the way, the car has power windows. All four buttons are on the console between the front seats. To put the top up, fold the trunk lid extension panel down and lower the trunk lid. Place the rear section of the top in the slot between the interior and trunk and place the top’s front edge locator pins in the windshield frame holes. Snug, faultless fit. The top itself is beautiful. It feels like nylon. It has two realistic welt seems, one on top at the rear and one along the bottom edge. Before we get to the engine and ingenious chassis assembly, let’s look over the square bird’s exterior. Vying for attention with the exquisite paint job are the chrome trim, badging and top. Window frames, windshield and wiper chrome along with bumper chroming, has been done magnificently. The chrome foiled, “Thunderbird” script on each front fender and conny kit is excellent and the photo-etched grille and rear valance mesh is not to be believed. The pattern etching is first class. The antenna is scaled way down and looks better than anything that came before it. And, yes, it still functions.
The engine bay features all of the best detailing we have ever seen in precision diecast and more. DM does such a good job with heater hoses and their metal holding clamps. Equally as impressive are the bright metal wires simulating the transmission fluid lines and fuel lines. The plug wires, radiator overflow tube and coil wiring are astonishing. Following the fuel lines downward you find yourself at the fully detailed fuel pump. This will also give you a great look at the fabulous chassis componentry. There’s a wired starter, trans cooling lines, emergency brake cabling and some of the best suspension systems you have ever seen. In the rear, the trailing arm suspension operates on real coil springs and functional shock absorbers. The front system works on coils but the steering system is the bigger news here. The tie rods act realistically but the power steering piston also operates.
It took some time for this replica to see daylight but, oh how the wait was worth it. DM did their homework on this little jewel. An absolute must have for any detail-conscious collector. It gives the Thrillometer a work out by scoring a hefty 9.85!
Issue price is $115.
(02/22/2005)
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