I was outside mowing the lawn and I walked past the car. I finished that pass then went past again, this time seeing the trunk. It came to me at that point...... we don't have a ford logo on the car. Atleast on mine. I have Thunderbird on the truck, the Tbird's on the C piller and grill, then 3 fila logo's on the EXT. Then I have the MN12 centercaps. Just figured I'd share with everyone else:toilet:
yea, i thought that was weird too. the difference between you and I, is that I realized that about 30-40 mintues after purchacing the bird...you took a little while longer. lol. it really is odd though. maybe because the name thunderbird is so synonomis(sp) with ford? like 'corvette', you dont need a chevy badge to know what it is. but that is a guess and only a guess.
None of them have the Mercury waterfall or ford logo.. other than the sill panels.
Yeah I kinda like it that way too.. shows these cars are special enough not to share a logo with other models.
True dat. I wasn't complaining either. I just look at the Vic and see a ford logo on the grill and trunk, ford logo on the center caps, ford logo on the steering wheel..... All I have that say ford are my valve covers
T-Birds from the beginning never had the Ford logo until the MN12's.
look at new cars nowadays... they HAVE TO have an emblem to tell em apart.
back then, you KNEW what you were lookin at.
Point in case, the new Ford, Chevy, and Toyota trucks. I swear that if someone were to take the grilles out, you could barely tell the differences between them. At least Dodge has it right, and makes a distinguishable truck.:raspberry
Yup, just by looking to see which ones are broke down on the side of the road.
Meh, the Mercury logo sucks. I'm sooo happy that they put the cougar head in the grill instead of the Mercury badge. That would have ruined the look of the car. The logo is situated in the only place it belongs, the owners manual.
That's why I hat the MN12's so much. They're so bland that they broke 33 years of tradition on the Thunderbird and stuck a Ford emblem on it.
Since I first got my car, that was one of my favorite features of the TC. No Ford emblem. My MN-12 didn't have one either, as someone replaced the Ford blue oval with a Thunderbird blue oval before I bought it.
They didn't have logos, but some said "Ford" on 'em. I remember one my brother had (think it was a '74 - white, white leather interior, 460 engine) that had F-O-O-D on the header panel. Somebody before him had a sense of humour...
Bite me...that logo ROCKS. ;)
For many years the Cougar was the flagship of Lincoln-Mercury division's advertising. Therefore it technically didn't need any kind of Mercury logo. I don't think the newer stylized "M" logo existed until 1984, anyway. The only aero Cougars to get Mercury "M" logos were on the Blue Max/SE's C-pillar emblems. Otherwise it was just trunk and bumper nomenclature. Which is cool...it's nice to have a car whose logo is so unique that it needs no other help.
Before that, from the early 1970's until 1983, there really was no direction to Mercury, therefore it never had a real, unifying logo. I remember the shield/dot thing on the Monarch or Zephyr that probably ended up on several cars. But really, think about it...there was nothing to designate a Mercury other than the scripty letters and the waterfall grille.
Before
that it was the Mercury god head, which most auto critics state is one of the coolest car logos evah. Merc brought it back for the recent Marauder...personally I can take it or leave it. I respect the link to the past, to the art nouveau movement in creating auto nomenclature, to a time when things were simpler. But it doesn't raise the ol' bone flagpole.
To me, the "real" Mercury logo will always be that stylized "M", because that's when the aero Cats were born, and when I first started getting into these cars, and that logo symbolizes the new aero direction of Mercury. It was totally new, unexpected, flowing, and
very 1980's.
Hmmm...maybe one of these days, I'll put a motion sensor on the "M" logo in the Mountaineer, so that when someone walks by the front of the truck, a loudspeaker will start playing A Flock Of Seagulls. Definitely "Wishing".
Yeah.
:headbang:
I gotta say I like that old Mercury head logo too....but also the waterfall one. I actually identified that with Mercury hand-in-hand because at maybe 12 yrs old they were still using it obviously.
I very much like the uniqueness of the cougar having its own logo, I really like how big the emblem is in the 87/88 grille, coming down the road I know when I see another 87/88 because of that!!!
Wow Eric you really remind me a lot of this other dude on a computer hardware forum I used to go to a lot...theres a member there who has an 85 brown corvette convertible and his license plate is literally "80SRULE". Whats weird is hes one year older than me, he didnt experience the decade at all but he obviously likes everything about it...I almost feel sorry for ya you probably wish from time to time you could go back right? If anything it sure was a good time for the auto industry, at least after '82.
Hell, I never left it. ;)
You have no idea how cool it was back then. At the time, everything else--and I mean, EVERYTHING else, domestic and foreign--was a box on wheels. They all looked like Volvos. And then these cars came out and broke all the molds. In 1985 you were driving just about the only aerodynamically-designed car on the road, save for the Corvette and F-bodies, and even they were squared off in places. You could spot a Cougar or T-Bird a mile away. Everyone had one. Imaging driving down the road and passing by 3, 4, 5 or more brand new aero Birds and Cats in a 20-minute drive. And the redesign in 1987...wow, those cars popped up everywhere overnight. In fact, that's how I learned to spot these cars at night: by the unique side marker/headlight configurations. Very easy back then, because everything else looked like . GM didn't catch up to the aero look until 1988 with the Beretta/Corsica, Chrysler in 1987 with the LeBaron. Until then it was just us. Just think about that for a second...let it sink in...and now tell me you want to go back LOL.
All of this happened with very little advertising compared to today. The cars, and the cars' shapes, spoke for themselves. Hence no need for a Ford or Mercury logo anywhere. It was the last time that ever will happen.
What I do wish: that I'd gotten into one of these cars sooner, and also had the money to buy parts and keep them locked up somewhere. I was just about 5-7 years too late for that. But you can say that about anything...I'm just fortunate to be in the time and place that I was.
Wow. Thats neat, I would LOVE to see these everywhere LOL although definitely even better would be to see em among all the Kleenex boxes!
You say how they sold like hotcakes, that really amazes me that you see very little of em around. Or maybe they just salt WAY too much here in the good ol Empire State and 20+ years of that has laid waste to most of em.
And you mention those Chrysler Lebarons....funny how they copied the style essentially.....but if you know your stuff you know that underneath that decent looking vehicle.....is a K CAR!!!! :toilet: YUCK
Another thought: In the old car hobby I hear lots of people say "oh all the new cars look like garbage they all look the same because of the wind tunnel" I guess these cars were the first ones of the "aero" era hence "Aerobirds" and all that nomenclature. I guess back then though they still let style prevail for the most part! I mean there are some good looking new cars but I see more cars that are just streamlined and as a result are just boring. Or weird! Case in point--Toyota Prius!!! One of the many reasons I hate that car, not necessarily that its a hybrid. Too aerodynamic. Kinda like that GM "Hy-Wire" thing a few years back that could coast seemingly forever because of the small air resistance. Nastiest looking thing I've ever seen.
Funny how the 1936 Chrysler Airflow is now a very sought after car but back then people didnt like em because they looked weird. I LOVE the looks of my '38 Buick and can say that as an antique car enthusiast I would NOT want ain airflow!!!! Same friggin thing! Too much focus on aerodynamics = bad styling!
But thats the times I guess...energy prices, desire to be green, so design for efficiency prevails. I guess its just me (and others Im sure) going against the grain. I say EVERYthing-be-ed in the name of a fast powerful fun shagy looking vehicle. The old muscle cars are probably horrible with air resistance, with those mostly flat front ends, same with the cars of the mid fifties, but those two eras are likely my favorites in terms of the looks department.
I hate to say it but the reason the stylized M sucks is that it's so geriatric looking. Case and point, my grandfather had a Grand Marquis and grandmother had a Topaz. Mercury was an older generations brand. I really think that could be one reason why it didn't appear on our cars other than the special editions/max cars. We had the sportiest Mercs of the time and the car was youthful and above the standard logo.
For the younger crowd there was Ford. My Aunt, Uncle and parents all had Fords during this time. Mercury was left to the older retired people but the cats became the exception to the rule.
And yet... underneath the decent looking styling of our cars.... is a FAIRMOUNT!!!!! :toilet: YUCK
:hick:
The 87-newer LeBarons actually had some styling cues I'd like to have seen on the 87-88 Birds, including the pr0nounced rocker panels and, of course, the fact that you could get one in a factory convertible. The LeBaron was actually a very nice 7/8th's T-Bird, and would actually make a pretty decent winter beater/daily driver if you want to keep the looks but don't want to ruin your 'Bird by driving it in the salt. Of course you could always stay Ford and drive a 4/5th's Bird in the form of a two-door Tempo...
I also like two-door Fairmounts, but the fact is they were nothing spectacular, and like them, our cars were nothing spectacular under the skin. The 87-88 TC's had some neat add-on technology like PRC and ABS, but the basic Fox platform is 1970's technology, which didn't differ greatly from 1960's technology.
I've always held the opinion that the 83-86 T-Birds and the 87-88 Cougars were the last really good looking cars. No offense to four-eye Cat owners and 87-88 Bird owners (I happen to be one), but that's my opinion. I just love the non-flush glass with big trim and four-eyed look of the 83-86 'Birds, but I don't care as much for the square-back look of 83-86 Cougars - it just doesn't jive with the whole aero thing (don't get me wrong, I still love 'em, just not as much). Conversely, in 87-88 the square-back look of the Cougar was rounded off just enough to make it a perfect compliment to the aero look - I cannot think of a more elegant look, but the 'Bird became too anonymous. It lost much of its muscular look and became closer to being just another flying potato (a look that was cemented in 1989).
I WILL own an 87-88 Cat again, and I WILL own a four-eye 'Bird again. I'd even trade my current car for either, and that's saying something, given that my current car is the first car I'd ever owned that I did the stuff I always wanted to do on...
:rollin: Flying potato... ROFLMAO... Now, if my '95 would only fly...
With the Eibach springs, Tokico shocks and the 275/45/17s, it handles like it's on rails... Just a bit weak for my tastes...
@ Thunder Chicken
good point about the lebarons. Also good point about the same platform as the 'mont and stuff. I just figured it was still better than the K-Cars. Ive just heard that they were little boxes. Maybe I've heard wrong. Maybe Im just poisoned against them for how they looked in the early 80s and how SMALL they are with SMALL engines where ours are big uns with available V8s of large displacement.
I dunno maybe thats a stereotype I fall for but shouldnt....big = strong and sturdy and good and stuff, small = weak poorly built etc....
I must just be insecure in my manhood LOL right OBVIOUSLY if I need to drive a big car I'm making up for something.
Now thats a stereotype I HATE with a passion. I lose it when people say that. Im like no I just feel like my car should be ballsy too and for me that means big, loud, and lots of hp and tq.
Actually it should have T-H-U-N-D-E-R-B-I-R-D. That's what all the 73-76 models said in the US:D
87-88 T-birds own all FTW :raspberry
nah 83-86 turbo coupes own all
Dude, you're driving a Mark, so I wouldn't stir that pot. :beatyoass:
Aww man I love it....there are STILL enough differences even under this "unified" idea of two sister cars in a period of 6 years that we get mini-rivalries!!!
Fight! Fight! Fight! lol
Try 8 years....If it ain't got 4 eyes....it's nothing! I'm even of the 4-eyes and flat dash segment :hick:
And Fila, you know, I might have hoped that you had realized that you were a worthless little CHUD and not something less obvious than that, like the lack of Ford emblems on the Aero cars.
This was Canada ;) though they probably were the same anyway. I thought they said T-H-U-N-D-E-R-B-I-R-D on the trunk lid and F-O-R-D on the header panel? It may not have been my brother's 'Bird that said F-O-O-D though - my parents had a '78 LTD-II that might have been the culprit. They bought it new, though, so if it was that car it was like that from factory. All I know is that I was like six years old and thought it hilarious that a car would say FOOD on it...
Hey, I'm feeling your pain. I own one. I still prefer the 83-86 ones more, though. Still, I've gotta be different from Chuck - I prefer the curved 85-88 dash.
(http://gallery.photo.net/photo/1956368-lg.jpg)
CATS: All your base are belong to us.
CATS: You are on the way to destruction.
84 Fila: What you say !!
CATS: You have no chance to survive make your time.
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Someone set us up the bomb!
Hahaha...
You have no chance to survive, make your time...ha ha ha.
Hmm could be a Canadian thing. No Tbirds in the US had the word Ford or a Ford badge on them till the 89s. Wait I take that back. '55's had a Ford badge on the header panel for a few months till it was replaced by the Bird logo.
I wasn't saying that I didn't like the 87-88 Birds that much. I was saying they are the best looking IMO :D :birdsmily: :D Especially black Turbo Coupes :birdsmily:
Which MN12?
I don't have any.
89 till atleast 95 had them on the decklid. Most 96-97s I've seen have had them as well.
omfg beat up fila FOR GREAT JUSTICE!!!
Quite refreshing!