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215S

FORD THUNDERBIRD OPEN SPORTS

Ford Thunderbird Open Sports - 215S

page last updated: 06 November 2011

Here the '59 T'Bird is given another lease of life by adding suspension and a driver figure - hence the S after the model number and kept on the books for another three years. I guess it was clever of Corgi to use so many American cars because we wouldn't notice that they were out of date in the same way. For this re-vamp they have removed the rear licence plate saying 1959 - like they would.

This is a very nice bit of photography of a very photogenic model, you really get a feel for the car from these pictures, it's also worth comparing them with say the Mk3 Cortina Police car from 1972 to illustrate very clearly what went wrong with the brand at the end. This is a finely made and modelled car - the Cortina is lumpen and crude. I was fortunate enough to be able to see a real '59 Thunderbird at the Classic Car Show in 2006, stunning.

CORGI TOYS

SPRING SUSPENSION

SEATS AND

STEERING WHEEL

The revised Thunderbird open sports (215s) was released in June 1962 and remained in the range a further three years being deleted in 1965. It is always red with a yellow interior and should have a driver figure. It is a popular and sought-after model with quite high values. There  are no listed variations.