For 1969, the most premium Ford available was in the 3 rd (and final) year of the 5 th Generation “Glamour Birds.” While the overall design wasn’t brand new, the Thunderbird Motor Trend tested did have a key new feature introduced for 1969: the sliding sunroof. The Thunderbird of course was the one that “started it all” in the Personal Luxury category, when the 4-seat “Square Birds” were introduced for 1958. Though both the Eldorado and Continental Mark III were highly successful, they were also noticeably more expensive, with base prices around 39% higher than the more “mainstream” personal luxury cars-equating to a $1,900 price bump before options (~$12,500 adjusted). Motor Trend put each of these through the paces in February 1969, and ranked the upscale Personal Luxury players.Ībsent from the comparison test were the “ultra-high-end” Personal Luxury cars from Cadillac and Lincoln.

Detroit was more than happy to serve-up swanky, semi-sporty 2-doors to fill those desires, and 1969 welcomed back familiar faces from Buick, Ford and Oldsmobile, as well as a totally revamped entrant-the Pontiac Grand Prix, along with a new offering from Mercury-the Marauder. (first posted ) As the 1960s came to a close, ever increasing numbers of upwardly mobile Americans were looking to make a style statement with a new Personal Luxury car.

Ford thunderbird 70s