1960 T-Bird Junior Maiden Voyage

This is a video of the maiden voyage of another one of my Thunderbird Juniors. Unlike most T-Bird Juniors that were built in 1/3 scale, this one is a smaller 1/4 scale car.

Costing nearly $500 retail, the 1/3 scale Juniors were very expensive toys. In an effort to cut costs and attract more sales, the PowerCar Company introduced a smaller 1/4 scale replica in 1959. Only a few 1959 T-Bird Juniors were released in 1/4 scale, but all the 1960 models, including the T-Bird Jr. and Plymouth Fury Jr., were only available in 1/4 scale.

Unfortunately, because of the high seating position on the decklid, the 1/4 scale cars were not very comfortable and the experiment ended in 1960. Starting in 1961, the T-Bird Jr. was again only produced in 1/3 scale but with a cheaper tubular frame that would persist until the end of production.

I acquired this car through a friend at Spring Carlisle. The body is completely original except for some touch up paint on the front bumper. The chassis, on the other hand, was incomplete and partially disassembled. Using parts from a 1959 1/4 scale T-Bird Jr. I have and photographs of an original car, I was able to fabricate the missing pieces and completely and correctly restore the chassis. Powered by a Group 1 6 Volt battery, the T-Bird works as original with forward, reverse, headlights, tail lights and a working horn. It is shown here in testing before it's debut at the 2009 Motor Muster in Greenfield Village.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• 1960
• T-Bird
• Jr.
• '60
• Thunderbird
• Junior
• Jr
• Mustang
• PowerCar
• Power
• Car
• Vintage
• Promotional
• Go
• Kart
• Cart

[KKKEEEVIIIIIINNNNNNN]

haha funny car ! very nice ;-)

[1967mustanggta]

Does it have a convertible top that folds into the trunk?

[jaystyles007]

Would have been cheaper to buy him a Red Rider BB Gun instead.

[supersmrf]

@StarmanPhantom yeah

[StarmanPhantom]

I think that one was only meant for younger kids, wasn't there gas-powered ones that even adults could drive? *Whirr*

[silverbird58]

is thier a payment book to go with it?