One-off T-bird Tridon showcar

ONE-OFF Again, we are talking about a uniquely shaped classic car made by the Ford Motor Company. The classic car that will be discussed this time is called the Ford Thunderbird Tridon Concept. As quoted from Automotivemileposts, the concept car is built on the basis of the 1970 Ford Thunderbird Two Door Hardtop and and is intended to be a show car.

1970 Ford Thunderbird Tridon Concept is featured with a unique prominent nosepiece and the headlights hidden behind the grilles. (Picture from: Automotivemileposts)

Furthermore, the one-off concept car got its name from its tri-elemental design and is one of the concept car design models had built on the basis of Thunderbird for three consecutive years. Well, as You can be seen of the concept car figure which is said to have carried the new production sports-roof design was already a racy design, and the Tridon used the sloping rear roof structure to full advantage.

1970 Ford Thunderbird Tridon concept car is built based on the 1970 Ford Thunderbird Two Door Hardtop like this and intended to be a show car. (Picture from: OLdCarSite)

Over the years, the Ford' designers worked hard to produce something unique for the Thunderbird' roof. And the Tridon is thought to be giving the right direction for a unique roof feature for the Thunderbird that is worth producing. As can be seen on the Tridon, there's a unique tinted skylight roof strip panel that stretched across the roof of the car from one side to the other and is located behind the rear window, the panels give rear seat passengers a clear upward view. On the other hand, the Tridon concept car has a small recessed rear window.

1970 Ford Thunderbird Tridon Concept shows the fully enclosed rear wheels and rear skylight roof panel. (Picture from: Automotivemileposts)

At the front, a three-piece nosepiece features a very prominent center section that jutted out in front, similar to the Thunderbirds production cars of the time, but more dramatic. The headlights are hidden behind grilles that featured five horizontal chrome bars against a blacked-out background. The grilles were separated by the center section of the nose, and front parking and turn signs are tucked in each outboard end of the grilles. The engine cooling slots ran horizontally below each grille, and between the grille and cooling slots was a thin black rubber rub strip, which ran from end to end.

1970 Ford Thunderbird Tridon Concept made its debut at the 1971 Chicago Auto Show. (Picture from: Bestride)

The front, rear bumpers and nosepiece at front were made of plastic materials that was designed to absorb minor impacts and bounce back into position, without damaging the car. Then all the glass attached to the Tridon was tinted in an amber shade to complement the interior and exterior finishing touches. Well, there's twenty coats of a creamy yellow that had a pearlescent effect to it named Moongold Mist coated the Tridon’s exterior. While inside the car, You would be found the interior upholstered in a ginger-colored synthetic lambs wool featured with the high back front bucket seats were separated by a full-length center console. Unfortunately there are no color photos for the interior.

The Tiara Aluminum Wrapover roof design and the Opera Window which were included as part of the popular model of the Ford Thunderbird Town Landau taken inspiration of the Tridon's skylight roof panel. (Picture from: Automotivemileposts)

The wheels (with the rear ones were fully-enclosed) were made of aluminum and held on to the brake rotors with bolts around the perimeter of the wheel surface, rather than toward the center and the Firestone provided unique tires for the Ford Thunderbird Tridon, and the concept car made its debut at the 1971 Chicago Auto Show.

Although it was never fully realized as a production version car, at least the Tridon' roof panel elements became the inspiration for the Tiara Aluminum Wrapover roof design and the Opera Window which were included as part of the popular model of the Ford Thunderbird Town Landau which was produced from 1977 to 1979. We think Ford's stylists have finally found the right and unique roof panel for the Thunderbird model. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOMOTIVEMILEPOSTS | BESTRIDE ]

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