Dan Tanna’s
1957 Thunderbird

The 1957 Thunderbird was a powerhorse with so little room under the hood for anything but the motor that even people who called themselves mechanics took the car to a mechanic when the engine needed to be worked on. In the summer desert it tended to run a little warm when doing only the speed limit.

Through the shows sixty-seven episodes (if you include the original pilot movie and two two-hour specials), there were only two Thunderbirds actually used in the filming. Both were nearly identical 1957 model Thunderbirds, but one showed off its wax much better than the other one. Cameramen used this “show car” for close ups and scenes where the car needed to look top-notch. The other car was “souped up” for PERFORMANCE. It looked like it was moving because it was. This car was slightly modified and and the cameramen used it for shots involving movement.

When you think about how long the program ran -- and how often the two vehicles were performing in front of the camera, it is amazing that only two Ford Thunderbirds were needed. Even mild-mannered Jim Rockford needed a new car every year to keep the Rockford Files rolling. The Dukes of Hazzard used up, wore out, tore up and demolished hundreds of Dodge Chargers during that good old country boy television program’s run.

Tanna's Thunderbirds were almost demolished after the show ended.  A movie studio acquired the two cars and they were repainted an aquamarine color. They were destined to be used as background items in the Richard Gere film Breathless.  One of the production staff from the original television series later purchased the 1957 Thunderbirds and still maintains the popular sports cars. 

This was a time for cars to hit the road.  Eisenhower's Interstate system was opening up the country and the national average price of gas was only 32.9 cents a gallon  There were several other popular sports cars on television during this same era. The Starsky and Hutch Gran Torino with its red and white paint scheme was immensely popular.  Jim Rockford’s gold Firebird was very well known, too. The 1957 Ford Thunderbird from Vega$ ranks right up with these other television automotive icons and is probably the most immediately recognizable true sports car in television history, with the possible exception of the Corvette from the 1960s program Route 66.