Identifying your 1958–60 Thunderbird
Square Birds: 1958–60 Thunderbirds
1959
1960
GRILLES
The 1958 grilles have a honeycomb pattern.
The grilles for 1959 Thunderbirds are horizontal bars.
The 1960 egg crate pattern grilles have one horizontal and three vertical bars.
HOOD ORNAMENTS
The bird emblem is a 1958 hood detail.
The 1959 hood bird emblem is the same as the 1958.
This is the 1960 style of hood bird emblem.
FRONT FENDER ORNAMENTS
The 1958 Thunderbird front fender ornament is located on top of the headlights. The clear insert contains a gold-colored dome. The script sits on the side of the headlights.
This year’s front fender ornament has a black background with a 1958–59 bird emblem.
Similar to the 1959’s front fender ornament, the emblem in the middle is a 1960 bird. Instead of the black background, it is clear.
SIDE ORNAMENTS
On the 1958 Thunderbird door panels are five striped ornaments.
Arrowheads and “Thunderbird” scripts decorate the 1959 door panels.
To spot a 1960 Thunderbird, there are nine vertical lines on the quarter panel (three groups of three) and the “Thunderbird” script on the door panels.
ROOF ORNAMENTS
The 1958 Thunderbird hardtops are the only ones to use the black buttons with bird emblems.
This 1958–59 bird emblem sits on each side of the 1959 Thunderbird hardtops only.
The 1960 Thunderbird bird emblem sits on each side of the hardtop roof.
TAIL LIGHTS
The 1958 Thunderbird takes two taillights per side of the car. The honeycomb bezel matches the style of the grille.
The 1959 tail lights are the exact same as the 1958s. Two on each side are required. The only difference is the horizontal line bezel, which matches the grille style.
There are three tail lights per side on a 1960 Thunderbird. The bezel is an egg crate design, which matches the grille style.
HUBCAPS
This is the only style for the 1958 Thunderbird.
The 1959 has two styles: one with the decorative spinner and the other just chrome.
The 1960 has the same two styles as the 1959: one is just chrome while the other with a decorative spinner.
1958–60 Thunderbird VINs
The VIN, on a 1958 Thunderbird, is located on the driver’s side door jamb. The year is the second digit in the VIN.
Example: H8YH109299
The second digit is an “8,” signifying a 1958 Thunderbird.
The VIN, on a 1959 Thunderbird, is located on the driver’s side door jamb. The year is the second digit in the VIN.
Example: H9YH100532
The second digit is a “9,” signifying a 1959 Thunderbird.
The VIN, on a 1960 Thunderbird, is located on the driver’s side door jamb. The year is the first digit in the VIN.
Example: 0Y71Y100001
The first digit is an “0,” signifying a 1960 Thunderbird.