At the Wixom Assembly Plant in Dearborn Michigan,
Ford had just begun setting up the assembly line for the next years
model.
Only minor changes were required as the '61 and '62 Thunderbirds only
sport minor changes.
The Thunderbird was already hard to improve upon.
Very early in the '62 model year production a convertible
was slated for a special purpose.
It was assembled on the line just as every other Thunderbird before it.
It came off the assembly line as a triple black
convertible
but with a couple very important differences.
This special Thunderbird was absent of the usual
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) stampings,
1961-1963 THUNDERBIRD VIN STAMPING LOCATIONS (3)
and it didn't have the typical undercoating and sound deadening
material sprayed anywhere on it's body.
This Thunderbird had a very special purpose which you'll find out about as you read on.
After it rolled of the line that July day,
This special Thunderbird was moved to a storage area where it sat and
waited
while Fords own Thunderbird Styling Department
went to work designing a new concept,
a FASTBACK Thunderbird!
This is one of the concept drawings I unearthed
while researching the history of The Italien.
It's interesting to note
in the concept drawing above that the front bumper guard is missing,
the rear wheel opening is cut higher
and slopes more gradually at the rear to more closely resemble
the front wheel opening.
These ideas were incorporated into the construction of the Italien.
Also in this design the fastback roof slope extends nearly to the back
bumper
and doesn't appear to allow for a trunk opening.
Another interesting note is that the treatment at the rear apron
between the bumper and body is also used on the Italien.
On the side view at the back of the quarter panel
between the body and the bumper the wide rubber cushion
typical of the production bulletbirds is present.
On the Italien this wide rubber was eliminated
the body extended aproximately 5/8"
and a flat piece of 1/8" thick rubber used in it's place to protect the
paint.
As the Ford Thunderbird stylists completed their concept design drawings
and got approval from the likes of
Jacque Passino, Walter Murphy, Clint Mahlke, E.F. Laux and
Lee Iacocca
to proceed with construction,
the triple black 1962 Thunderbird convertible was moved from storage to
the styling studio.
The stylists began by first removing the deck lid and the entire
folding roof system from the car.
In the next step, they removed the peak molding form along the
top of the quarter panels
from the doors to the back bumper.
This was followed by cutting away the sheet metal along the tops of the
quarters
from approximately 1/4" from the pinch welded seam,
leaving enough steel there to anchor the new fiberglass roof system
through with sheet metal screws.
The peak molding would cover the seam when later reinstalled. (photo from Speed and Custom
Magazine June 1963)
Once everything was out of
the way they could begin construction of the
new design.
They began by building a plywood buck over the car
approximating the shape of the new fastback roof leaving enough
room over which to sculpt the clay mule.
They then placed modeling clay on the plywood and began to sculpt the
final design.
This photo shows the car with it's '62 style fenders and doors. (photo from Speed and Custom
Magazine June 1963)
At this point they cut a
ridge in the clay for the rear window opening
forming a lip
and the rear window is installed to check the fit. (photo from Speed and Custom
Magazine June 1963)
After the clay mule was
completed the Ford stylists deliver the car to
Dearborn Steel Tubing Co.
for the actual construction of the roof.
