The Petersen Museum in Los Angeles boasts a dazzling array of unique vehicles, many of which rose to fame on the big screen. Among them is the iconic 1966 Ford Thunderbird straight from Thelma & Louise, a cinematic legend that Ford Authority recently had the chance to see up close and in person.
While plenty of famous vehicles on display at museums are simply 1:1 replicas of the real deal, this 1966 Ford Thunderbird was actually seen in the movie. While a number of identical cars shared star duty during filming, this particular example was used for filming close-up shots. In fact, the Thunderbird was specifically selected because of its backseat, which allowed the titular characters to travel with other important characters as passengers throughout the film.
In fact, five functional vehicles were used for the film, and, notably, none of them were customized in any way to fit the part. The 1966 Ford Thunderbird spoke well enough for itself. With its turquoise exterior and white interior, the T-bird fit the part of Americana icon, blending right in with the Southwestern backdrop of the film.
While the 1966 Ford Thunderbird “land yacht” wasn’t particularly fast, it didn’t have to be. It was less a getaway vehicle and more a physical metaphor for the main characters’ refusal to give up. It also represents their free-spirited personalities and freedom. In the film, the T-bird meets an early end when the main characters run it off a cliff to avoid the law. While this particular example survived the flick, the original stunt car did not; an original cut of the film shows the vehicle’s descent into the Colorado River at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
This Thunderbird sits alongside another notable example of the low-slung luxury land yacht at the Petersen. The one-millionth model to roll off the assembly line is also on display at the museum, and it’s still going strong after almost four decades.
No Comments yet