You may recall the Firebird shown above is actually a Skybird, Pontiac’s cringe attempt to make a Firebird just for ladies. That’s a whole lotta powder blue. In addition to other ill-advised “lady car” attempts, the Skybird got me thinking about all the bird-named cars out there, and here we are with today’s Ask.
Answer the bird question any way you like. Tell me about your favorite bird names, even if the car isn’t that great. Tell me about the actually-good cars you like that are named for birds. Cars that seem to be bird-named for no good reason? Also fair game.
I’m also down to talk about the cars that go full bird, if you will. For example: the Eagle Talon. It’s a bird and part of a bird! I wish this had caught on as a car-naming trend, if only because Toucan Beak would be a great name for a minivan.
I’m also a big fan of less-badass-sounding bird names. This serious-looking banana is the Aspark Owl, a much more interesting name than something more try-hard like Alpha Fulcrum or Testicular Fortitude.
How about bird cars from TV, film, or comics? For sure! Let’s not sleep on Condorman’s Condormobile (a modified Sterling Nova kit car a hood-bird that puts the Bandit’s Trans-Am to shame):
Keep it going, I look forward to your bird-car shout outs in the comments!
Top graphic image: Mecum Auctions
studebaker:
golden hawk,
silver hawk,
sky hawk,
flight hawk,
power hawk,
super hawk,
lark,
super lark
1980 – 1987 American Motors Eagle. I’ll even throw in the 1988 Chrysler owned Eagle Wagon, they should have called it the Eagle Eagle – But, Nooo!
Does a Plymouth Fury count? The Furies are generally pictured as winged women, so it’s at least a half-bird car, right? I’ll take a 1971 Sport Fury, please!
The Australian Ford Falcon Ute
71 Plymouth Road Runner
The previous gen Suzuki Swift
61 Studebaker Hawk
The last gen boomer mobile Thunderbird has grown on me a lot..
70ish Buick Skylark coupe
Sort of bird like Saturn Sky
Powder blue is a traditional hot rod colour, especially common as a stock colour in the 60s.
I have the first aero Thunderbird custom, done by Jack Robinson on key parts.
Aero body with the turbo hood, larger grille, leather turbo interior, trim stripped, all done in monochrome snapon blue including the wheels.
Road race suspension relocated at both ends, engine set back. Rod ended rear multi link.
Built as a turbo 289 following the turbo theme.
Later a supercharged engine, now a stroked Windsor. Racing clutch, working AC and audio system, and a trailer hitch.
Called The Bird by Jack Robinson personally.
The second custom aero bird he built was a cost no hindrance tube frame car with custom sheet metal.
James Garner included an aero Thunderbird in a few later Rockford Files.
Ironically, that Skybird has the same classic vibe as the old San Diego Chargers powder blue uniforms.
Morgan Olson Kestrel, all day.
1886 (pre-beak body color grill) Thunderbird Turbo Coupe.
1997-2002 Firebird
Very easy question, the one I’ve owned 3 of, and currently own 1 Thunder, with the Fire coming in second place which I’ve owned 1 of.
Thunderbird SC. With a stick. No contest.
How about a Buick Skyhawk Roadhawk?
bird bird car
Bird is the word
Original bubble-rear-window Ford Falcon.
I have a soft spot for full malaise era Torino-based ’77-’79 T-birds.
Those are quite tidy looking, with the basket handle tiara and that nice taut greenhouse…I even love how they aped the look on the Fairmont Futura…
Oh lord I forgot condorman, hahaha, my wife loves that movie! The Buick Skykark and the GS versions were always my favorite muscle cars and the Firebird usually my favorite pony car, and the Tslon is my fav DSM, so maybe I’m a bird brain!
Phoenix?
Swallow Sidecar?
Would the 2012-13 Boss 302s with the Roadrunner engine count?
Get it? Roadrunner was faster than Coyote. Did you get it?
My neighbor had a redbird when I was a toddler in the late 70’s. I still remember being mesmerized by those wheels (probably because I was 2 feet tall at the time).
Come to think of it, I had a Burnin’ Key Car Trans Am toy in light blue around that same time that was probably supposed to be a bluebird.
Time to go down the rabbit hole…
I fully forgot about Burnin’ Key Cars. Toy Tuesday!
Alan Kulwiki’s Ford from the latter part of the 1992 NASCAR season:
The Underbird
That final race at Atlanta in ’92 is one for the record books. Six drivers were in contention for the Winston Cup, Richard Petty’s last race, Jeff Gordan’s first race, and a nail biting finish.
I was a huge Bill Elliot fan at the time (not so much now) and remember sitting so close to the TV and stunned when he won the race but lost the championship…Underdog indeed.