page_title: Ford Thunderbird (sixth generation)
section_title: 1973
hierarchical_section_title: Ford Thunderbird (sixth generation) / 1973
caption_attribution_description: English: 1973 Ford Thunderbird finished in blue - rear view. Photographed in Palm Beach, Florida.
context_page_description: The sixth generation of the Ford Thunderbird is a large personal luxury coupe that was produced by Ford for the 1972 to 1976 model years. A counterpart of the Lincoln Continental Mark IV, this generation of the Thunderbird was the largest ever produced; weighing in at over 5,000 pounds, they are also the heaviest coupes ever produced by Ford.
  In terms of styling, the sixth-generation Thunderbird would heavily influence the styling of the 1974–1976 Mercury Cougar XR7 and Ford Elite, the latter of which was replaced by the seventh-generation Thunderbird in 1977.
context_section_description: For 1973, Thunderbird increased both in size and price. To accommodate the larger 5 mph bumpers mandated for all 1973 automobiles, the front was restyled with an egg crate grille, topped by a spring-loaded hood ornament, flanked by the quad headlight in individual nacelles. The turn signals were more prominent at the fender edges. Also new to the exterior were opera windows, first optional, then standard late in the model year. Power windows ($129), vinyl roof ($141), manual air conditioning ($436), and tinted glass ($51), were also made standard during the model year. Some new options included AM/FM 8-track tape player ($311), remote control right hand outside mirror ($26), and an anti-theft system ($79). Some optional equipment available included sure-track brakes, an early anti-lock braking system ($197), power sunroof ($504), power door locks ($59), cruise control ($103) and the 460 cu in (7.5 L) V8 ($76).
  1973 was the last year for the 429 and leaded gas. Base price was $5,577 early in the model year and $6,414 later due to additions to the standard equipment list. A total of 87,269 cars were built, making this the third highest production figure to date.
caption: 1973 Ford Thunderbird, rear view
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