For 1969, the Saturn II concept was rolled out to continue the Thunderbird Saturn story at car shows across the USA.
A while back, we shared the story of the Thunderbird Saturn, a wild show car designed by the Ford advanced studio in Dearborn and built by an unnamed custom shop in Southern Californa. (See our feature here.) For 1969, Ford returned to the car show circuit with a similar yet even wilder Saturn concept, also based on the fifth-generation ’67-’71 T-Bird platform. Naturally, this one was called the Thunderbird Saturn II.
In fact, it’s reasonable to conclude that the Thunderbird Saturn and Saturn II are actually the same car. The original Saturn featured a radically chopped top with a pair of finned sail panels that extended almost to the edge of the rear deck lid. These are extensive and costly modifications to duplicate, and we can see that in these areas and others, the Saturn II appears to be identical. It seems mostly likely that the Saturn II is the Saturn with the addition of a more dramatic front end treatment, fresh paint in Candy Gold Metalflake, and other updates. In support of the theory, we’re informed that the original Saturn front-end takeoff, complete and intact, still exists in the Detroit area.
Among the Saturn II upgrades was a Travel Information Center built into the console and instrument panel. A punch-card operated navigation computer fed distance and direction info to the driver via a display screen, backed up by a radar display. “Theoretically,” that is, quoting the press materials. In other words, Ford PR was letting us know the early nav system was only a dream-car mockup. There’s no business like show business. More tangible features included a CB radio, a reel-to-reel tape recorder, metallic gold naughahyde upholstery, and thick-pile carpeting in gold wool.
The Saturn II toured the auto-show circuit through the 1969 season, appearing alongside the Ranchero Scrambler, the Super Cobra (barely visible above) and other Ford show cars at Detroit, Chicago, and elsewhere. From the available photos it appears the Saturn II was well recieved, but what ultimately became of the car is unknown. Alas, there was no Saturn III.
Looks like that roofline was testing the waters for the 1971 Cougar.
Great catch. My first impression was 1969 Mercury Marauder X-100. See MCG Sep 21, 2023, and MCG Sep 21, 2023.
The wheels are strongly reminiscent of the handsome Pontiac 8-lug wheels from earlier in the decade. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Good eye. They could very well have some from the same source. Kelsey-Hayes was a favored Ford supplier.
The 3/4 rear view used as the lead photo makes a nice impression and I even like the gold interior. But that front end is positively garish.
The front end looks far better than the original Saturn to me.
From the first time I saw the first “Beak Bird”, I loved them. Still do. Seeing this one with more of a leaner “Toronado-style” front end looks good, too, if a bit long.