1963 Ford Thunderbird

Description

Two-seat Thunderbirds are cute, but when Ford added a back seat, sales really took off. Today, the 1961-1963 "Bullet Birds" are some of the most rapidly appreciating models, with cars like this 1963 Thunderbird convertible offering full-sized luxury and comfort with fantastic good looks. It's hard not to feel like Sinatra from behind the wheel of this very stylish 'Bird and with a lot of recent work, you'll love every minute of it.

Code J Rangoon Red is this car's original color and there are scarcely any better colors for a big ragtop. It has been recently refinished to a very high standard with a brilliant shine and excellent bodywork underneath, a feature that's especially important on a car with so many details in the sheetmetal itself. Shockingly, these are unit-body cars, but Ford engineered them well and even 50 years later, the doors fit well, the hood latches easily, and the spectacularly complex top mechanism works as it should, tucking itself out of sight in the reverse-hinged trunk lid. Experts will note that the rear fender skirts were removed to make way for the Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels, and while this one is not a Sport Roadster, it does have the same sporty look that helps camouflage its size. And yes, there's a ton of chrome, all of it in excellent condition, from the delicate trim that runs along the tops of the fenders, doors, and quarters to the "gills" on the doors themselves, to the jet-inspired taillights. This T-Bird is a one-car parade anywhere it goes.

The bright red interior is equally stunning, a beautiful mix of '60s cool design and high-end luxury. Buckets and a console were the only way to get your 'Bird in 1963, along with the "Tilt-Away" steering wheel that really does make it easier to get in and out of the low-slung convertible. Beautiful round gauges, each in their own pod, have a crisp, elegant look and the band of anodized aluminum trim that spans the dash adds some great contrast and isn't pitted or damaged. You'll note that this car sports fully functional factory A/C and a later AM/FM/cassette stereo, so I can scarcely imagine a better long-distance cruiser than this. New carpets are protected by Thunderbird-logo floor mats and there's plenty of room in back for full-sized adults. The wondrous convertible top, critical on these cars, is fully functional, stowing itself in the nicely appointed trunk with the touch of a button.

Ford's strong-running 390 cubic inch V8 was standard equipment, because this was a lot of car to move around. With 300 horsepower on tap, it never works very hard and has a very smooth idle with a humming exhaust note that's completely appropriate for the luxurious 'Bird. Aside from a switch to R134a refrigerant in the A/C system and an on-board battery charger, the engine bay is quite stock, right down to the oversized air cleaner and expansion tank for the cooling system. Power steering and brakes are probably mandatory on something this size and the suspension, while plush and luxurious, doesn't seem to mind hustling a little bit. Underneath there's a brand new exhaust system that sounds awesome, a recent gas tank out back, and the critical unibody is in great shape. And those aforementioned Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels look fantastic, especially wrapped in 215/75/14 Goodyear radials.

We've been selling cars for a long time but we get very few of these big 'Birds. They're still very much in-demand and you can't go wrong with a convertible that looks this good. Call today!