1966 Ford Thunderbird

Description

Mid-60s Thunderbirds, particularly convertibles like this 1966 model, are seeing some recent gains in the market, and this is the one to own. With a gorgeous high-quality restoration, all the luxury and comfort options, and a fantastic color combination, it delivers personal luxury unlike anything else of the era.

Drawing on both the original Ford "Retractable" hardtops and the Lincoln Continental 4-door convertibles, this big 'Bird is the epitome of Ford's high-end products in 1966. The restoration was done about fifteen years ago, but thanks to careful storage in a climate-controlled environment, it looks far fresher than that. Wearing a gorgeous coat of code X Vintage Burgundy paint, it looks a mile long yet incomparably sleek. Workmanship is first-rate throughout and with that much sheetmetal, there are plenty of places for things to go wrong, yet the guys in charge of the restoration didn't miss a thing. Note how well the doors line up with the quarters, the deep shine that reflects without distortion, and the total absence of waves that would suggest significant bodywork underneath. Trim is surprisingly restrained on this lovely Thunderbird, but details like the fender-mounted turn signal indicators, faux hood scoop, and the finely detailed grille are in excellent shape. And yes, the sequential turn signals are fully functional.

Black upholstery combined with just a few woodgrained accents and stainless trim makes this feel like an adult's car in every way. The bucket seats offer original-style upholstery with a wonderful combination of pleats and quilted seating surfaces, and the rear seat with its wrap-around look is perhaps even more inviting. A ribbon-style speedometer and small round pods for the auxiliary gauges are an incredible piece of design, as is the swing-away steering wheel that really makes a difference in ease of entry. Factory A/C has been retrofitted with R134a refrigerant, although with a top-down cruiser like this, you probably won't need it very often. And speaking of top down, the insanely complex top mechanism on these cars is a ballet of electro-mechanical automation, with the bright white top disappearing completely under the deck lid with the touch of a button. Most importantly, it works properly with zero issues and all the weather-stripping is new. The trunk is also correctly finished with reproduction mats and a full-sized spare.

Ford's 390 cubic inch X-code V8 was standard equipment in the 1966 Thunderbird and makes the kind of leisurely torque you need in a luxury machine like this. Fully rebuilt and detailed, it has a factory-correct look and the reliability you need for a car that is capable of going cross-country on a whim. The big A/C compressor dominates the engine bay, but it also has a correct air cleaner with reproduction decal and a new Holley carburetor underneath. This early production car uses a Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission linked to 3.00 gears in the 9-inch rear, so it just loafs along at highway speeds without breaking a sweat. A new dual exhaust system gives it a burbly V8 rumble that's got a bit of muscle car DNA in it, and with disc brakes becoming standard equipment in 1965, it's a fine road car in every sense of the word. Right-sized 215/75/15 Michelin whitewall radials look right surrounding those flashy hubcaps.

'60s convertibles like this are affordable right now, but it won't be long before these incredible cruisers are valued up there with their 2-seat siblings. Call today!