1966 Ford Thunderbird

Description

If a great-looking, affordable cruiser is your desire, this 1966 Ford Thunderbird Town Hardtop is waiting. The black-on-black color combination looks awesome on the sleek 'Bird and with some TLC and elbow grease, this could be a seriously nice car that'll never look out of place at shows.

Of the three body styles offered in 1966 (Town Hardtop, Town Landau, and convertible), this Town Hardtop is by far the sleekest. The wider B-pillars eliminated the quarter windows but did without the fussy padded roof and landau bars of the Landau model, so it looks awesome. Originally painted Medium Beige Metallic, it's not hard to see why black was chosen when the time for a respray came around. That was a few years ago and the paint is show a bit of age today, but at this price, you won't find a more appealing luxury car anywhere. And like many cars in this class, the work is good and just needs a final cut and buff to really bring it to life and in this car's case it would be money well spent. It doesn't appear to have undergone major surgery in the past and panel fit is quite good. Experts will note that the fender skirts are gone and the wheel arch is trimmed in matching bright trim, so it looks OEM and gives the usually tail-heavy 'Bird a very sporty look. With a newer front bumper and mostly original trim, it has a very pleasing patina that doesn't add or detract from the overall look.

Thunderbirds always offered first-class accommodations, and the interior of the 1966 models was as luxurious as a Lincoln. Most of the surfaces inside are original, so that means they're 50 years old. It's presentable and usable as-is, but spending a few bucks inside could also pay big dividends to eliminate the only real deficiencies on the car. Bucket seats, an attractive center console, and some of the coolest gauges in history make the Thunderbird look a slam-dunk for style points. Then there's the wrap-around back seat that remains in excellent condition thanks to minimal use. Add in a swing-away steering column, a nice headliners, and a bunch of factory options and you have a car that's brimming with potential. As a bonus, the trunk is quite well finished using original-style mats and it includes a full-sized spare with matching cover.

The 390 cubic inch V8 got a horsepower boost to 315 in 1966, and it makes the car an effortless high-speed cruiser. If long road trips are in your future, few cars do it better than a mid-60s Thunderbird. The engine was rebuilt about 10 years ago but hasn't seen a lot of use since then, so it's quite fresh and ready to run. Ford Blue paint brightens the densely-packed engine bay and it doesn't look like they took any liberties with the hardware when it was rebuilt; it remains pretty much as the factory intended. A pair of performance mufflers on the dual exhaust system give it a wonderful performance burble and the addition of disc brakes in 1965 make it a reliable travelling partner. Stock 15-inch wheels with hubcaps and 215/70/15 whitewall radials look great, but have a look on the internet and check out how awesome these cars look with flashy modern alloys.

This is a great deal of car for not a lot of cash. Not perfect, but the basics are good and with a modest investment, it can be the most dramatic car in any parking lot anywhere. Call today!