1958 was a historic year for the Ford Thunderbird. A back seat was added, and the 4-seater personal luxury coupe (and convertible) segment was born. Ford would be in that lane all by itself for several years before the competitors caught up. The sales success of the ’58-’60 “Squarebirds” was impressive. The styling was definitely more formal and squared-off than the ’55-’57 two-seaters, and in the process, the T-Bird lost some of its sporty mojo to many people. Ford tried to recapture that sleek, stylish, and more sporty persona with the all-new “Bullet Bird,” which made its debut for the 1961 model year. And, in an effort to bring back the look of a two-seater roadster without giving up the back seat, the Ford brain trust came up with the Sports Roadster Convertible idea for the 1962 and 1963 model years. Here’s one of the few ’63 Sports Roadsters that were built, and it appears to be in remarkable condition. Advertised here on craigslist for $29,000. This ’63 Ford Thunderbird Sports Roadster is located in Maryville, Tennessee. A big thanks to Jack M. for spotting this really rare ‘Bird!
The Sports Roadster featured a removable fiberglass tonneau cover that was positioned across the back seats. It tried to give the illusion of a sporty two-seater, and beautiful Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels were also added to give it that roadster look. Between the high price and the public not buying the two-seater “illusion” of a two-ton car, the Sports Roadster only managed to sell 1,427 units for the ’62 model year and a scant 455 in ’63.
The seller (who likes writing in ALL CAPS) doesn’t give us many details or the car’s history, but describes it as a “get in and drive it anywhere conditioned car.” The ‘Bird’s light blue metallic paint looks very presentable and really looks good on this or any other Bullet Bird. I’m not spotting any tinworm or accident damage, and the chrome, trim, and glass all look good. It has a “like new” blue convertible top, and the wire wheels and period-correct whitewall tires complete the striking package.
The seller says the Sports Roadster’s interior is original. The two-tone blue cabin looks terrific; the perfect blend of luxury and sportiness. The photo above also shows what the fiberglass tonneau cover looks like when in place. The seller says the ‘Bird is “loaded with all the options offered in 1963” but doesn’t list them. (The Swing-Away steering wheel came standard on ’63 Thunderbirds.)
The engine bay looks neat and tidy and houses a 390-cubic-inch V8. The seller lists the mileage at 31,000 but doesn’t say if it’s the ‘Bird’s original mileage or not. The 390 is paired with a smooth-shifting Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission. The word “rare” is used a lot (maybe overused at times) to describe classic cars, but when only 455 of a certain model were produced, that qualifies as rare in my book. What do you think of this Sports Roadster? Ever seen a ’63?
Peggy , Andy’s girlfriend had one.
Beautiful car, but I think the big ‘Birds are going to fall off steeply in the next 10-15 years. I just can’t see Xer’s (of which I’m a member) paying $29K for these when it was Mustangs, Camaros/Chevelle’s and the odd GTO in our high school parking lots. It’s a shame…I’ve always wanted a T-Bird and this is a nice one. I am rooting for the seller though.
They don’t even want the other cars you mention unless at least the Mustangs would be newer than 1985. I just bought a survivor 57 T Bird that I know is going down, but I wanted it and thats OK, the car has special meaning to me.
I’m an Xer and if I had the cash, I’d snag this in a heartbeat!
Be interesting to know what options the car came with. Is it a performance 390 with a 4 barrel carb or the tri-carbs?
Didn’t all the 390s in T-Birds come with at least a 4-barrel?
When I was a kid about 7 yrs old my dad worked at the Wixom Assembly Plant as an engineer. The engineers were allowed to drive home a brand new car just off the assembly line to evaluate. I’ll never forget the time he brought home a 1963 rose color T-bird Roadster. It was summer and he drove up with the top down. It looked sooo cool with the tonneau cover over the rear seats. The whole neighborhood came out to admire it.
I’m frankly surprised at the low production figures. It seems you can’t find a
’62-’63 Thunderbird convertible these days that isn’t a roadster. Hard to believe that people would slap on a reproduction tonneau cover, ditch the fender skirts, and bolt on some wire wheels.
Just as mild customization, of course.
Hi ccrvtt… The 1963 Tbird Sports Roadsters only came with the Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels. They protruded out to far for the skirts. If this car is an actual 1963 Sport Roadster!
First the obvious. It’s gorgeous. And you can pretty much guarantee you are going to be the only person cruising around in one. Pretty decent price. Maybe 25k takes it home.
The seller calls it a “Sport Convertible” which is likely intentionally misleading. I do not see the passenger grab bar being present, which came with all Sports Roadsters. Questionable at best, especially considering the price. No VIN plate shown. A true S/R in this condition is worth 2x more.
The seller doesn’t provide a pic of the entire dash – just the speedometer, so I don’t know how you can even see if there’s passenger grab bar or not. – I agree that the price seems quite low for such a rare bird as this – in what appears to be very good condition. — So, I suspect there’s some things about it not shown in the photos that would have people walking away at the real market value of this rare bird, which would be north of $50K, so he/she priced it as such so when those imperfections come up, the seller can just say that’s why it’s not priced at what it would be without those imperfections — and that’s a smart way to do it.
The guy selling it is a reseller and often lists multiple classic cars/street rods at the same time so you could very well be correct regarding the listing.
John, you are correct. The good thing about Craigslist over Facebook ads is that we can go back and blow up the photos on the big screen. There is no grab handle on passenger side, also no Thunder bird insignia on the fiberglass tonneau that covers the rear seat. So, almost definitely not an original Sports Roadster, which would add maybe $10,000 to the value. Like you say the VIN would tell. Up until three months ago I had a friend’s real 1962 Sports Roadster at the rear of our drive. He sold it in running condition for just $5000, but it had rusty holes in the trunk and rockers, and the top was stuck in the down position. The top mechanism is a nightmare. Our friend was a mechanic who specialized in exhaust systems, so it sounded great too. He is in poor health, so it went.
A true rare bird indeed. I was 14 when the ’63 T-birds hit the showroom floor, and being a teenage car-nut, who always got the new car edition of Motor Trend magazine, I saw the ’63 bird as absolute perfection in luxury sport car design – inside and out. A truly gorgeous car, and this one probably should be in a museum somewhere – not out on in the elements further aging it. — The price seems quite low for such a rarity in what appears to be in very good condition – so there’s probably something about it we are not being shown or told.
Did a cooler looking car ever come out of Dearborn?
You are absolutely right this 63, if it were a genuine Roadster, is worth 50K+. At 25K who ever buys it won’t regret it! I am currently restoring a 63 of my own. I have a history of Birds that would fill a page and a half. I won’t bore you with details. The next owner will not regret buying this gem!
Belch-a-Zarian !
Love it!
In addition to the aforementioned “grab bar” not being in the photos, Ford also offered a factory tachometer, and cruise control. About as many ‘birds had those two options as the Sports Roadster option (yes, it was an option package like Z28, or AAR. Same T’bird, just different option packages.
My Dad bought a new 63 Galaxie 500, about the only time, I liked anything he bought. I wish he would have bought a T-Bird, I like this car a lot. Not sure about the price, but maybe not way out of line?
I don’t know anything about these so the comments about “Sports Roadster” is interesting to me. I remember seeing these advertised at the time and I thought the option just added the tonneau cover. Does the driver’s rear quarter window not roll down?
Regardless, this is a nice 63 ‘bird that I wouldn’t mind finding in my garage.
The famous bandleader Artie Shaw, used to motor around Newbury Park, CA, in one of these.
There were 455 Factory Sports Roadsters made in 1963. Is is estimated there are only 6587 left!! 🤣 If this is a true factory Sports Roadsters it is being listed for half the price of its actual value. It appears to be a very desirable, loaded, great color, 1963 T bird convertible regardless of provenance. Price is very reasonable regardless of authenticity.
What John Rotella said. A true roadster worth far more. Not saying this listing is a scam, but know what you’re looking at before forking over the money.
What evidence do we have that this is in fact a genuine Sports Roadster? None that I can see. Especially when the seller isn’t calling it that, only the BF writer is.
First, as has been mentioned, the price is too low. A real SR would be in the neighborhood of $45-50k for starters.
Second, the seller notes “True Spoke Wheels.” Truespoke Wheels is an aftermarket wheel company that offers repros of the Kelsey-Hayes wires used on the SR.
Third, both the SR fiberglass tonneau cover and the SR front fender emblems are available as repros so they aren’t proof of an actual SR. Also, as has been noted, this car apparently lacks the SR’s passenger-side “grab bar” on the dash.
Nice car, but it seems more likely it’s one of the 5,913 ’63 T-Bird verts with some repro SR items than one of the 455 SRs. Just my 2 cents.
If there is an 89 in the VIN (versus 85) that, too will serve as proof. The only other proof the owner may have will be the Monroney sticker, gate ticket, or super less likely-the manufacturer’s certificate of origin, which only the dealer had when the car was dropped off at the lot. Very few were even known to be asked for.
See the teen exploitation movie Palm Springs Weekend – rich boy Robert Conrad driving one of these, same color with a red interior
Go to Ecklers online and buy the reproduction “grab bar” for $400
You just made $20,000 profit…
nice
Note that he never describes the car as a “Sports Roadster” in his ad. I can’t see a passenger grab bar either but the IP/dash pictures are a bit too dark to be clear enough to tell.
Beautiful car nonetheless.