From its conception in 1955, the Ford Thunderbird was a personal luxury car that had a long run in dealer showrooms. It shed its 2-seat configuration in 1958 and would carry at least four passengers in the future (until 2002). Redesigned in 1967, the car was bigger and bolder than ever, which led Ford to partner with Abercrombie & Fitch to produce five special edition cars dubbed “Apollo”. They would feature all sorts of passenger compartment gizmos to wow visitors at their main stores nationwide. Of the four known to survive, the seller’s example is one of them and is said to need a restoration. Located in Naperville, Illinois, this special T-Bird is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $20,000. Kudos for the nifty tip, “Sam61”!
In reading up on these promotional vehicles, my first thought is that they borrowed the Apollo name from the U.S. space program of the day. But it was really more Ford’s version of what Chrysler did in 1967-68 with the Imperial Crown coupe fitted with the Mobile Director Package. As the story goes, Abercrombie & Fitch (then a high-end outfitter) knocked on Ford’s door to discuss their building of some special cars to attract visitors to their stores at Christmastime (1966). Ford liked the idea and wanted to apply it to the T-Bird because it had taken a bit of a back seat in sales thanks to the successful new Ford LTD.
So, they pulled five cars off the line, all painted the same Apollo Blue and decked them out with things you wouldn’t find on a regular T-Bird. Like a sunroof with controls in the console since a Thunderbird convertible was no longer produced. They also added fog lights, cornering lights, special wheel covers, and a small-screen TV for the rear passengers to watch (with a special antenna on the trunk). The TV (and telephone) were mounted in an extended console that ran from front to rear. All the custom work set the project back about an extra $15,000 per automobile.
These cars were completely stock mechanically with 390 cubic inch V8s and automatic transmissions. Of the five that were built, one got destroyed on its way to its display destination. This surviving example is said to be the first that was built and has only had three owners over its 57 years. The automobile has logged 75,000 miles and is said to run well but should be restored (we don’t know why as the limited photos show a car far from being a basket case). To sweeten the deal, the seller is throwing in an unphotographed parts car from 1967, a 4-door Thunderbird. If you’re looking for rare, it doesn’t get much more exclusive than this!
High school buddy had the same year with a 429 packed under the hood. It was an olive green color with dark green top and no hubcaps. Its nickname was Ugly Betty but not much could catch it from about 60 mph up. We pegged the 120 mph speedo one day after school on Cumberland Parkway. It was still pulling when he backed out of it. I still shiver when I think back to those days of too much power, no fear and worn 4 ply tires!
Had to be a 68′ bird.( very similar in appearance to 67). First yr. for the 429 thunder jet. 390 standard, with the 428 optional up to 67′. Surprisingly not many customers opted for the 428 Q-code.
I didn’t realize Tbirds were that long.
Now that my memory is pulling me back, I think it was a 68 and the engine was original because he bought it from his neighbor who bought it new. It also had suicide rear doors.
Interesting car with interesting history. I’ve never heard of it before. Can’t tell much from the ad; sure wish it had a more professional presentation (e.g. more and better pictures). Has some high-tech items for 1967!!
I didn’t know anything about them either, Bob, until one popped up on BaT a few months ago. Lo and behold, it’s the same car and the closing bid was a lot less than the current ask:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1967-ford-thunderbird-17/
Tons of photos in the listing there and the comments help fill in the history of these cars as well.
@Bob – this car was listed on another site earlier this year. Between the comments and the 175 photos there, you can see a lot more details on the car and learn a lot about them too (I certainly did when it was listed).
Bob,
this car was on bring a trailer back in April. Lots of cool pictures. Only bid up to $11,250.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1967-ford-thunderbird-17/
Too bad that technology has rendered the TV and phone both useless, unless someone could figure out a way to retrofit them without changing the appearance.
Its unique.
I wish they went for speed , paint design and unique interior instead.
The opera seats are always cool 😎
So in other words, you wish it were a different car.
Every time I see one of these late sixties T-Bird coupes I’ve flashbacks about a ’69 Thunderbird I bought for dirt cheap because it was not running. Cosmetically a very clean car, I hoped to make a few bucks on it after I got it running and detailed. I’ve told the more detailed version on here before, but after all the money and hours I spent getting it back on the road, I think I netted maybe a bit over $100 profit. I suppose that was not too bad for a 17 year old circa 1993. It was more of a learning experience than a payday. I did get that ‘bird pulling strong though. That 429 with open rear would fry the pass side tire down the entire block. Outside of the spending money I made, the thing that I recall most was how proud my dad was of me for getting that car running tip top with just minor help and counsel from him – namely, getting the distributor indexed properly. I definitely owe my mechanical aptitude to him.
A few years back I wrote a full feature on one of the other four cars for the Austrian magazine, Rare & Unique Vehicles. If you want to know more about these unique Thunderbirds and the story behind them I invite you to clink on the link.
https://photos.imageevent.com/mmm_mag/richardtruesdellwritingsamples42024/RandUV%201967%20Ford%20Tunderbird%20Apollo%20by%20Abercrombie%20and%20Fitch%20-%20Copy.pdf
Just came across one of your columns in an old “Mustang Enthusiast” magazine last night, Rich. I thought – hey, I recognize that name!
Todd, if it was a column rather than a feature, it was likely Musclecar Enthusiast where I wrote the Musclecar Culture column. But I did contribute to Mustang Enthusiast as well and the other five Amos Automotive titles. Hard to believe they’ve all been gone for almost 15 years.
That phone is hilarious. Does it come with a really, really long cord? Not worth what they’re asking if it needs restoration. Not my favorite year of Thunder Bird I would pass.
I don’t see a sunroof?
“Jim Jim:You can see the edge of it, in the first photo. It’s half way back on the roof.
This is a “Sunroof” a solid panel, not a “Moonroof” a glass panel.
This was listed on BaT last April.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1967-ford-thunderbird-17/
Glad you could post the the link here. I posted it 2-3 times and the post disappeared each rime.
This is one model where I actually preferred the look and functionality of the 4 door hardtop with the suicide rear doors. The large doors on the two door would be really problematic in today’s narrow parking spaces as well as a pain for access and egress to the back seat.
I remember a mail-in sweepstakes that offered an Apollo as a prize in the late 60s. As a car-besotted teenager, I applied many times and always wondered if anyone actually won.
I love Thunderbirds, but don’t care for the front grill on the 67. But this is the first time I’ve heard of an Apollo Bird. You can learn something new everyday. That analog TV and phone is hilarious.
I agree, looks like the mouth of a basking shark. The 66 Thunderbird is more appealing.
My 1st T-Bird was a 1969 Landau, 429 cu in. I owned 4 more of various years after the 69. It was only 2 years old when I bought it and it drove like a dream. Wish I still had it!
Lovely yellow phone. 😖
Neither driver or any passenger can see or use the Dial phone.
It is an ornament…
Hey Charles can the driver or passenger see the TV and phone or are they useless? How about now? Can they see them now? Ok we get it useless thanks
Love these t birds the wrap around back seat was just so different as and these were just smooth cruisers
There is no, or Very little, love for the ’67-’69 Birds. 429 is a monster engine – will easily top 120 mph in the Birds. Even less love for the Bunkie Beak birds.
It seems like the phone and TV concept emanated from some old 60sTV programs Burkes law, Batman, Honey West, Get Smart, and maybe more my rusty cogs aren’t pulling up right now.
Neither driver or any passenger can see or use the Dial phone.
It is an ornament…!
“Car phone” technology as it existed then (to whatever degree it did) was not cellular (those first networks didn’t even exist until the mid 70s), was point to point like a walkie talkie or CB. In layman’s terms (I’m a telecom engineer by profession), there was no “roaming” from tower to tower. The signal became weaker with farther distance from the transmitter. Never actually seen one of these in a real car.
Most early car phones from late 60s early 70s were nothing more than a Motorola radio systems. Ever notice how the crew on Adam 12 taped over the Motorola unit in their car? Same deal with Emergency in the early 1970s. I had to remove an older Motorola phone and battery from a 1971 Benz I had.
I have an old Motorola radio portable in my office. Trying to upload the jpg of only 2 MB but keep getting an error that the file must be 8MB or less and a jpg…Website can be a bit buggy, IMO…
Jim Mannix had a phone in his early 70’s Firebird. His secretary would take the calls in the office and turn 1 handset upside down to the other so he could talk while driving.
When I went back and looked at the photos I took of the similar car in Pennsylvania, I first thought was that it would be prohibitively expensive to restore this car, probably if done right, that it would be upside down financially.
Because the first car I ever drove was my mom’s 1967 four-door ‘Bird, if I had $50K lying around (because that’s what I think it would take over and above acquiring the car, what it will cost to restore this car right) I’d do it. And what I would also do is to find a similar phone and TV, and convert both to current standards so that they would both be functional. That wouldn’t be too hard to do.
That tv would require a lot of power to work – if it’s got tubes inside. lol