1963 Ford Thunderbird: Unloved Classic

thunderbird

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When I pull together fragments of youthful memories, I seem to recall the classic Thunderbird being held in high regard. Whether it was my grandfather or a neighbor, the Thunderbird was always viewed as a desirable car by the older generations, but the market today doesn’t seem to agree. This 1963 Ford Thunderbird here on eBay is a needs-everything project, and doesn’t look all that far from the scrapyard. On that note, the Thunderbird is one of the few classics I still occasionally see get dropped off and junked, a sure sign that the juice isn’t worth the squeeze to some owners when it comes time to restore these classic coupes. The seller is short on details, only noting that the engine runs and the transmission is bad, information that is based on a second-hand account rather than personal experience. Do you think these Thunderbirds deserve more love?

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Comments

  1. Jake S.

    I love bullet birds! I’d save it, if I could. The price wasn’t that bad, how ever I’d be concerned more with what the undercarriage looks like. If it’s been setting in the dirt, that frame’s going to be swiss cheese… Otherwise, cool project!

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  2. randy

    Someone thought it was worth something, SOLD!!!

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  3. Ed P

    I wish the new owner good luck. I think he will need it. This was a nice looking car. I would be afraid the bottom will fall out when it is moved.

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  4. don

    great description from the seller! idiot!

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  5. Charles H.

    I’ve always called these models “Fish Birds”…..because they remind me of a fish!

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  6. Howard A Howard AMember

    This, next to the “Squarebird”, was my favorite style T-bird. It almost makes me cry to see someone would ignore a beautiful car like this, just because the trans. went out.( could have even been something simple) Again, this would have been a parts car years ago, and these aren’t exactly rare, so the amount of money you’d sink into this, would probably buy a decent one.

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  7. DENIS

    Nice examples can be had for less than it will cost to fix this one…I hate to see these vehicles left to deteriorate….

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  8. Mel Lindsay

    1958-1966 were all unibody cars. If it was something I was interested in I’d check the trunk and rear axle part of the frame. Thats where these ladies were prone to rust on the undercarriage. I prefer 66s but this was a beautiful bird at one time I’m sure. Its a parts car now in my opinion.

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  9. Jerry

    I had a 61. Cruised easy at 80. Transmission good for about 40k between rebuilds.

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  10. david

    I really like these old Birds. To me they really are a styling reflection of that time in America. They, to me, look like a jet more than a bullet. Especially if you view the car from the rear. Those two tail light look like jet exhausts and the inside is very much like the cockpit of a jet. If memory serves me right, (I was 10 in 1962) they were even advertised as “jet” or “airplane” like. Great car with the big block Ford motors, swivel seat and steering wheel.

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  11. kman

    I figure the ’61 or 62 is going to get a following one of these days. Probably the one to come up first will be the one with the fibreglass insert behind the seats which is some looker but when you have to store that thing in the trunk to put the top up, you don’t have much of a trunk. Wasn’t one a folding hardtop? I’d like one esp if I could get it with that big ramjet (?) engine. Sorry, the name has escaped me again. Oh well… Age!

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