If you like your mid-60’s personal luxury cars black-on-black and with a black power convertible top as well, this could be the car for you. This “Unique in All the world” 1965 Ford Thunderbird Convertible is part of a collection of cars and parts being auctioned online by VanDerBrink Auctions. It is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois and you can see more photos and a link to a video here on BF Classifieds. As of this writing, the current bid is $14,500 and the auction ends on July 12th at 7pm.
This ’65 represents the second year of a three-year run for the fourth generation Thunderbird. 1964 saw healthy sales at 92,465, but sales dipped to 74,972 in 1965 with about 9% of those (6,846) being convertibles. The current owner bought this ‘Bird from an estate sale several years ago where the previous owner had purchased it in 1998. The seller shares that the driver-quality car has been driven several hundred miles in the last few years and has been to a few local shows. Based on the photos this ‘Bird looks solid with straight panels, no signs of rust or damage, and the Raven Black paint job looks shiny and presentable. The chrome and trim look good, and we’re told the convertible top mechanism works fine and the fender skirts are in the trunk. 1965 was the first year for Thunderbird’s sequential horizontal taillights and we’re told they’re in working order. Based on advertising and sales literature, the width of the white sidewalls are a little wider, but some folks may like that.
I’ve always liked the cool cockpit-inspired styling of these 4th-Gen ‘Birds. It looks to be in good overall driver condition with some visible wear on the driver’s shell-contoured front bucket seat. Not many people usually rode in the curved cove back seat in Thunderbirds and the seat looks to be in great shape.
The instrument panel and dash look good, the “Bird features the standard unique Swing-Away steering wheel (that only worked in Park and would swing to the center of the “cockpit” for easier entering and exiting) and it left the factory with optional power side windows and vents. It’s hard to tell what kind of shape the black carpet is in and it looks like aftermarket speakers may have been added to the doors.
To quote the flowing words from Ford’s sales literature, “The Thunderbird Touch is in a ride of such smoothness that it is often compared to flight itself. It is the response and complete obedience of a unique power team: the 300-hp Thunderbird Special V8 and ultra-smooth 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic.” Good stuff. The seller says, “Engine starts and runs good.” and the mileage is listed at 111,820. Overall, not many ’65 Thunderbird Convertibles were sold and this driver-quality example looks solid and could be a fun one to just buy and drive. What do you think?
They are cruisers! This one is beautiful! The 390ci V-8’s had awesome torque AND horsepower and made and gave these T-birds some great performance. This one should sell for at least 15-20k as it looks like it should. I’d still would want to check it out though. Lots of sellers with lots of stories. But – if it checks out it would be a great car to cruise around in and go to some places and shows. My Grandmother had a 1964 that she custom ordered in red-red-red,no vinyl top. She kept it 30 years. Yeah – these are keepers! Wish I could keep it! Great article!
I bought my daughter that exact car (only it was a ’66) – red with red interior and red carpet, with no vinyl top. It was called a Landau Coupe, with larger B-pillars than standard. It was a great car for back and forth to high school, but when she left for college two-hours down the freeway, it wasn’t so great. She had me sell it the second time it left her stranded on the Interstate. Of course, I had to restore it first!
The 1965 Thunderbird was the first year for standard front disc brakes too. I would love to own a charcoal ivy coupe. I saw a mint one parked on a side street in Minneapolis twenty years ago, and fell in love.
These Thunderbird’s were made with care and are excellent drivers. I’m the third owner of my ‘65 Convertible Wimbledon White with Burgundy Leather and Black Top. I bought my Export Bird, one of few sold new in France, in 1998, fully original and with a very low mileage at this time.
I used it for many long road trips with pride and joy. She’s also sans fender skirts and I installed immediately four wire wheels and thin white sidewalls tires for a nice sportier look.
By the way, the wheel covers currently installed on the black one are ‘64’s and not ‘65’s.
This one’s a beaut, but it was the 66’s full width taillight panel that really ignited my fire! GLWTA!! :-)
Power vent windows.
That says it all.
Good Neighbor Sam
Of any T-Bird after ‘57 I like the ‘65’s most. In Salmon, thank you. This one’s a keeper, though, if you like black.
The hubcaps are ’64 standard ones. Skirts? No air, priced too high.