The Ford Thunderbirds of 1961-63 are often referred to as “Bullet Birds” due to their styling (much as the 1958-60 T-Birds were called “Square Birds”). Though they were futuristic in their appearance and more exciting than their predecessors, they didn’t sell as well as Ford had hoped. This ’63 edition has a straight body but is going to need some TLC (and a new set of keys). With 200,000 miles on the odometer, this Ford is in Hemet, California, and available here on Facebook Marketplace for $3,100.

If you paid attention to Ford’s advertising in the early 1960s, they said that the Thunderbird was a car that was evolving as time passed, getting better with each iteration, perhaps taking a shot at the new kid on the block in 1963, the Buick Riviera. The ’63 T-Bird was powered by a 390 cubic inch V8 that put out 300 hp and an automatic was the only transmission available. Ford built 63,313 of the cars in 1963, with 42,806 being the regular hardtop (the remainder were Landau, convertible, or Sports Roadster body styles).

The seller says this ’63 Thunderbird will run but it needs some carburetor work. Since the keys are missing, we don’t know how recently that situation was. The paint appears to be either grey or light blue and it could stand refinishing. No mention is made of rust, but certainly, some could be there after 58 years. The upholstery is original and has grown tired, making it a candidate for replacement. Overall, the car looks like it’s a decent prospect for restoration as one of these cars can be worth north of $50,000 in the right condition, according to Hagerty. Though cash is always King, the seller would consider trading for a fourth-generation Ford Mustang (1994-04).