There were 11 generations of the Ford Thunderbird over the 50 years between 1955 and 2005. And only two of them were two-seat personal luxury cars. To many (me included), the “Bullet Birds” of 1961 to 1963 may have been the coolest. On 1960s TV, it seemed like all the cool private eyes drove one of them. This rusty example is from 1963 and doesn’t run, likely a result of having been dormant for many moons. Located under a carport in Rockmart, Georgia, this T-Bird is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $1,500 OBO, Thanks for the tip, Moparman.
The third generation of the Thunderbird was more than just cool. It was luxurious and beefy with a 390 cubic inch V8 as standard fare, rated at 300 hp. Automatic transmissions were the only way to go. These birds sold well at 73,000 copies in 1961, 78,000 in 1962, and 63,000 in 1963. Hardtops dominated production, but convertibles were offered, too, and they were awfully neat, especially the rare Sports Roadsters (2-seaters with a cover over the back seat) of 1962 and 1963.
We’re told this T-Bird is a complete car in project state. Who knows when it last ran, and getting it going again will not likely be a small endeavor. The vehicle has had at least three owner,s and surely the last one forgot about it for a long time. The mileage is said to be 16,000, but 116,000 would be more likely (back on those days, the counters flipped over after 99,000). We’re told the rust is minor, but you have to wonder. And there is one dent to be knocked out should you decide to restore it.
If you have to have a title, then this Ford isn’t for you. Bill of sale only. But the seller is flexible, so you may be able to buy it for less than the asking price (which isn’t much) or trade for another classic car or truck (other projects are okay). It’s said to roll fine, but you’d better bring a winch with your flatbed trailer. Would you save it?
If they think the rust is minor, then they don’t know what the word minor means.
Landau irons on a hardtop? What was it, a funeral car?
Judging by the grotty aftermarket wheels, it looks like it might have been thrashed prior to retirement. Mayhaps the retirement was the result of said thrashing?
At any rate, sad, to say the least.
I would copy one I saw a photo of couple of years ago and graft the back end of a Vista Cruiser roof onto it. I thought it looked great.
Can’t really justify it for a restoration. Parts car maybe, but there’s few good parts. No title?? That’s always a red flag for suspicion. It appears that it may have been driven into the ground and had a major mechanical issue.
Love this version of T Birds, needs a lot of work, but I bet it will be worth it.
Afterall, It Rolls Fine !
Take from a bullet bird owner you don’t want any part of this mess. Free maybe, it does appear to have s few salvagble pieces on it.