It’s rare that I’ll pass up the opportunity to talk about “Bullet Birds,” the futuristic 1961-63 version of Ford’s fabulous Thunderbird. They have long been my favorite T-Bird, enough so that I own a ’63 model, so I’m in a good position to offer some commentary about this driver-quality Landau. The nice thing about any four-seat Thunderbird is that their asking prices don’t seem to match their stature; after all, they were always a special car. On one hand, that means that many people can afford a pretty good one. On the other, it also means that decent drivers sometimes sell in the four-figure range. This one is for sale here on eBay in Fenton, Michigan, and its high bid sits at $5,700 with several days left on the auction (although the reserve has not yet been met).
I love when sellers post door tags and fender tags. Here’s the lowdown on this ‘Bird:
- 63B: Tudor Landau
- M: Corinthian White
- 55: Red Interior
- 04K: Scheduled build date of October 4, 1962
- 61: District Sales Office of Dallas, Texas
- 1: 3.00:1 open differential
- 4: Three-speed Cruise-O-Matic
The VIN tells us that there’s nothing unusual about this T-Bird: It was built at the Lincoln plant in Wixom, Michigan, and it has the basic 300-horsepower 390 under the hood. The unit number is fairly low, which verifies the car’s early October scheduled build date.
Here’s the 390, although there are a few deviations from stock. First off, the 1963 390 did indeed have gold valve covers, but someone went ahead and painted the whole engine gold. Next, the Edelbrock carburetor is a replacement for the original Autolite 4100 four-barrel, which is fine (in my opinion). Finally, someone has removed the car’s air conditioning compressor; you can tell it had one because the power steering pump reservoir is mounted on the driver’s side fenderwell (reservoirs on non-air cars were mounted to the pump itself). Also, this car has air conditioning controls on the dashboard.
The seller has owned the car for two years, and it drives well. It does have an exhaust manifold leak on the passenger side (a common malady on Ford FEs), and getting to the manifolds in the T-Bird’s cramped engine compartment is a little bit of a bear. It also has a power steering whine (along with a leak) and a slight transmission leak.
The seller says that aside from the cracked dash pad (almost standard equipment on Bullet Birds these days) and a small crack in the console, the interior is in “great shape.” The Landau cars had woodgrain trim rather than the brushed trim on non-Landau cars, and this one is interesting in that it was an air-conditioned car with manually operated windows. The car comes with a new dash pad, but Ford changed the design in the middle of the model year in 1962, and the early style is the only one that’s being reproduced. You can use it on later cars, but it requires a modification to the door panels.
I have decided to live with my car’s cracked dash because of all that, not to mention the fact that getting the dash pad out of a 1961-63 T-Bird is, according to everything I’ve seen, an awful job.
The trunk appears to be in decent shape. Ford reshaped the trunk when it redesigned the 1964 models to add some depth; it’s a surprisingly shallow space in ’63 cars.
If you like T-Birds and have been looking for a driver, this one might be a good option is the price stays reasonable. The paint has been redone, and it has some “orange peel on the rear [quarter panels]” if you look hard enough, but that’s the nice thing about a white car—it’s hard to notice that kind of thing. Parts availability is reasonably good from places like Bird Nest and Pat Wilson, so you should be able to find anything you need for it. And nothing will make you feel quite as special for less money than a T-Bird.
Nice T Bird. Aaron, I know I’ve said this before about us having similar taste in cars and trucks, but, truth be told, since I was a kid, ’61 to ’63 T Birds are my favorite. I always loved the tailights and how the nose, grill, and headlights have a strong family resemblance to the Lincolns of the same years ( also beautiful cars). Even though this one may need some sorting, it looks very solid. I’d be happy to have this in my garage. Great write up on a nice T Bird Aaron, thank you!!!
Thanks, Dave!
A friend of mine in high school had a ’63 T-Bird Landau. It originally was a very light blue color with a black vinyl top, but he had it painted black and then proceeded to put wide-whitewall tires on it. He thought it looked like a gangster car but we all called it the Pimp-bird.
Yes, nice write-up Aaron on a car I really like as well. I had a ’63 Landau in Rose Beige Metallic way back in the mid-80s. Someone took it to Earl Scheib and had it painted yellow. But we loved the car anyway. Roll-up windows are not a bad thing on these cars as the electrics can be very finicky.
The car is gone but the girl stayed.
Thanks, Rex. I agree on the windows. Mine has power windows and I’ve replaced all the switches and done some cleaning of motors and tracks.
Thats a great picture Rex. And I’m also glad the girl stayed too. Its not always easy finding someone whos willing to put up with a “Car/truck/( insert whatever you want here…) guy”. My wife’s been putting up with this “Car guy” for 33 years.
-Dave
Thanks, Dave. I consider myself very lucky.
From the “Speeder Girl” episode of the Andy Griffith Show!!!
Great write up from someone who owns one. I love the bullit Birds and noticed it’s always hard to find one with a working AC. I’ve never seen a PS pump or reservoir mounted on the fender well like that. I have a 65 Marauder with a 390 and it’s compressor is mounted above the PS pump. Tight qtrs for sure. And replacing that dash is indeed a daunting task to remove and replace. Wonder if relocating that PS unit caused some of the leaks.
Thanks, HC. Yep, my AC car (not working, of course) has the reservoir mounted on the fenderwell, too. I don’t think it’s any more prone to leaks than the other system; it only has an extra pair of hoses to deal with.
I had to replace AC components on my 65 Mercury Marauder 390, which is same engine, but has more engine bay room to work with than the Thundebirds. Originally, a Cast iron Tecumseh compressor with a 50lb clutch. Went back with a York alluminum replacement and a 4 seasons clutch, and never looking back
I had a pink ’63 T-Bird when I was in college in 1968. I bought it for $500. An absolutely delightful car to drive. An absolute nightmare to work on. That alternator, way down in the bottom… Yikes. I am not a man given to foul language, that T-Bird taught me some new words every now and then. Like Rex’s comment above, that T-bird was a real asset when I met my wife of now, 56 years. She loved that Bird, the swing-away steering wheel, those seats that felt like they hugged you. I think, if I could find a ’63, pink in color, I could convince her that we need to build a new garage for it!
when I was 16 I bought a 1966 Thunderbird Landau with factory AC and a 428. non running at the time so I had an older mechanic rebuild its engine. only paid $600 for it in the late 70s. I was just learning back then and didnt know how to rebuild all the drum brakes so I sold it at a loss. After that Bird I had a running and driving 76 460 Bird and it was easier to maintain and work on.
Just a followup to my earlier post… sent the link to my wife, she said, “if it had that pinkish interior, we’d start building a garage today!” She already puts up with my 69 Plymouth GTX. She is the best.
No A/C, crank windows – this is a stripper. PASS
Fords are notorious for PS whine. When I installed a new PS pump in my Lincoln, I put a bottle of stop whine in it and it’s still silent 3 years later!
Always loved these bullet birds. I’d like to see what the Ring Bros.could do to one of these. The exhaust leak tends to be a bigger project than you plan on as the cylinder head surface usually is eroded away also. So, you have to R&R the head and have that surface machined flat also. Doable, but a pain in the back!
My father has one in his garage that hasn’t been driven since 1998. My sister just bought his house and needs to sell but we have no idea where to start. I have pictures but none under the hood. I’ll take some next time I am out there.
Anyone who’d care to advise or discuss?
Same exterior as the one shown but with black interior.
Hi Max, I will send you an email. We would be happy to help you find a new home for it.