Looking back at the history of the Ford Thunderbird, the car started out life as a two-seater in 1955 as an intended competitor for the Chevrolet Corvette, but the powers that be at Ford quickly decided there would be more sales potential if additional seating was added. By 1958, the T-Bird seated four comfortably, and by the time the ’65 model rolled around the car was already into its fourth generation, which featured a more squared-off body style that lasted from 1964 through 1966. Sales were good, and in 1965 alone nearly 75,000 were produced, so while the model is not particularly rare it’s always good to see a well-kept example looking to exchange hands. This 1965 Ford Thunderbird is said to have traveled just 92,000 miles over the last 57 years, and if you’re in the market for a nice mid-sixties driver this may be a good one for you. It’s located in Sanford, North Carolina, and can be seen here on Facebook Marketplace with an asking price of $12,500.
We’d like to give out another thank you to reader Larry D. for finding this one and sending it our way! Although I think that may be Ford’s Frost Turquoise paint, it looks just a bit dark for the color, but the hue is probably a combination of all the pictures being taken under a shady tree and a faded finish. Though the paint may show a somewhat dull appearance, if original it still looks pretty good, but there’s no mention of whether or not the body has ever had a respray. The car is said to have been kept in a garage its entire life, and there is apparently no rust to be found anywhere on the vehicle.
If unrestored, the interior’s condition seems to back up the seller’s claim of the car spending 57 years sheltered, as everything inside is looking very well-preserved to have so many years under its belt. I’m also 57 and wish I looked this good! But back to the Thunderbird. The car has factory air conditioning and that way cool slide-away steering wheel, plus there’s also documents from all the car’s previous owners, including the original title and paperwork from when it was purchased new back in ’65. There are no photos posted from underneath, but we do get to see inside the trunk and things seem to be in good order, with even the light under the trunk panel still illuminating.
Under the hood is Ford’s 390 cubic-inch V8 paired with an automatic transmission. No word on whether or not either has ever had a rebuild, but the engine compartment sure looks tidy all the way around and appears to have been well-maintained and cared for. There’s a new starter, alternator, and battery, plus a recent brake job and a new fuel tank. The seller describes the car as a time capsule, and other than some fading on the finish it seems like he may have almost hit the mark with that statement. What do you think?
Is anyone else no longer receiving the daily emails?
As of July 8, I haven’t received a single one and I checked all the normal places that spam hides out.
Admins: if anyone see this, could you please look into it for me?
Thanks.
Hi Dennis, I hope all is well! I still am getting daily emails around 10 AM CST. Good luck with the Admins, LOL. Take care, Mike.
Doing well, Mike, hope you are doing well too.
I finally got my Bronco! Vanity plate will say “698DAYS” – that’s how long it took to get from Reservation to delivery in my driveway.
Here’s a pic. Only 2 door that I’ve seen around here.
Looks great Dennis! What a wait! Enjoy! Take care buddy.
You must be the only person in the US who bought
a new Bronco without the intention of reselling it!
anglia gt: I was lucky in that I ordered from a dealer who promised zero markups and honored it. A lot of order holders were surprised by the dealers when they went to pick up the Bronco they waited so long for, only to find at 10 – 15K markup. If you didn’t have your order in writing, the greedy dealers (most of them) tried to screw you.
I’ve been told that I could drive down to CarMax and make 10K. I’m not sure who is crazier: me for not doing that or the people who will pay that huge of a markup.
I am still receiving them. The last one that I received was today, at 11:18 am.
Thanks for letting me know.
Yeah, I miss not getting the emails so hopefully the Admins are tuning into this thread and can help with this.
Since I never heard back from an admin, I ended up “fixing” the no email problem myself.
I re-subscribed to the daily email using the same email address.
Great thinking Dennis!
Well, I’ve been doing I.T. work for 30+ years. I should have thought about that solution first instead of relying on someone else to solve it for me. LOL.
And if you get ahold of an Admin, ask about the Barn Finds Snipe Hunt. Is it going to happen this year or not? If I don’t find a use for all this camping gear I own, I’ll give it away!
From back when one could get interesting and attractive colors. From the brochure: 20 exterior colors, 19 upholstery selections (not colors… selections, i.e. leather in different colors, vinyl in different colors), 4 vinyl roof colors. This T-Bird in Turquoise, with the matching interior, looks particularly good to me.
Beautiful! This color, with just the right amount of chrome, always looks good!
I also think this top treatment is the better one, with four windows instead of two, (plus the Landau bar) – I believe that it’s actually called a Landau Coupe.
I agree with Big_Fun about the top treatment. Looks like a screaming deal at this price; wouldn’t be surprised if it sold already.
Love this car, and the color especially. I had a ’64 in Samoan Coral, kind of a salmon pink color the old timers called “tittie pink”.
Rex, your T-bird color in a ‘65 model would likely make me tell one of the grandkids that Poppy had reached into the college fund piggy bank. This one is coming on as a strong second place, though.
Amazing car for $12.5k. Seemingly no rust and factory air. Photos give every reason to believe this was a garaged, well kept, and well loved car
says “garaged since new”. So how did they put that many miles on it in the garage? ;)
My Dad had a 66 back when I was growing up. My wife had a 64 when we married and we bought a 65 within a year of getting married. 65 and 66 were nice. 64 had a LOT of electrical problems
The same way that my 160K mile Charger was garaged since new – meaning it spent all of its time parked in a garage when it wasn’t being driven. Car still looks new.
JagManBill,
“So how did they put that many miles on it in the garage?”
That’s easy, 4 wheels on jack stands, put it in “D”, and let the kids & grandkids pretend they are driving! Guaranteed to provide hours of fun! Just make sure to keep the garage door open and the kitchen door closed!
A very fair asking price for a Thunderbird in this condition. It will be gone quickly, if not already. With a new gas tank, sending unit and rebuilt brakes, makes it even more so. Great find
I’m getting my emails daily; today’s came at 11:18AM. This TBird looks awesome. If I had the extra cash floating around I would go get it (it’s about 50 miles from me). I have a ’66 that a paid 3500 for, a 428 auto trans white with vinyl landau roof and loaded. Had one respray and original interior was great. I have a grandson that wants it so he is going to get it. I have 10 grandchildren and I’m giving them an old car of their choice. One has gotten a ’70 Torino, another a ’73 Duster, another ’63 T-Bird, another a ’66 Chrysler Newport 2dr Ht 383; others haven’t decided what they want but I want them to do it before I leave this world and I’m 79. I have one son still living and gets the ’94 Corvette. One of my grandsons and I co-own a ’60 Studebaker Lark convertible. Still available for other grands to choose from are: ’79 Cougar XR-7, ’59 Galaxy V8, ’66 Fairlane XL 351, ’59 Edsel Corsair Convertible 332, ’74 4dr Dart SE 318, ’74 Dart Swinger /6, ’64 Merc Montclair 4dr breezeway 390, ’66 Merc Monterey 2dr Ht 390, ’63 Fairline 2dr Ht 260, ’74 AMC Gremlin 258-6, ’63 Datsun 280Z 2 seater 5 sp, 67 Mustang Covertible 289 2bbl all pwr acc, ’79 Dodge St Regis, ’67 Mustang coupes (2) 200 6 sixes, ’66 Mustang coupes (2) one 200six-3sp and one 289-4sp . What’s not chosen will be sold. Six of these a currently insured and tagged and driven.
Tom,
My mom said you are my father from a one-nighter, can I pick a car? ;)
No, he’s MY Dad!
What a great granddad.Good people abound!
Dad ! So glad i found you, mom asks if you remember that night in 75 behind the Burger King up against the dumpster.
Put me down for the 66 Merc, love to catch up sometime :)
The 66 Fairlane with the updated engine is my choice. Is that a Cleveland?
. . . Adoption papers have been notarized. ~S
These T-Birds had really neat tail light workings. As when engaging the turn signal lever……each individual light panel in the cluster of 6 lights would light up individually from the furthest inside light to the furthest outside light.
For that alone it’s worth the price ! lol