Ford redesigned its 2-seat Thunderbird in 1958 and took some heat from purists. The car was transformed into a 4-seat cruiser that turned up the dial on both luxury and performance. But those complaints were short-lived as the revised cars appealed to a broader audience who responded by buying twice as many of the automobiles. Other than some refinements, the 1959 T-Bird like this one would be little changed (why mess with success?). It was recently pulled from a barn/shed after 45 years in storage and may only need some minor mechanical work. Located in Oceanside, California, the Ford is available here on Barn Finds Classifieds for $8,600 OBO.
The Ford bean counters had to be thrilled with changes to the second-generation T-Bird. Sales went from 21,000 copies in 1957 to 38,000 units in 1958, and more than 67,000 Thunderbirds were produced in 1959. The car had established the personal luxury segment that the competition would spend the 1960s playing catch-up. It’s hard to believe today, but in 1959 the T-Bird was considered a compact when compared to the Fairlane/Galaxie, and the “real” compact, the Falcon, wouldn’t arrive for another year. Part of the success of the reinvented car was a greater emphasis on both sexes in Ford’s advertising campaigns.
This T-Bird is rare as it has the 430 cubic-inch “MEL” V8 engine rated at 350 hp with a 4-barrel carburetor. The seller indicates that only four percent of the ’59 ‘Birds were built with this motor, which would equate to fewer than 2,500 hardtops (20% of T-Birds were convertibles, too). As the story goes, the car was bought new in Encinitas and then moved to San Diego, making it a California automobile from the beginning. The second owner of this Ford put it into dry storage in 1977 when she went off to college (and apparently never came back for it). The seller discovered it in the Summer of 2022 and talked the title holder into selling.
The first order of business was to clean it up and do a bit of detailing work. As a result, the body and interior look pretty good for a car that’s spent most of its life in hiding. Some of the Baltic Blue paint may have been redone as we see a little overspray on the door tag. The seller did some mechanical work to get it closer to being a running auto, which it is not yet. For example, the carburetor has been rebuilt and a tune-up performed, but no attempts have been made to get it started beyond popping it with the ignition. It still needs a radiator (the current one leaks), a water pump, and some attention to the brakes. The seller says he/she doesn’t have the time or skills to complete the work needed. Do you?
Being the owner of a 1959 T-bird J-J car (the first J indicates the 430 MEL and the second J indicates a convertible), I was of the understanding that Ford only made about 1000 T-birds with the 430 MEL engine. They were made to homologate the car for NASCAR racing. To the best of my knowledge, there are no records of how many of the 430 MEL T-birds were convertibles, and how many were coupes. This car may be even more rare than the seller is aware of.
If anybody has more accurate information, please post.
I was born and raised in the Air Force we were on our way to Alaska in a 59 Plymouth station wagon we went through Canada my mom seen a new 60 T bird on the lot and had a fit! Dad traded for it! Now get this! It was a 430 with 2 X 4s!!! That car would fly!
This reminds me of a car a fellow airman picked up in Biloxi in 72. Was a 430 with a three speed with overdrive lever. Yes it was a 430 and yes it had 3 pedals thinking it was a 59 maybe 60. Used to be three on the tree but someone cut a hole in the center console and it had a shifter stinking out. Drove it to New Orleans and also out to FL Beaches with all 4 seats filled. More good times.
If this is numbers matching, and likely it is–this will probably be sold in a couple days. Locally a Doctor had a white `59 Coupe with the 430 restored years ago, and he drives it on an occasional nice day. I only know the Doc’s was a 430 and not a 352 because he displayed it at a local show & I asked him.
Unusual to see one of these, minus mega-rust. At least that has been my experience.
Poor man’s dash cover?
Nope. The foam backing to the vinyl dash cover, probably made by Davison Industries in Dover, NH, has perished due to age. Common on early Fords with the padded dash. I’m sure replacements are available.
I love these ’58-’60 T Birds, I took one for a test drive once, it terrified me because it had mechanical problems. I saw another one here, with radio delete. Someone messed it up later with an in dash stereo. Whoever gets this one should do careful maintenance and slow, thoughtful improvements. Leave it original.
One more for the bucket list. I’ve passed on a few but none with this originality and in this condition. Wish I could “pull the trigger” on this one, but I’d have to figure out how to live in it. My wife feels 6 cars are enough… geeze, how short sighed huh?
Wow what a difference some TLC makes on this car ! At least this flipper cleaned the interior, buffed out the paint and bought new tires before putting it up for sale. The old pics of it sitting with junk tires ,no caps and faded paint make it looks like another mouse hotel or a demo derby refugee, but with a little time spent on it , she looks like she’s ready to hit the highway again . Flippers should take a lesson from this seller !
Square Birds are very cool!
Have fun
Another west coast “deal” that I can’t check out. For the price? You can’t beat it. Someone’s going to get a rare ‘Bird!
This one is a rare jewel, add to that a reasonable price as well. Some one is in for a bargain.
My first car was a 60 with the 430, ac, power everything and the sunroof. That car would fly!
I am afraid if I bought this jewel, it would be for th engine, and I think this is too good a car to part out. SO wanted 430 MEL prefered with a maual trands SWEET
I had a 59 J code for several years. Very tall gears in differential so you didn’t feel the absolute torque of the engine unit 50 mph and up. The tall gears allowed for decent gas mileage. I am pretty certain that the J code was only available with the cruise o matic.
In the early 1970s’ a friend of mine and his wife were moving to Montana from Oklahoma. He traded off a 61 Chrysler Windsor 2 door hardtop for a 60 T-Bird with the 430, 3 speed w/ overdrive and a sunroof. Lost track of him after they moved, always wondered what happened to the car.
Nice looking car. At least it has looks–and style and you can work on it. Not like the way over price junk they make now days.
Back in the early 70’s I had a white 60 Squarebird, was a nice cruiser back then and not a car I wanted to keep long, so it went down the road and I replaced it with a ’63 Chevy longroof. Starting a family back then and wanted something a little bigger.
In Norcal there is a T -Bird Club that puts on its annual car show on the pier in Santa Cruz, amazing how many beautiful ’55 thru ’57s will be there, and more of these Square Birds than you will ever see in one location. Thinking it happens in early November.
I wonder if they ever made any stick shifts. I never seen one had a midnight blue with a 352 in 69
The Henderson’s had one among thier FoMoCo bunch with another square birds parked next to it. It was the last out of about a dozen or so there in my old neighborhood. Could have made the deal for it but just wasn’t into those square birds…..wanted a 1956………
There was a 60 in C.Springs on CL about 6 months ago offered by someone military that was transferring and couldn’t take the car with him. Had it for sale last time I saw it at $1,000. Rare special ordered car with 3 spd OD and a 6 cyl if I remember. I’d of jumped on it but it was a rust bucket and no title. Got too many things sitting here now without titles…