A seller that presents consistently interesting projects on eBay is “Rawhide Youth Service Sales” in New London, Wisconsin, and they’ve posted another one in this 1962 Thunderbird Convertible that they describe as a “running, driving project car.” Make no mistake, when you buy a “Bullet Bird,” which is a nickname of the glamorous 1961-63 generation of Thunderbird, the purchase price will be just the beginning. Still, this is a reasonably solid example of a fairly uncommon luxury car from the early 1960s, and the high bid is currently $3,050.
The seller has done us all a favor by posting the data plate, which shows that the car itself has remained true to its factory origins. It’s a very early 1962 model, with a VIN of 103583 and a scheduled build date of September 7, 1961. You may mistake this car for a Sports Roadster because of the accessory tonneau cover, but while it’s impossible to tell an early ’62 Sports Roadster by the data plate, this one is almost certainly not one of them. It has wheel covers and fender skirts rather than the Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels and “no skirts” of a Sports Roadster.
Other facts we can learn from the data plate: this car has an “Equa Lock” differential (most Thunderbirds had a 3.00:1 ratio, as does this one), and the Corinthian White paint was ordered with a red leather interior (yes, leather was available). Surprisingly, there’s no District Sales Office number, so we can’t get an idea of where the car was originally sent when it was new.
The engine is the standard Z-code 390 four barrel, which produces 300 horsepower and 427 lb.-ft. of torque. The seller has posted a video walkaround and test drive of the car and mentions that it runs and drives fairly well but could use some tuning. The carburetor is an Autolite 4100, which would have originally come on the car, and aside from some chrome dress-up items and an odd upper radiator hose that I could do without, it looks fairly stock in the engine bay. This is not, by the way, an air-conditioned car, which wasn’t terribly uncommon in convertibles.
The undercarriage is not bad but it has some issues that aren’t immediately obvious in this photo but are in the video. The driver’s front floor pan has been installed using adhesive, and the passenger side floor pan is sitting in place but has not been welded in. There is some rust in the passenger-side rocker panel and in the passenger-side rear subframe and torque box area. Since the Thunderbird is a unibody car, it’s important to repair it correctly, but the T-Bird’s platform was fairly strong, which is probably why this car weighs close to 5,000 pounds.
The interior isn’t bad but isn’t good. The carpet atop the dash pad tells us that it’s cracked, which is extremely common on this generation of Thunderbird. Being an early ’62, reproduction dash pads are available but expensive (and a complete pain to replace – you have to basically disassemble the entire dashboard). The clock is missing and the upholstery “buttons” are not original.
This may be the worst of the news: The top does not work. I’ve never worked on a T-Bird convertible top (I own a hardtop) but everything I’ve read implies that it is not for the faint of heart. Just another thing to keep in mind.
The seller mentions that with very little work, this car could be a “rat rod” kind of a driver, which is probably true, but it’s also the kind of car that really should look like it’s ready to show up at the opera on a Saturday night or the beach house on Sunday. It’ll be a tough call for the new buyer because a full restoration will be labor intensive and expensive, and the financial upside isn’t really there (for some reason) on these beautiful T-Birds. Still, it’s another intriguing project car from those good folks in Wisconsin, and it will be fun to see the hammer price.
The air cleaner isnt big enough.
I’m not a fan of these, but I have to admit the engine impresses me. An uncle of mine had a 61 coupe when it was new, and around 25 years ago he bought a 62 coupe to enjoy. He eventually lost interest, and it sat outside at a friend’s nearby business with a sign for over a year. I offered to put it on ebay for him, but had to move it to give it a bath before taking pictures. We jump started it, and after a year of sitting, it ran like a top! I put it in gear after a minute or two and no hesitation or stalling at all! I never had a carbureted car that would run that well. Very impressive.
Thunderbird (and Lincoln) convertible top mechanisms are complex, but they’re sequential, with the end of one step triggering the start of the next. So, wherever the process stops is where the problem is. It’s still complicated – it could be a relay, a switch, a motor, a bent component, or wiring – but, at least you know which subsystem to check.
Owning a 65 T-Bird convertible (with the bonus of mechanically actuated sequential turn signals) gave me a leg up on eventually becoming a successful Electromechanical Engineer in the shipyard. If this had the M code engine, I’d be interested.
My buddy’s Dad bought one in 1962, and when we both turned 16, he handed the keys to us one summer night. Cruising the main with the top down, a real blast from the past, and I have been hooked on convertibles ever since. I thought is looked so cool, and still do. I don’t believe there are too many cars today that I would have that reaction. I checked the Rawhide site, this organization is impressive; they do great work in the community, are honest, and provide a life for these rides. Nice to know there are organizations like that and not the greedy NGO’s that only care about their greed.
My brother has a 61 in much better but not perfect shape. Rebuilt the engine and did some other fixes. Runs great, the 429 is pretty throaty with decent, if not neck snapping torque. At least his power top works. Paints not perfect and the interior is a bit faded but he’d be crushed if it went for less than 12,000 CDN.
The best part is cruising around town with the top down. We get looks and thumbs up at lots of stoplights and every time he pulls into a parking lot people come over to tell him their T-bird stories. Its quite the magnet for older people.
These are the the best generation of T-birds in my eyes.
This kind of project is right in my wheelhouse. I prefer a bullet bird convertible to a conventional convertible because of their Skyliner type retractable mechanism. What a show they put on when lowering and raising! And you don’t lose the ragtop look that you do with the top up on a Skyliner. But I won’t be bidding because at age 67 I’ve got to keep the number of projects down to a couple in my shop. It takes me at least five years to do a car like this. I hope this car goes to a good home and is returned to it’s former glory.
Absolutely gorgeous Bullet Bird. I build them and collect them. This one is a great start to a real masterpiece. It is not for the faint heart-ed and/or inexperienced builder, and even if you are a builder if you’re not experienced with Birds, expect the worst! Cost better not be an object, cuz done right you ain’t gonna make any money if that’s you’re intention. But you will have a prize in your collection. That 390 will run like new forever, if you just leave it alone.
I have always liked the style of these. BUT, I would really love the car if it was about 60% of the size and half the weight. Seems to me a great possible kit car. Take a mold, trim it down in places pick a common mid-size donor chassis. Or make a nose and tail conversion for a Fox body Mustang Coupe. (The roof is not that much different!) Or even make it for a Fox convertible. It’s just too heavy for my taste.
The Fox body mechanism folds into the boot. The Thunderbird folds into the trunk.
Paging John Cashman again!