Rust-Free Barn Find: 1962 Ford Thunderbird Convertible

Next to a real Sports Roadster, this 1962 Thunderbird Convertible might be the catalog car, the one everyone would want if all caution were thrown to the wind. It’s Rangoon Red with a red interior and white convertible top, and what could be racier in the T-Bird line? While this example is a project, the seller says that it is rust-free and has a “decent interior,” although it has been sitting in a barn since 1980. Therefore, it’s a restoration project to some degree at least, but the price isn’t too bad for a T-Bird Convertible: $9,500 or best offer (and the seller “may do some trading”). Tireless Barn Finder Curvette found it here on craigslist in Ryderwood, Washington.

Not counting the Sports Roadster, the Convertible was the rarest Thunderbird in 1962, although it was a strong seller for a ragtop at 8,457 units sold. Most Thunderbirds in 1962 carried the standard 300-horsepower 390 four-barrel, the same engine that powered thousands of Country Squires and Galaxie 500 sedans. For 1962, the air cleaner and valve covers were painted silver as can be seen in this example. Not unsurprisingly for a convertible being sold in the Pacific Northwest, this car doesn’t have air conditioning, but it is otherwise well-equipped with standard power steering, power brakes, power seat, and power windows. The ad doesn’t mention whether the 390 runs or turns, and while parts for Ford FEs aren’t too hard to find, it’s better to start with something that’s not a solid block of iron oxide. It’s something to ask the seller right off.

The interior would send out better vibes with a good cleaning, and as the seller points out, the dash pad is unexpectedly crack-free (they often crack around the speaker grille in the center). The driver’s side seat shows some tears at the upper seams, but upholstery is still available for Bullet Birds, albeit not cheaply. This image displays the standard “Swing-Away” steering wheel, which was a standard feature for 1962. It is not as convenient as a true tilt steering wheel in my opinion, but one of its benefits 64 years on is to lock the shifter in park. Many of these cars have worn shift mechanisms, but the parts for rebuilding them are available from a couple T-Bird suppliers (unfortunately, Thunderbird Headquarters has recently closed, leaving one less).

While nobody should fake a Sports Roadster and try to pass it off as real (real Sports Roadsters didn’t get their own body code until December 1961), the car will come with an aftermarket sports roadster kit should the new owner want to install it.

The car does have one dent in the passenger quarter panel (also shown here), but that is said to be the extent of the body damage. There’s no getting around the fact that sixties T-Birds are neither cheap nor easy to work on, especially in convertible form, but what do you expect from a luxury car? If you like this style of car, however, this one might be a decent value. It’s certainly one of the best-looking T-Birds of the era.