Ford gambled in 1958 and turned the 2-passenger Thunderbird into a 4-seat personal luxury car. The gamble paid off as sales more than tripled and they continued on the high side for years to come. The third generation, made from 1961-63, had “space-age” styling with their bullet-like sculpture. This Thunderbird from 1962 looks pretty solid overall and has likely been off the road for a while. It’s being offering by a dealer in Belle Plaine, Kansas (south of Wichita) and available here on Facebook Marketplace for $6,000.
The Thunderbird proved to be one of Ford’s longest-running nameplates, lasting an astonishing 11 generations over the better part of 50 years. The marque was always at the forefront of the personal luxury segment in some fashion, becoming something of an American “grand tourer” that focused on driver comfort, although they were no slouches in the handing and performance departments. 1962 was the car’s fifth year as a four-seater and sales continued to be brisk at some 78,000 units. The most popular was the two-door hardtop that came in at 68,000 cars or 87%, with the convertible and the new Sports Roadster with its special fiberglass tonneau cover for the rear seats comprising the rest. (Source: AutomotivePosts)
We don’t know a lot about how the seller’s car has spent the past 58 years, but it’s probably been off the road for a while. We’re told it has 102,000 miles and runs and shifts into gears. However, it will need help in doing so because the fuel pump needs replacing, which we’re surprised that the dealer didn’t elect to do. Some work has been done with the carburetor being rebuilt and the gas tank replaced with no mention of any other mechanical issues. We assume the 390 cubic inch V-8 that was rated at 300 hp when new is the car’s original, which the mileage suggests could be getting tired at this point.
From what we can see, the body on the T-Bird looks pretty good and the chrome even better, which is a good thing because replacing all the shiny stuff can get expensive. The barn or shop where it had been sitting seems like a dry environment as rust doesn’t appear to be a problem. It would be interesting to see just how good the car could look with a thorough detailing of all the metalwork. The interior isn’t bad, but the seats look well worn. The floors look especially dirty and the carpeting is either missing or faded/stained. It’s a factory A/C car and this is the first one I’ve seen in a while with air conditioning vents popping up from behind the rear seats. In the “gee-whizz” category is the swing-away steering wheel which was a T-Bird thing in that era.
While everyone flocks to the original 1955-57 models, the third-gen T-Birds can hold their own in resale value. Excellent examples can command $20,000 or more, but the values fall quickly if they need a bunch of work. The seller’s asking price for a pretty sold survivor may be reasonable if you can fix what you have and keep it mostly original.
I happen to like T-Birds, and this generation is an eye getter. Yes it will take some work, but it would be a very attractive car when done.
I have one of these it’s a landau and completely rust free it needs paint and trim put back on interior is pristine and original I’d be very happy with 6 k.
Where is the car located?
One ugly bird.
Not a big fan of the big birds but this car is good enough to rebuild and preserve a little bit of automotive history. Certainly the cleanest design of the big bird era.
Have a 63 Roadster. This one is aggressively priced for the current condition.
A “roadster” does not have roll up windows by definition…
True – but that didn’t stop ford from calling it that with the fiberglass cover
I think this generation T-bird is very underpriced. They are gorgeous in good condition. Jet engine tail lights are so cool.
The factory roadsters bring big bucks if they are really nice.
I have never understood why these cars aren’t more popular and thus more expensive. These cars represent the rocket age of their time perfectly. Their side profile is beautiful. Especially compared to the oh so many shoe boxes made at the time.
We had a neighbor who was a doctor. I was friends with his kids. The doc bought two new cars every year, one for him and one for his wife. I used to go places with them occasionally. In 1963, his wife got a new Thunderbird couple in Corinthian White with turquoise interior. I thought that was about the best looking car I had ever seen. And when I rode in it, I felt like someone special. I loved the wrap-around bar back seat. And one time I got to ride in it at night and I swear I felt like I was in a jet plane! It was such an amazing experience that I have never forgotten even 57 years later.
Lots of potential here with this one and not a bad price for one that’s generally straight. Not Factory AC since that uses registers in the Dash for this generation, not the rear.
Since underdash areas of this generation (and later Flarebird and Glamour-bird gens) are notoriously difficult to access due to the gorgeous Console designs, aftermarket installers decided to fit the Evaporator/Blower assys into the Trunk. A good Trunk image would probably reveal that…
I say work with what you’ve got and not much work sine i’m guessing this car’s far from reliable driver status as is..
Old FE 390s will run well into the 100,000s if they enjoyed any modicum of regular periodic maintenance at all throughout their lives. FE is a decently robust and tolerant engine design imo…
…SINCE this car’s NOT far from reliable…
Yes, the factory Sports Roadsters of 1962-63 are the blue chip collectibles in the Rocket Birds. There were only 1427 made in ’62 and a mere 455 in ’63.
However, these are easy to fake so beware. The indisputable authority is the VIN. The numbers in the 3rd and 4th position will be 89 for a Sports Roadster.
HOWEVER, there were some early ’62s built with the usual convertible VIN which had 85 in those positions. So, on those cars, documentation will be necessary to verify a true Sports Roadster.
And then to carry this further, the ultimate Sports Roadster is one with the “M” code 390 engine with 3×2 carburetion producing 340 HP, 40 more than the single 4-bbl 390. And that is easily confirmed by the 5th position of the VIN. They will have the letter M there whereas the normal 390s have the letter Z.
As a side note, there was an Andy Griffith show in which Andy’s girlfriend, Peggy received a new car from her father. And it was a 1963 T-Bird Sports Roadster! Even though the show was in black and white, it was obvious the car was red. Oh, I drool every time I see that particular episode.
Bought one for 1000 better condition not worth the money.
I just always wish the ford motor company would have stayed with the two seat version and had a solid competitor against Chevrolet’s corvette!! Instead they made it a family sedan!!!
Yeah that was purely a business decision. They sold over 200,000 of the Square Birds from 1958-60. That was more than four times the number of Baby Birds they made.
Just think how valuable the 1953-55 Corvettes would be today if they had either stopped making them (which was considered) or if they had changed to a more mainstream four-seater car like the Thunderbird did.
WOW!!! I had a blue and silver 1963 with the cast iron transmission, console ran from the dash board to the rear window. console shift Auto with the 390. A real car from all sides. Fast, Pretty, space aged, luxury, Steering wheel would push, pull, telescopic. tilt up and down. and swing to the side while the drivers seat swiveled to allow easy in or out. The seats were plush and comfortable. Rounded on all four corners inside. The gauges were just awesome and easy to read! Sat low without any kind of kit and hugged the road. I had to kleave mine at my grandfathers because, at the time I couldn’t afford to fix the transmission right then. Went to Fl. to earnthe money and when I returned, it was gone. The car was like brand new engine rolling, brakes, and look wise. Loved her and really missed her when i returned with the money. But Hey, I returned with a 1959 Pontiac 2 door 389 Auto that was so new, it still had the sparkles in the carpet! So I reluctantly got over it.
I bought a 1962 powder blue hardtop new. I have always driven luxury cars. I put my Bird above all the cars I have owned. I love everything about it. I wish I had kept it, because now when I see one, my heart skips a beat. I still have the model Ford sent me. Loved my Bird.
First car my wife and I had was a power blue ’61. We paid $800 for it in ’68.
This is, in my opinion, the best looking series of Thunderbird. The styling is very classy and they are roomy inside. They are more powerful, drive, ride and handle better than the ’55/’57 birds. Those were not roomy inside at all. I’ve driven several of the original style and they are fun to drive… for a while. I felt like the steering wheel was nearly up against my chest and the leg room was cramped. The next generation “Square Bird”, though roomier and better driving, were not attractive to me at all, but this series definitely got me back as a “Bird fan.
I agree 100%. I wish I still had it.
62 is my favorite Thunderbird of all. That styling is amazing!
I prefer the sculpted sides on the ’63 T-Bird the most.