The seller has misidentified the year of this Thunderbird. He/she lists it as 1967 while it is actually 1964. The 1964 Thunderbird was the first year of the fourth generation. Following the rocket generation, it used a similar grille/bumper/headlight design while incorporating large rear taillights rather than the round bullet lights. This 1964 Ford Thunderbird convertible is listed here on Craigslist in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.
Not a lot of information is given about the car. As you can see, it still wears a coating of dirt and dust from its storage. It would be nice to see some pictures after a cleaning, but the seller may believe the buyer would want to give the car a good cleaning. It appears there may be an issue with the front passenger side bumper, maybe where chrome is peeling off, but otherwise, the exterior looks fine. Those big rectangular taillights were normal blinkers for 1964, but in 1965 would have sequential turn signals.
The interior actually looks remarkably good. There are some tears on the door armrests but none on the seats. At first, I thought someone had put an electrical outlet cover on the passenger side door, but that is actually a factory light housing. The interior looks like it could use a good cleaning and then it could be driven as it is. This car has power windows with the crank vent windows but does not appear to have air conditioning. This generation also used the swing away steering wheel.
When I was growing up, I had a friend whose parents had a 1965 Thunderbird. When we were about 12 years old, his parents carried us to a football game about 50 miles away. My friend, me, his 15-year-old sister and her friend all rode in the back seat for the round trip. It was cramped, but I didn’t care, I was riding in a Thunderbird. Thunderbirds of this era featured the contoured rear seats.
No engine pictures were provided nor mileage listed. Since sitting for 30 plus years, it will take some work to get this running I’m sure, but its possible once any mechanical issues are addressed, it could be driven as is. The convertible top even appears to be in pretty good shape. The seller also does not list a price, so you might make an offer that will be acceptable. What is your opinion about this car?
This Thunderbird body style is growing on me more and more.
It’s rough.
Their pricing strategy, along with a poor description is an invitation for lowball offers. They should do their research a pick a price, you can be relatively sure they know what they won’t take, they would be better off throwing out a number they can use as a starting point.
Steve R
If it is good enough to store, it is good enough to cover. They can be had at Costco for as little as $29.95. I’ve even seen the kind that you essentially drive into which would seemingly deter generations of mice from raising their families in the upholstery while munching on the wiring.The complete enclosure type are around $100.00+. Some even have a light bulb or other heating devise to deal with the moisture.
Steve is right, the car is rough.
Sure, the interior looks pretty good, but the exterior looks like it’s been sitting under a tree for 20 years. Would it kill the seller to wash the damn car? Honestly, would you try to sell your house without cleaning the bathrooms? Like the “patina” on your toilet would increase the value…
I’ve owned a 64 T-Bird (in that pinkish-orange-coral color the old-timers called “titty pink”), and the body and electrics and mechanicals are all difficult to restore.
I guess I’m saying what all us car guys know: seller, get off your butt and clean up the car and get it running and driving, then figure out what it’s worth and price it accordingly, and stop wasting everyone’s time! One more thing: go Buckeyes!
OK yea, it’s dirty. I am seeing past that. A triple white topless bird, shiny white paint, sparkling interior…..just OOOZING down the avenue!!
There are several nice looking restored 1964 Thunderbird convertibles that have sold recently on eBay between $12,000 and $14,500, the most expensive 1964 convertible sold for $18,000. This one probably wouldn’t be worth considering if it’s more than a few thousand dollars, even that might be a stretch.
Steve R
I bet a grand that complicated top does not work. When they are locked down and inoperable it is nearly impossible to get them open. I would be a buyer at $1,500 if it were closer. But somehow I figure they will not be getting any offers anywhere near what they are going to hold out for.
To echo other sentiments: Worth restoring…but only if you can get it for around 1500bux. I’m a bigger fan of the round taillight from gen 2. But these are still sweet boulevard cruisers.
Yeah that vinyl upholstery looks good but thats 50 plus years old and probably quite brittle when sat on. Dont know if it could be softened up or not so will probably will need a whole new interior or atleast seat cover material. Same with the convertible top, tires and all other rubber products like hoses, belts, etc. Any mechanical parts will need grease or oil to move freely again after sitting still for 30 years so the conv. top frame is probably stuck shut as is the engine too more than likely. U-joints on the driveshaft will also need gone thru and the rear axle. Front suspension rubber parts will also need replacing as they also will most likely be dry-rotted like all the other vinyl and rubber products on the car. Exterior paint will need atleast a good buffing if no cracks or checking exists or a new paintjob is in order which could cost in excess of $6000 in labor. Brittle wiring could be another major problem so a whole new wiring harness might be in order too especially if mice made their home in the car and most likely did in the 30 plus years it was stored. $1000 is probably a good starting price. I’d be a player for that but no more than $2000 especially having no air conditioning for those hot sticky days or days when its raining and you can’t put the top down.
All the comments are perfectly valid, of course, they would be valid for any car sitting for decades. The lack of underhood and chassis photos, isn’t helpful, but from what is seen, it looks solid.
Everything said is valid. It has a lot of potential but at what price? It’s great to put the top down for a cruise and enjoy some wind in the hair.
I know some like patina, but it’s not my particular choice. Fix it up, paint it pretty and get everything working then hit the highway.
Couple of years ago I bought a ’66 that had no virtually no working electrical and drove it 150 miles home with my wife driving behind to keep off the tailgaters. Electrical troubleshooting is a pain but I like it more than mechanical. Power window motors were pretty easy to find, and switches could often be cleaned and used. I used it in our indie feature film, Summer of ’67 (released on Amazon Prime last week) along with a VW bus I bought and got running and many other 60’s cars and trucks.
This car is pretty rough. I’ve always wanted to build a Ford bumpside (67-72) pick-up and find a T-bird ratted out like this and combine the design elements of the car into the truck. Just an idea.
There’s an exclamation point after every one of the few sentences in the ad, yet virtually no information. Seller doesn’t even know the model year, and wants us to tell him the value. It’s not like they’re rare. No air. So there.
Let him find someone else to beg him to sell the car.
I’m out.
It says ’67 but it is almost certainly a ’64. The style changed (no more convertibles) in ’67 and the bumpers and tail lights on this style changed each year between ’64 and ’66. (This one does not have the chabered, sequential tail lights.) This is a ’64.
If you are into the sequential tail lights for this or any car with two, three or more rear lights you can now buy a very simple and easy diy kit and is one I did on my ’65 Skylark. Very reasonable and well made kit IMO.
http://www.webelectricproducts.com
On this 64 it will be a labor of love and some deep pockets to bring this back, I would guesstimate a minimum of $20 large to do it right if doing most everything yourself. I personally like this generation bird up to ’66 only.
does that top work like the 57-59 fords with the top going in the trunk.and early 60’s fords?
I just saw this on Pinterest.
Did anybody notice the bondo on the right lower rear quarter panel ?
And the left. And the snow tires. This car was winter driven. In Pennsylvania. And they wer very prone to quarter panel rust. I had a ’65 in Maryland in ’80-1.
Growing up, my parents had a ’64 convertible in, I believe, Springtime Yellow, with a black top. Probably the coolest car we had- the rest being practical four door sedans or station wagons.
So we just acquired this fine T-bird 52,000 original miles for 2,500 . It has its original 390 engine and the fender skirts were there also. This car will be restored to its like new condition and put in our collection and put on our face book page while being restored. We have 30 other cars that we have in our collection . Check us out at Lennys Classic Car Collection Altoona pa. @ facebook