Ford introduced the Thunderbird in 1955 as a personal luxury car. But its 2-passenger set-up often got it compared to the Chevy Corvette, which was a sports car. After three years, Ford thought they could sell more T-Birds by making the car bigger and adding a back seat. And they were right as each three-year generation of the Thunderbird through 1966 outsold the prior one. This 1964 ‘Bird has been in hiding for 20 years waiting for someone to revive it – and it looks pretty good, given the circumstances. The seller hasn’t put a price on it, so what do you think it’s worth?
The ”Square Bird” era of the automobile was from 1964 to 1966 and Ford peddled more than 236,000 of them with the ’64 catching the most buyer interest. A 390 cubic inch V8 producing 300 horsepower still ruled the roost and we assume that’s what’s under the hood of this Ford (no engine pics). For whatever reason, this luxury car has been dormant for most of the 21st Century with no mention of whether it runs (we assume not given the layer of dust on this once-proud machine).
This Ford is the Landau edition with black in triplicate (vinyl roof, paint, interior). The mileage isn’t known (the seller chooses to use a placeholder of 99,999). If there’s any rust on the vehicle, it doesn’t jump out at you and the sheet metal seems to be solid from the limited angles of the car we get to see. The interior is solid (for the most part) and should respond well to thorough detailing.
We assume the tires are at least two decades old, but the T-Bird sports fancy wire wheel covers that add a classy look to the ride. The car is in Philipsburg, Montana, and is available here on craigslist. Since the seller chooses to field offers, he/she will get a lot more tire kickers than if he/she posted a price to negotiate from.
Would have been nice to see it clean and outside. My recollection is those spoked wheels are real. Had one in the shop with them on. Looks like this one would be good looking when cleaned.
Yes, those are Kelsey Hayes wire wheels that were available on the 62-63 sports roadsters. They looked good on a lot of different years of tbirds. I like this car. I had Samoan coral ‘64 landau years ago.
Russ, I believe the Square Birds were 58, 59, 60.
I’m not sure what they called the 64-66 Thunderbirds, but I had a ’64 in Samoan Coral, and I called that model the “Catfish” bird, because of it’s front end. Here’s a shot of a Samoan Coral bird which I wish I still had!
I think they called them “wickedly beautiful”!
The Squarebird era was 1958-1960,the Rocketbird was 1961-1963 and this is a Glamourbird 1964-1966
Rocketbird? I thought they were called Bulletbirds and the ’64-66 models were called Flairbirds.
Ya..you are right..LOL..i answered before morning tea..LOL..so ashamed as a Thunderbird owner :( box of shame for me.
Looks like a decent car from what is in the pictures. Dirt it pretty easy to fix. Rust isn’t. Especially on Thunderbirds like this. I would want a very close look under the carpet and at the undersides.
That comment had me scratching my head too. You know how OCD we car guys are. 58-60 Squarebirds, 61-63 Bullitbirds, 64-66 Flairbirds. This one does look like it would respond cosmetically, to a detailing, but sitting that long and not knowing it’s running and braking status is a big gamble. I’m partial to the 61-63 Bullit birds but this 64 looks like a diamond in the rough.
One of this body style went up for auction at a abandoned car auction in Clarkston Washington last Saturday, I wasn’t able to attend because I was working but I guess bids started at scale value, this stuff always seems to pop up when I don’t have the time to deal with it. With this one its possible they don’t really know what its worth so instead of a Barrett Jackson Price like other do they want to see if cash talks
The unknowns on this are overwhelming. This is my favorite T-Bird; my grandfather bought a new one every two years from 1958 to 1980. This was the one that blew my 5-year-old mind.
Shipping it would be at least 3-grand to New Jersey. I might bid a couple grand on it; depends on the seller’s response.
My ’66 Bonneville came out of Helena, MT and had only light surface rust on parts of the underside. But that original owner clearly garaged it and didn’t drive it in the winter. If this one is in anywhere near the same condition, it could be a screaming deal
I dated a girl in 1970 whose dad let her drive his 66 bird back and forth to school. Back then, I was in love with the girl and the car. Both are gone but I still love that car.
Whoever added the air conditioning did a questionable job. I hope it works or can be revived, but the factory a/c had a center register from hell. It was large, and the air could be directed in at least 3 directions at once. With the flo-thru ventilation system, it was possible to maintain two different zones of comfort at once. Just thought you’d like to know.
Malcom, I didn’t see any engine pics that showed its AC system. I updated a 65 Mercury 390 with same setup for AC, York alluminum compressor and Four Seasons clutch. The original clutches weighed nearly 50 lbs, and cast iron comp about the same. Also retro fitted 134 valves not R12. The interior on this Bird is beautiful, just needs cleaning. The engine and brakes are the big WTH.
Funny how things work out sometimes. Here’s a shot of my latest project car, a 66 Q-code Bird with 428. I bought it yesterday right here in Tampa for 3300.
Rex, a beautiful Bird you got there. My first project car was a 66 Thunderbird Landau with a 428. Had engine rebuilt, but got stalled rebuilding all the power drum brakes and MC.
Thanks HC. I wouldn’t mind the Landau at all, I like vinyl roofs. I’m in the process of cleaning the car as we speak. My car has front discs, which the previous owner supposedly rebuilt in the not-too-distant past. Still has single-pot MC, so I gotta change that.
And, my car has the reclining passenger seat, with adjustable headrest, and a FACTORY 8-TRACK!! And cruise control! I gotta find some Foghat and Paul Simon 8-tracks at a yard sale somewhere….
Yes Rex, Boston and Journey will work too in that 8 track of yours. Yeah, I wish I knew then, what I think I know now, and I could have gotten my brakes figured out and done on my 66 Thunderbird.