Test Drive - 1963 Ford Thunderbird Convertible!

The third-generation Thunderbirds were a personal luxury car from 1961 to 1963 with a new and sleeker styling designed by Bill Boyer. They came standard with power steering, power brakes, backup lights and bucket seats. The 390 ci V-8 provides significant power to cruise at highway speeds all day long. This Thunderbird is a joy to drive, and its older full restoration still looks beautiful today. It is ready to be enjoyed and shown.

This beautiful 1963 Ford Thunderbird began life in Wixom, Mi. This California car was first acquired by Burbank Studios in Burbank, CA. This Thunderbird was used as a prop in numerous television productions from 1963 through the early 1990s in such notable productions as 77 Sunset Strip and The Rockford Files, among many others. This Thunderbird was acquired in the early 90s by a Burbank Studios associate and car collector, Bill Gaston of Burbank, CA. In approximately 2000, Mr. Gaston began a full restoration of the Thunderbird, including a bare metal repaint and a new interior. The T-Bird was acquired on 8/13/2002 by the current owner, Terry Blumenthal of Sunnyvale, CA. Mr. Blumenthal had the motor and transmission rebuilt in 2017 and has maintained the Thunderbird very well which is evident by the beautiful overall condition.

The Thunderbird’s livery is a stunning Rangoon Red which has beautiful luster and shine with very few imperfections which are only noticeable upon very close inspection. The Rangoon Red fiberglass tonneau covers the back seat and lends to the space age and sleek look of the T-Bird. The 48 spoke Kelsey-Hayes designed wire wheels are in beautiful condition and look amazing wrapped in wide whitewalls radials. The addition of the tonneau cover and the wire wheels make this Thunderbird look identical to the Sports Roadster model apart from the missing passenger-side dash grab bar. The white canvas electric soft top is a delight to operate and functions very well. It is in very nice condition with minor imperfections. The chrome shows well overall with just some minor exceptions in high use areas. The undercarriage is rust free and shows very well throughout. The overall exterior of this Thunderbird is gorgeous and shows beautifully.

The interior is absolutely a design homerun with the space-age styling and chrome and bright work accents. The upholstery was completely restored in 2000 in red vinyl and is in very nice condition throughout with only slight wear showing in some areas. The interior chrome shows well with slight wear visible in small areas. All the Gauges work as designed including the cock. An amazing feature is the swing-away steering wheel. Once the automatic shift lever is placed in park, the entire steering column can swing 10.5” to the right which allows the driver easier seat access. The red carpet is in very nice condition and shows very little wear. This T-Bird also comes complete with an Blaupunkt AM/FM Cassette audio player, a citizen band radio, and a console mounted tachometer. The interior is in beautiful overall condition and the red upholstery and carpet really complete the look of this stunning Thunderbird.

The engine compartment has been nicely detailed and painted and is the home to the 390 ci V-8, which produces 300 hp @ 4,600 rpm. The power is transferred to the rear wheels through a 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission. Both the engine and the transmission were professionally rebuilt in 2017. The engine runs beautifully and strong and the transmission operates smoothly and quietly. This stunning T-Bird comes complete with the chrome engine compartment option which includes chrome valve covers, air cleaner, oil filler cap, coil, radiator overflow, etc. The chrome package really takes the engine compartment to the next level and shows very well throughout, which is perfect for shows.

This Thunderbird comes complete with the Registered Owner’s Manual, Car Care Record Book, and numerous registration slips. This Beautiful Thunderbird is ready to be enjoyed, toured, and shown. It would be a wonderful addition to any American automotive collection.

For more information and details, please call or text Chip Henson at +1.602.509.4776 or email us at [email protected]. This Ford Thunderbird is available for inspection at our Phoenix showroom. We are pleased to offer FaceTime or WhatsApp live video inspections and we help coordinate shipping worldwide. We also have financing partners if you are interested in financing.