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1963 Ford Thunderbird Convertible

Burbank Studios TV Car, Older Full Restoration, Gorgeous!

$39,800

Harry's Thoughts

I enjoyed a 1962 Thunderbird roadster in my collection for years and loved it! They have an amazing look, very Jetsons, and just float down the road. They are wonderful cars to enjoy and tour in.

THE ESSENTIALS

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 produced at the Ford plant 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. By the early 90s, it was acquired by 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 the 13th of August 2002 by the current owner, Terry Blumenthal of Sunnyvale, CA. Mr. Blumenthal had the engine 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. 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 terrific 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 vinyl 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. The interior chrome shows well with slight wear visible in small areas. All the Gauges work as designed including the clock. 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. 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.

We have this priced to sell with the Hagerty No. 2 value (adjusted for AC) at $43,010.  1963 Ford Thunderbird Base | Hagerty Valuation Tools

For more information and details, please call or text Harry Clark at +1.602.245.7200 or email us at sales@classicpromenade.com. 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.

1963 Ford Thunderbird Convertible

$39,800

PRIVATE SALE STATUS
SELLER NAME
LOCATION USA
VIEWS 1426
1963 Ford Thunderbird Convertible
1963 Ford Thunderbird Convertible

$39,800

VIN 3Y85Z153474
BODY STYLE Convertible
FUEL Gasoline
MILES 81,334
GEARBOX 3-Speed Automatic
DOORS 2
INT COLOR Red Vinyl
EXT COLOR Ragoon Red
YEAR 1963
LOCATION Phoenix, AZ
PRIVATE SALE STATUS
SELLER
VIEWS 1426

Ford Thunderbird Convertible

The third generation of the Ford Thunderbird is a personal luxury car produced by Ford for the 1961 to 1963 model years. It featured new and much sleeker styling (done by Bill Boyer) than the second generation models. Sales were strong, if not quite up to record-breaking 1960, at 73,051 including 10,516 convertibles. A new,…
The third generation of the Ford Thunderbird is a personal luxury car produced by Ford for the 1961 to 1963 model years. It featured new and much sleeker styling (done by Bill Boyer) than the second generation models. Sales were strong, if not quite up to record-breaking 1960, at 73,051 including 10,516 convertibles. A new, larger 390 cu in (6.4 L) FE-series V8 was the only engine available (in 1961). The Thunderbird was 1961's Indianapolis 500 pace car, and featured prominently in US President John F. Kennedy's inaugural parade, probably aided by the appointment of Ford executive Robert McNamara as Secretary of Defense. Changes for 1963 were relatively mild. An AM radio and a remote driver's side mirror became standard, while vacuum assisted door locks and an AM/FM radio were added as options. 1963's sale numbers were somewhat down, at 63,313 units. The Landau became the second most important model after the standard hardtop, at 12,193 sold. Landaus added simulated wood grain interior trim to go along with the landau top. In addition, a Limited Edition "Principality of Monaco" Landau model was introduced. This Maroon vinyl roof with Corinthian White exterior body with a white leather interior, dark red carpeting with rosewood dashboard applique instead of the stainless steel insert was personalized with a plaque displaying the owner's name and the car's limited production number, was limited to and sold only 2,000 units. Only 5,913 convertibles and 455 Sports Roadsters sold, indicating a decline in convertible popularity at the time.

Videos: 1963 Ford Thunderbird Convertible

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