AACA Forums - Ford Thunderbird - 1958 and newer http://forums.aaca.org/ en Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:13:55 GMT vBulletin 60 http://forums.aaca.org/images/misc/rss.png AACA Forums - Ford Thunderbird - 1958 and newer http://forums.aaca.org/ 1955 Ford vynal seat pattern http://forums.aaca.org/f226/1955-ford-vynal-seat-pattern-353358.html Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:46:53 GMT 1955 Fords-Because of cracking of the original one inch embossed pattern on the Sunliners seat inserts Ford changed over to a wider pleated looking... 1955 Fords-Because of cracking of the original one inch embossed pattern on the Sunliners seat inserts Ford changed over to a wider pleated looking pattern. Anyone know when this was directed or actually started taking place. I have a conv. built Dec. 24 1954 with the origainl narrow embossed seat inserts. Anyone later than that? ]]> Ford Thunderbird - 1958 and newer jukepin http://forums.aaca.org/f226/1955-ford-vynal-seat-pattern-353358.html FOR SALE: 1965 FOrd Thunderbird hardtop, 16,538 original miles! http://forums.aaca.org/f226/sale-1965-ford-thunderbird-hardtop-16-a-351901.html Sat, 25 May 2013 00:06:25 GMT Another special car from a very remarkable collection, this time a 1965 Thunderbird showing just over 16,000 original miles. With a single repaint,... Another special car from a very remarkable collection, this time a 1965 Thunderbird showing just over 16,000 original miles. With a single repaint, excellent original interior and padded roof, and a spotless undercarriage, it's a great survivor for preservation class competition. 1965 was a good year for Thunderbirds as they finally received disc brakes, which made them some of the best performing cars on the road. This one also includes factory A/C that blows ice cold and power windows, all of which are fully functional. The repaint was done several years ago, although I can't see any reason why as there's no evidence of rust or damage anywhere on the car. The padded roof, however, is original and in great shape, and all the chrome remains shiny. 1965 was also the first year for sequential taillights, and they do work like they should.

The blue interior is very well preserved, with only the driver's seat showing wear in the form of slightly crushed cushions. Otherwise, it's excellent in every way, from the carpets to the headliner, and even the woodgrained appliques are not faded. The instruments are all fully functional with bright markings, and as I said, the A/C blows cold thanks to a recent service and R134a upgrade. The back seat is ultra cool, with those wrap-around seat backs that almost look like some kind of '60s lounge furniture. In back, the trunk still carries all its original mats and covers, plus a full jack assembly and spare tire, with no surprises underneath. This is a solid southern car with no rust.

The engine is the X-code 390 with a 4-barrel carburetor and a new dual exhaust system that sounds downright awesome. The engine bay isn't detailed, but could easily be taken to show levels with just a deep cleaning. All the decals and factory paint on the block are impressively preserved, and the little stuff like the reproduction battery make it look right. It starts quickly and easily, idles beautifully, and is remarkably agile around town. 3.00 gears out back make it a fantastic high-speed cruiser so if you like road trips, there are few finer steeds. The disc brakes also included special 15-inch steel wheels which are designed to clear the calipers, and they now wear fresh Bridgestone whitewall radials. The underbody was undercoated many years ago, but there's absolutely no evidence of rust or damage under there, and the mechanicals are in first-rate condition. There's nothing like the feel of an original car, and this one rides and drives, well, like it has 16,000 miles on it. Extremely nice.

While 2-seat 'Birds have cooled off, the '60s 4-seaters are heating up, and if you're looking for this year's Hershey HPOF candidate, this is it. Asking $19,900 and we're always happy to discuss offers. Thanks for looking!
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]]> Ford Thunderbird - 1958 and newer Matt Harwood http://forums.aaca.org/f226/sale-1965-ford-thunderbird-hardtop-16-a-351901.html FOR SALE: 1963 Thunderbird convertible http://forums.aaca.org/f226/sale-1963-thunderbird-convertible-351821.html Thu, 23 May 2013 19:46:27 GMT To be honest, I never really paid any attention to cars built after 1949 or so, but it turns out that I really dig this 1963 Thunderbird ... To be honest, I never really paid any attention to cars built after 1949 or so, but it turns out that I really dig this 1963 Thunderbird convertible. Really, isn't it gorgeous? I didn't expect to like it this much, and it's optioned out exactly the way I would have done it if I were ordering it new in 1963, including factory A/C (ice cold!), power windows, power locks, dual power seats, and an AM/FM radio. It was originally black on black, but during the frame-on restoration a few years ago, it was changed to Medium Blue Metallic (yeah, nice creative name there, Ford). It's a southern car, so rust was not an issue, and I can find no evidence of patches or repairs underneath or in those long, rocket-like quarter panels. The chrome is exceptionally good and looks fresh, including the outer bumpers up front, which apparently have a tendency to collect leaves and water and rust out from within.

The black interior is coded as leather on the door tag, and that's what is in it today. The seat covers, door panels, and carpets all appear to be new, and the gauges were restored with crisp markings and bright needles. Everything works, including the power windows, A/C, radio, seats, and I accidentally discovered power locks when fumbling for the top switch, as the power lock switch is low on the dash. And yes, the top works like it should, going up and down effortlessly and stowing itself under the hard shell tonneau that flips up from the top of the deck lid. You could probably sell tickets to watch it in operation, it's quite impressive. The only possible demerit is the center console, which shows original chrome with light pitting, but it's kind of on the fence as to whether it needs to be restored or if you could live with it. It does stand out simply because the rest is so over-the-top nice.

The engine is a 4-barrel 390 that makes great V8 sounds. The T-Bird was more Lincoln than Ford at this point, so it's heavy and rides beautifully, but is happier cruising the highways than carving through canyons. The engine bay is nicely detailed, but would need some elbow grease if you're going for trophies. The color change was thorough enough to include the inner fenders and firewall, so the engine was out and repainted at the same time. New hoses, belts, and R134a refrigerant in the A/C system mean it's reliable. The 3-speed automatic shifts so smoothly you almost can't feel it, and 3.00 gears mean it just loafs along on the highway. It wears Ford wire wheels that are in good shape but could use a bit of polishing, and for that reason, I suspect that they are original to the car. The chassis and floors are also extremely clean with a layer of undercoating, but examining things like the seams and braces, I can't see any evidence that this car was ever rusty, so it's not hiding anything.

A gorgeous, fully functional Bullet Bird with a ton of options in a gorgeous color combination. Does top-down cruising get better than this? Asking $34,900 and we're always open to offers. Thank you for reading and looking!
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]]> Ford Thunderbird - 1958 and newer Matt Harwood http://forums.aaca.org/f226/sale-1963-thunderbird-convertible-351821.html