Was this a Thunderbird option

[Ronnie]

I saw this Thunderbird at a cruise-in in Crossville, TN yesterday. Is the cover over the rear seats a one off custom made piece or was this an accessory that could be purchased for a Thunderbird?

 

 

[Matt Harwood]

Sport Roadster tonneau. Most are repros but they did come that way on 61-63 Thunderbird Sport Roadsters. Removable and the back seat is still there. 

Here's a real one:

http://www.harwoodmotors.com/vehicles/inventory_details.php?id=817

[Ronnie]

Thanks for the info Matt. It is the first one that I've seen. I believe it is a repro. Your car has different chrome trim and the fit of the tonneau appears to be much better on your car.

[Matt Harwood]

Yeah, the repros have horrible fit and finish. Even the factory pieces weren't all that good. I recently sold a '60 Thunderbird, which never came with a tonneau, but the buyer wanted one. So he ordered a repro from the place that makes them and had it delivered to our shop for installation. The fit wasn't even close. It was embarrassingly bad and he would have spent more making it fit than he paid for it in the first place. We arranged to send it back to the manufacturer and he simply enjoyed the car without it. They don't look right on the earlier cars anyway and they're a pain if you suddenly need the back seat.

 

 

[auburnseeker]

I had a 61 that I was lucky enough to find an original tonneau for back in the early 2000's for the same 500 they wanted for the repros.  After seeing these,  boy am I glad I found an original.  Those look terrible.  I picked it up in CT about a 8 hour round trip,  but well worth it.  I think I paid half as much just to have an upholstery shop upholster the head rests to match my interior (which was done before I traded for the car) When I find a picture of the car,  I'll post it.