The 390-cubic-inch Thunderbird V8 is finished in gold paint on the valve covers and air-cleaner cover above the 4-barrel carburetor. Under the hood, the remnants of the original white paint are evident. The console includes the emblem identifying the car as number 1,964 of the 2,000 limited-edition models, and script-Thunderbird chrome lettering faces the front passenger. There is no radio mounted three auxiliary engine-monitoring gauges are mounted below the dash. The shift lever for the Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission is mounted on the steering column. Instrument bezels, switchgear, and trim are chrome. Doors (and rear cabin-walls) include woodgrain trim which is also present on the center console and across the lower face of the dashboard.Ī 3-spoke, ivory-rimmed steering wheel with chrome horn ring fronts an instrument cluster featuring three large gauge openings. Upholstery is red vinyl with red velour fabric inserts and Thunderbird emblems on the front seat backs. The interior condition is generally very good with some signs of wear, use, split seams on the seat cushions, and panel-deterioration near the door jambs. All trim and surfaces are correct to original-equipment standards. The car’s red interior certainly looks to be a complete transfer from another Thunderbird. Chrome body trim, window surrounds, bumpers, grille, and side mirrors all show bright finishes with minimal patina from age.įactory badging includes the Thunderbird emblems on the hood and rear deck, and the iconic stylized “Thunderbird” script on the rear fenders.īased on the Body Plate Data, it would appear that the car’s original white interior (code 83) was also converted to red, likely concurrent with the repaint. The white faux convertible top, however, shows some discoloration and warping from age. The exterior red paint finish remains in generally very good condition with good gloss and no significant damage or evidence of overspray on other exterior surfaces, trim, or emblems. This car isn’t finished in the original color scheme, but red on red with a white top is a proper color scheme for the time period that this car rolled off the assembly line. The Monaco cars also featured a dark red vinyl Landau top which broke up the white on white color scheme. The original white color is the shade that all “Monaco cars” were painted. The car’s current exterior red paint was added professionally a number of years ago, however the original Corinthian White (Code M) remains on body panels inside the engine bay and the underside of the hood. The changes were made likely to suit a previous owner’s preference. In its place, a removable top and “speedster humps” have been added. Often called “Monaco cars” by collectors, the car offered here has been repainted red, and the Landau top has been removed. (Body Code 63B) The Premier took place in the Principality of Monaco. This Thunderbird is believed to be number 1,964 of 2,000 Limited Edition Thunderbird Landau examples created to celebrate the World Premier of the 1963 model. Offered here is a vehicle which has a slightly unique look since this Thunderbird left the factory in a different color, and with a landau top. I’m sure the problems he had with Ford cars is part of the reason I’ve never wanted to buy anything they made, but their 40 year styling twilight zone didn’t help.“Thunderbird… Unique in All the World” – 1963 Ford Thunderbird magazine ad headline. He kept the Caddy until 1973, when he ran it into a telephone pole and knocked out the power to most of the south end of Toledo. He hated it so much he traded it for a ’69 Caddy his brother had bought the same day. He gave Ford one last chance though, in ’69, he bought a Lincoln MkIII. Around the year mark, my dad finally cracked and the ‘Bird disappeared, replaced by a ’65 Caddy that my mother wound up driving for over three years, a long time in our house, where cars they liked only stuck around 2 years, and cars they hated were gone in less than a year. It was an ok car the first winter, but as soon as it got warm out, it did exactly the same thing as the previous ’61 T-Bird did, overheat and eventually blow head gaskets. All I remember about my dad’s ’63 T-Bird was the hood being up and steaming coolant hissing.
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