1962 Ford Thunderbird

Solid car with one older repaint. Super straight bodywork. Removable Sport Roadster tonneau cover. Great-running 390 cubic inch V8 with automatic transmission. Lots of recent service. A classic bullet Bird at a very appealing price!

This handsome bright red 1962 Ford Thunderbird convertible shows rather well, sporting one repaint a few years ago. Trimmed to look like a Sport Roadster, it has that iconic look and thanks to conscientious maintenance over the years, it s both fun to drive and a no-compromises cruiser that you can drive every day. Code J Rangoon Red is this car s original color and we have to admit that this long, red Bird looks like a rock star sitting in the sun. The respray was incredibly thorough so the car looks quite good from any angle, and it s obvious from looking underneath that the car has always been someone s fair-weather toy (original DSO was right here in Cleveland but it obviously didn t have to fight through our winters). Finish quality is quite good, with even gaps and lots of time invested in getting everything straight, with doors that close well and no signs of accident damage or other issues in its past. Of course, on a car like this, the critical issue is the jewelry, which includes all that wonderful chrome trim. All the Thunderbird logos have gorgeous inlays that are designed to simulate genuine turquoise, and from behind, it s easy to see why they also call these the rocket Birds. Then there s the bright strip of stainless that defines the top edges of the fenders, running across the doors to form the door handles, before cresting the modest tailfins. The Thunderbird script on both front fenders, the finned emblems on the quarters, and the stainless windshield surround are all in great shape. It isn t perfect, but it s pretty darned nice.

According to the door tag, this car s code 55 red vinyl bucket seat interior is correct, and it looks pretty authentic. The seat covers front and rear may possibly be original, and they show no splits or tears, just some wrinkles that you d expect over time. Matching red carpets with a heel pad for the driver look more recent, and the dash pad is protected with a carpeted cover (there are surely a few minor cracks underneath, but we did not remove the cover to investigate). Sleek, round gauges are pure 1960s cool, with clear markings and bright pointers, all surrounded by an anodized aluminum trim panel that extends into the center console. It also offers Ford s neat swing away steering column, which pivots towards the center of the car when you gently tug on the shifter handle. The Thunderbird s convertible top is a wonder of 1950s tech, stowing itself invisibly under the trunk lid in a feat of electro-hydraulic gymnastics that always attracts a crowd. The top itself is white vinyl, as original, and remains in excellent shape with a few wrinkles but no tears, and it does work correctly in both directions. The Sport Roadster tonneau cover is always a very desirable addition but can be removed easily if you need to use the back seat (it does not affect top operation). The trunk is fully lined with a new correct mat set and includes a full-sized spare tire and jack assembly tucked into the quarter panel.

There s plenty of horsepower on tap with a Z-code 390 cubic inch V8 under the hood. Topped by a 4-barrel carburetor, it makes a nice, round 300 horsepower and plenty of torque to make the ragtop Bird feel effortless in everything it does. The engine bay is dominated by the big air cleaner and the expansion tank, so it looks quite authentic and you can see how clean this car is from the visible spot welds on the inner fenders this is not a car that was patched up and rusty. It starts easily, idles smoothly, and has a very healthy V8 rumble from the dual exhaust system. It was undercoated years ago, but the rockers, subframe supports, and floors are sharply rendered and don t have that worn look that rusty cars in the north always get. The power drum brakes were serviced recently, the suspension is supple and rides well, and with 3.00 gears out back, it cruises at highway speeds easily. Factory steel wheels wear factory hubcaps and recent 215/75/14 whitewall radials that look fantastic on the dramatic Ford convertible.

Go ahead and look around, but you ll probably find that 1962 Thunderbird convertibles are popular in every corner of the hobby. Perhaps you never even considered a 4-seat Bird until you saw this one, but its combination of good looks, an appealing interior, and a muscular V8 have won you over. An absolutely wonderful vintage convertible with a lot of charisma, ready to roll right now. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.