Vehicle Description
Ford's glamorous 1962 Thunderbird Sports Roadster was a star at
birth. While at the peak of his popularity in the Fall of 1961,
Elvis Presley purchased one of the first Thunderbird Sports
Roadsters built. Then Picture if you will, an early Sports Roadster
featured on an episode of "The Twilight Zone," on February 2, 1962.
Yet, despite its splashy debut, the Sports Roadster was built in
comparatively small numbers relative to the standard Thunderbird.
This special edition in the Thunderbird range was designed in
response to some customers who felt the T-Bird had grown too soft,
particularly those recalling the original two-seat 55-57 models.
While performance wasn't changed, this new option package did give
the T-Bird a striking new look. The integral components of the
Sports Roadster include the fiberglass tonneau cover, passenger
assist bar, wire wheels, and Roadster-specific emblems on the front
fenders and tonneau cover. This tonneau was a simple yet striking
design piece transforming the standard Thunderbird convertible into
the Sports Roadster by covering the back seat and adding jet-age
aerodynamic headrests behind the front seats, giving the big
four-seat Thunderbird a welcome dose of sportiness and style.
Designed to be easily removed, owners could change from a sleek,
sporty two passenger roadster to a four-passenger convertible in a
matter of minutes. Critically, Ford designers ensured full
operation of the convertible top regardless of the tonneau cover
being in place. Additionally, the top is fully automatic except for
latching or unlatching the top's frame to the windshield header.
The included Kelsey-Hayes Wire Wheels are among the most beautiful
wheels ever created, and at $372.30, they accounted for over half
the cost of the Sports Roadster package. Priced at $5,439 without
any extras, it was $1,118 more than the Hardtop, and $651 more than
the standard Convertible. Amazingly it was just $149 less than a
Cadillac Sixty-Two Convertible! While the new Thunderbird and
Thunderbird Sports Roadster were up to par on style, Ford was still
looking to dial in more performance. 1962 also saw the introduction
of the M-code. Displaying the engine code M in the chassis number,
the M-code cars utilized three two-barrel carburetors. This
"tri-power" setup was completed with a special intake manifold
feeding Ford 406 heads on top of the Thunderbird 390 V8 block,
resulting in an incredible 340hp. Desired by many, purchased by
few, the M-code was phased out in the middle of the 1963 model
year. While Ford produced 1,427 Sports Roadsters for 1962, only 120
were true M-code Sports Roadsters, making the M-code Sports
Roadsters the holy grail of all third generation Thunderbirds. This
1962 M-Code Sports Roadster is truly a stunning example boasting a
highly detailed, award-winning restoration performed by Whitehall
Auto Restorations in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Finished in a
dazzling and factory original combination of Silver Mink over light
silver blue metallic leather upholstery, it is beautifully
presented with outstanding paint, chrome, and detailing. This
T-Bird is restored to a standard rarely seen on similar cars and
has been maintained to a high standard while in a private
collection. As a factory Sports Roadster, this T-Bird features the
all-important tonneau panel, wire wheels, and special badging,
while power comes from the aforementioned 390 cubic inch, 340
horsepower, V-8 from the FE family of powerplants that includes the
mighty 427. Topped with three two-barrel carburetors and mated to a
Cruise-O-Matic transmission, this T-Bird glide can glide
effortlessly down any road of your choosing, but also plenty
capable of shaming many Corvette-driving challengers thanks to
bottomless reserves of torque and a remarkably refined chassis. The
doors open and shut with precision, and panel fit is exemplary,
notable for a large American cruiser of this era. Loaded to the
gills, equipment includes the signature swing-away steering column,
pushbutton radio, power windows, power seats, power top, heavy-duty
battery, power steering, power brakes, Thunderbird floor mats and
an extremely rare console mounted "Rotunda" tachometer. The
outstanding restoration continues in the cabin, which features
factory-correct light silver blue metallic leather upholstery
accented with sparkling chrome and aluminum accents for a
sophisticated, upscale ambience. As with the body, the detailing is
superb, with crystal clear instruments and a factory correct radio.
The spotless engine compartment includes chrome air cleaner, proper
"Thunderbird" valve covers, and correct stickers and tags. A
veteran of the concours lawn, the car has been awarded 1st place at
the 2008 Vintage Thunderbird Club International Convention, as well
as being shown at the Meadowbrook Concours, Indy Classic, Milwaukee
Masterpiece, and the Ault Park Concours d'Elegance. Any
third-generation Thunderbird makes a strong impression, with many
considering its styling to be the finest ever applied to the
long-running Ford model. This 1962 "M-Code" Sports Roadster adds
incredible rarity and an award-winning, well-maintained restoration
to the mix, placing it at the very pinnacle of Thunderbird
desirability. Offers welcome and trades considered For additional
details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7683-1962-ford-thunderbird-sports-roadster/
