Vehicle Description
Sometime while we weren't looking, 4-seater Ford Thunderbirds
became popular collectors' items. No longer are back seats a
liability, and collectors have discovered that Fords like this 1962
"bullet" Bird not only look great, but they're downright awesome to
drive.
The Landau was the top-of-the-line Thunderbird, reaching across the
gap towards the Lincoln lineup, bringing luxury and comfort to the
Thunderbird party. Sure, it was still sporty "personal"
transportation, but with the new look came a newfound focus on
luxury. Included with the package, of course, was the padded roof
with landau bars, a styling element borrowed from coachbuilt
pre-war cars. You can't go wrong with black, either, and code A
Raven Black is this car's original color. The paint is showing
signs of age, of course, but it's in good enough condition that a
professional buff would work wonders and make it sparkle once
again. This was also a time when cars were still assembled with
care and pride, which shows in the details here, from the ornate
front bumper and grille assembly in original condition and needing
a little attention, to the stainless trim along the tops of the
fenders, to the clearly jet-inspired taillights and rear bumper
which looks almost new. It's handsome and stately without being
flashy, which was exactly the intention of the original
stylists.
If you aren't convinced that the '60s were the pinnacle of clean,
elegant interior styling, then you haven't been paying attention.
The all-new code 70 silver-blue interior offers a symphony of
colors, textures, and materials that is so upscale and slick you'll
think it's the set from "Mad Men." The bright stainless and chrome
details, particularly the wrap-around brightwork that extends into
the doors, combine with the carefully textured accents on the
center console to give it the look of high-end furniture, not just
a transportation appliance. Even the steering wheel is an intricate
combination of materials and shapes. Oddly enough, this appears to
be a car with radio delete which we've never seen before, but other
options include a tilt wheel and power windows, all of which work
properly. The spacious trunk is fully lined and carries original
mats and a spare tire in its own matching cover.
Everyone knows that horsepower sells, and as the Thunderbird grew,
so did their engines. By 1962, it was a 390 cubic incher making 300
horsepower in Z-code trim, as in this Landau. Still running in
stock spec, it starts easily and runs down the road with a smooth
flow of torque and a muscular hum that makes it feel effortless at
any speed. It's been dressed up a bit with gold air cleaner and
valve covers that contrast with a Ford Blue block, but other things
like the expansion tank for the cooling system are totally correct.
A beefy 3-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and channels
the power to the 3.00-geared 9-inch out back, and the highly
original chassis is impressively solid and remarkably clean.
Original 14-inch wheels wear factory wheelcovers and 215/70/14
whitewall radials.
These Thunderbirds aren't going to be any more affordable than they
are today and this one offers a lot of potential and tons of
built-in style for not a lot of money. Call today!