1963 Ford Thunderbird Sports Roadster in Lithia Springs, Georgia

Two-seat Thunderbirds are cute, but when Ford added a back seat, sales really took off. Today, the 1961-1963 "Bullet Birds" are some of the most rapidly appreciating models, with cars like this 1963 Thunderbird Sport Roadster offering full-sized luxury and comfort with fantastic good looks. And to answer your very first question, yes, this is a real code 76B Sport Roadster, making it a very rare find indeed.

Code A Raven Black with a code 55 red interior is this car's original color combination and there are scarcely any better choices for a sporting ragtop. It appears to be mostly original with an older repaint, so it's not a show car but man, does this sucker look dramatic! Shockingly, these are unit-body cars, but Ford engineered them well and even 50 years later, the doors fit well, the hood latches easily, and those long quarter panels are in good shape, worthy of the black paint. Experts will note that the rear fender skirts were removed to make way for the Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels, and the sporty look helps camouflage the car's size. And yes, there's a ton of chrome, all of it in fair condition, from the delicate trim that runs along the tops of the fenders, doors, and quarters to the "gills" on the doors themselves, to the jet-inspired taillights. This handsome T-Bird is still a one-car parade anywhere it goes.

The bright red interior is equally stunning, a beautiful mix of '60s cool design and high-end luxury, and we believe it's entirely original. Buckets and a console were the only way to get your 'Bird in 1963, along with the "Tilt-Away" steering wheel that really does make it easier to get in and out of the low-slung convertible. Beautiful round gauges, each in their own pod, have a crisp, elegant look and the band of anodized aluminum trim that spans the dash adds some great contrast and isn't pitted or damaged. There's some wear on the upholstery, but you should probably leave it along as it's only original once, and experts will note it does have the passenger-side grab handle, which is unique to the Sport Roadsters. It also has the rear tonneau, which was designed for the Sport Roadsters but became a popular accessory, and we love the look it lends this black ragtop. The only real notable issue is that the top's switch is broken, so the top isn't working, but it's easier to service than you'd think and there's plenty of knowledge out there, so don't let that stop you from owning a great 'Bird.

Ford's strong-running 390 cubic inch V8 was standard equipment, because this was a lot of car to move around. With 300 horsepower on tap, it never works very hard and has a very smooth idle with a humming exhaust note that's completely appropriate for the luxurious 'Bird. The engine bay is quite stock, right down to the oversized chrome air cleaner and expansion tank for the cooling system. Power steering and brakes are probably mandatory on something this size and the suspension, while plush and luxurious, doesn't seem to mind hustling a little bit. Underneath there's a correct single exhaust system (dual exhaust was actually an option!) with a newer muffler and tailpipe and the critical unibody is in great shape with factory undercoating throughout. And those aforementioned Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels look fantastic, especially wrapped in 215/70/15 BFGoodrich Silvertown wide whitewall radials.

We've been selling cars for a long time but we get very few of these big 'Birds and you know how rare the Sport Roadsters are. This is a great opportunity to own a rare car below market value. Call today!