For Sale – 1959 Thunderbird
Description: This Thunderbird coupe is a well conserved original with 63,700 original miles. It’s a re-painted un-restored vehicle. It has a rare 3 speed column manual shift with electric overdrive. It has power windows, power seats, and factory air; however, the car came with no power steering or power brakes. The original “Factory Build Sheet” is still in the glove box.
Production: In 1959 the Ford Motor Company built 57,195 these at their Lincoln plant, but only about 850 had the manual transmission. See why I call it rare? With a 2 to 3 percent survival rate, there are probably only about 25 of these left in existence.
Engine: It is 352 cid, 300 HP, V-8. In 1992 the previous owner rebuilt the engine with hardened valve seats. This is a strong runner. It’ll blow the socks off anything on the highway, and you can drive her anywhere.
Maintenance: Very recently the car was tuned up, the fuel system was cleaned, and the car got a new radiator, fuel pump, water pump, and clutch. Since my purchase and over the years – complete AC system re-build with 134A refrigerant, new rear leaf springs, new heater, new brake master cylinder, front control arm bushings, mufflers, a gear box rebuild, carburetor rebuild, rebuilt wiper motor, and radial tires. Non-ethanol gas is in the tank.
Finish: It is a 25 year old lacquer re-paint in the original Tamarack green with a white top. There are the typical lacquer paint chips and some 25 year old finish imperfections. The bumpers and the door spears appear to have been re-plated at the time of painting. There is no body rust anywhere. The floor pans are perfect and the under carriage was undercoated at sometime in the past.
Interior: The interior, which is also green and white, is nearly perfect. The material is white “leather” or vinyl (no cloth material). The interior including the headliner looks brand new. The only interior issues are a crack on the door armrest; some “fuzzing” on the door windlace; and the front seat foam rubber is slowly decomposing (dropping a yellow dust). The truck liner has the original “cardboard” matting with aging.
History: I purchased this Squarebird in Texas in 1995, and drove her 935 miles to east Florida. The previous owner purchased the car in 1993, and he said it came out of Arkansas. It is that Arkansas “flipper” who repainted the car, re-chromed the bumpers, and then passed it on. If interested, I can provide all my receipts and paperwork since 1995.
Location: The car is located in Cocoa, FL (on the east coast near the Kennedy Space Center) and just 2 miles off I-95; use zip code 32926 to calculate your mileage to the pick up point.
Originality: A car is original only once, and this vehicle is way too good to be restored. At best all that is needed is a repaint, and then enjoy it.
Price: $17,000 cash in hand. The car has a valid Florida title.
