Vehicle Description
The Jet Age was in full swing when this 1964 Thunderbird was built,
and the influence is obvious. But this one is especially noteworthy
due to its awesome color combination, factory A/C, and cool
semi-custom look that is more illusion than reality.
It's the wheels and tires that give this car its custom look, and
beyond that you get a very clean 'Bird that's ready to enjoy. It
wears a shiny coat of code M Wimbledon White, one of Ford's
hallmark colors. With arrow-straight bodywork, it needs nothing
today and shows off what five decades of careful living can
deliver. It doesn't appear to have ever been hit, and even in areas
like the rear fenders above the skirts and the rocker panels, both
trouble areas on these cars, it is quite solid and shows well. The
'64 Thunderbirds have a lot of details, from the crease that
stretches from the headlights, kicks up behind the doors, then
tapers out near the taillights, to the forward-facing grille that
looks very futuristic indeed. The paint has a wonderful shine that
shows rather well, and it's been highlighted with some red
pinstripes to dress things up a bit. All the chrome is in awesome
condition as well, making this a car that is obviously defying its
age.
The loaded code 54A Light Beige metallic bucket seat interior is
just preserved, showing only light signs of use in the driver's
chair, and almost none anywhere else. As Ford's personal luxury
flagship, styling is dramatic inside as well as out, including a
sweeping instrument panel clearly inspired by aircraft. A
thin-rimmed steering wheel guides the T-Bird effortlessly and the
wrap-around console puts the AM/FM/cassette radio and climate
controls within easy reach. The level of preservation inside is
remarkable; just look at the bright gauges, the shiny stainless
inserts on the door panels, and the supple dash pad, all of which
shows extremely well. You'll also note that this car includes
optional power windows, with switches arrayed in a neat panel on
the center console, plus factory A/C, and, obviously, a tilt-away
steering column. There's also a modern AM/FM/cassette stereo in the
original radio's slot. A quick glance in the trunk reveals decent
floors, replacement mats, and plenty of room for luggage for a week
or two on the road. This 'Bird was built to cruise!
The big reason Ford enlarged the Thunderbird was to put more
thunder under the hood. In this car's case, it's a 300 horsepower
390 cubic inch V8, which was the only engine available in 1964.
Proudly wearing gold paint on the air cleaner and valve covers, the
engine bay shows off the big block quite well, and all the original
components remain intact. Up top there's the oversized air cleaner,
as well as a set of Thunderbird-logo valve covers, and there's
plenty of evidence of recent maintenance. It's not sparkling and
perfect like a trailer queen, but very few 50-year-old engines can
claim to look and run this well. A Ford-O-Matic 3-speed automatic
spins a 9-inch rear end full of 3.00 gears, making this coupe an
exceptional long-distance cruiser. It starts easily with a smooth
rumble from the dual exhaust, and the undercarriage is quite tidy,
so this car needs nothing to enjoy immediately. As we mentioned, it
wears bright red steelies and 205/75/15 whitewall radials that give
it a custom look, and we definitely like it!
Nothing else drives like a Thunderbird, and if you like the classic
color combination, you're going to love the car. Call today!