For Sale: 1960 Ford Thunderbird in Lithia Springs, Georgia

Building on the success of its two-seater predecessors, this 1960 Ford Thunderbird Convertible was a member of a generation whose seemingly endless style and spaciousness set new sales standards for the model and even garnered Motor Trend "Car of the Year" honors in the process. It's propelled by what's almost certainly the very same period correct drivetrain it rolled out with and proudly wears its original colors both inside and out.

Just a couple of years before this drop top's debut, Ford equipped its groundbreaking personal luxury car with an expanded form to accommodate a backseat that combines with some inspired body contours and an overall more futuristic appearance to create a classic that really stands out from the T-Birds debuting both before and after it. Up front, quad headlights loom over a bold, ornate grille that's integrated into the front bumper, while in back, the more prominent tailfins reflected the more flamboyant styling sensibilities of the era. It's wearing Monte Carlo red paint, just as it did when it rolled out nearly six decades ago and while it's looking pretty darned solid just as it is, a trip to the paint booth for some freshening up will optimize this T-Bird's already magnetic curb appeal. Below, the foundation is in good order - even at close range you won't find any telltale waves or other signs of body damage. For those occasions when shelter from the elements is called for, there's a black vinyl convertible top on hand that's in clean condition to rise into position for protection.

It's pretty likely that the interior this vintage Ford is sporting is not only in its original configuration but has yet to see the inside of an upholstery shop and yet it remains in impressive shape. You can find subtle signs of wear here and there, but overall, this is a sharp-looking driving environment. The red vinyl covers over the front buckets and rear bench seat still have plenty more miles to provide and the carpet below them is nice and fresh - take a glance in back and you'll see the substantial legroom created by this T-Bird's enlarged wheelbase. By the time this '60 debuted, Ford was getting pretty adventurous with the designs of their dashes, and the one on display is a fine example of their efforts, with its factory gauges encircled by protruding bezels and recessed into a textured chrome instrument panel matched by accents at the center and over the glove box door.

Everything appears to be convincingly authentic beneath the hood where a 352 cubic inch resides - the product of a power upgrade that came with the advent of the model's second generation. The engine sits in a spacious engine compartment, with a 4 barrel perched on top and is running in solid form - it was rated at an even 300 horsepower when it was released back in the day, so it's a very capable powerplant that teams with a period correct 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic transmission. Power steering makes this classic easy to maneuver as it turns heads on its set of show-stopping 14" wire wheels with red branded centers wearing BF Goodrich tires that have plenty of tread still left. A look below will reveal that this vintage Ford is riding on a solid undercarriage.

Comfortably familiar yet distinctive at the same time, this 1960 Ford Thunderbird Convertible captures the model at a pivotal stage in its development and promises plenty of fun-filled, open air driving enjoyment. Call today!