This 1962 Ford M-code Thunderbird hardtop has all-original equipment and only one owner, as reported by the seller. Power is supplied by a 390cid V8 and backed by an automatic transmission.
The attached picture is a screenshot referenced from the "Vintage Thunderbird Club International, Original Factory Specifications, Volume 4, November 2002" magazine. As indicated, there were only 17 "M" code Hardtop models produced in 1962, "seventeen". That alone makes this car very rare. This car is a survivor and to my knowledge, all equipment on this car is original except items that would have been replaced due to normal wear. If the person that purchases the car desires, I still have all the parts I have had replaced. Features include a Swing-Away steering wheel; power windows, door locks, and driver’s seat; factory air conditioning; and 48-spoke Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels. Many new parts have been installed including the tires, brakes, fuel pump, fuel lines, brake booster, spark plugs, and wires. This Rangoon Red Thunderbird with a reported 58,874 original miles and a white leather interior comes with receipts, parts records, and a clear title.
My restoration efforts have all been focused on getting the car back in road worthy condition, which it is. I have not had any interior or exterior cosmetic processes performed on this car. This will allow the new owner to put their stamp on the car by performing only the work they want.
This Rangoon Red Thunderbird hardtop reportedly still wears its factory chrome and stainless trim, emblems, and handles. The original headlights, grille, and bumper can be seen at the front. The factory bumper with integrated taillights and fuel door is mounted at the rear. The seller states a cosmetic piece at the bottom of the antenna is missing and there are spots of rust at the back wheel well. There is no rust on the underside of the car.
A set of 14-inch chrome 48-spoke Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels with tri-bar center caps are wrapped in 215/75/14 whitewall tires.
The interior is furnished with original white leather front bucket seats with factory seat belts and a matching rear seat. This Thunderbird features the Swing-Away steering wheel. With the transmission in park, the steering wheel and column slide 18 inches to the right, allowing the driver to exit the cabin easily. The steering column is topped with a three-spoke white steering wheel with a chrome horn ring.
The padded dashboard is white on the bottom and contrasting gold on the top, split by ribbed trim that flows down into the center console, which houses a 120-mph speedometer, a clock, and a fuel/temperature gauge. The odometer shows 58,874, which the seller states is accurate.
The engine is an M-code version of the 390cid V8. The M-code option featured three two-barrel Holley carburetors and produced 340 horsepower. Factory chrome valve covers, a finned open-element air cleaner, and new spark plugs and wires complete the engine. Factory power brakes, air conditioning, power steering, and a mechanical radiator fan can be found under the hood.
According to the seller, it was originally purchased by the late Aurelbelle Shaffer, who was the wife of the late Raymond Shaffer, the former president of Greyhound. Aurelbelle drove this Thunderbird as her second car and always kept it parked under a carport in Scottsdale, Arizona. In 1992, the car was placed in a storage facility in Arizona and kept there until it was moved to Georgia in 2010. The car remains in a building and has only been driven very sparingly since 1973. Receipts for parts and service work will be included in the sale.
