Vehicle Description
1967 Ford Thunderbird
The car took on many guises over half a century, with "Baby Birds"
(1955-57), "Square Birds" (1958-60), "Bullet Birds" (1961-63), and
even "Super Birds" (1989-97). Among the least appreciated
Thunderbird generations is the 1966-71 car, affectionately, (or
maybe sarcastically), referred to as the "Glamour Bird."
For consignment something not oft seen, possibly due to its
obscurity in the lineup of Bird designs. That and the survival rate
of these cars is low due to rust issues. This example is in
original condition, nicely preserved with sequential taillights,
hidden headlights that actually un hide, disc brakes for the front,
and suicide rear doors sharing a common B pillar.
Exterior
For the front grille design think largemouth bass with its wide
mouth egg crate grille with hidden headlights covered in the egg
crate to create the illusion that there are no headlights. A curved
upward on the edge bumper below is nice and shiny, and the curved
down on the edges hood meet at the front quarter panel beginnings.
A long sleek T bird badge is in the center. All straight steel
panels are bathed in factory Medium Palomino Metallic. There are
nice trimmings around the glass and a stainless rocker graces the
line from the front bumper and stretches the length of the car. On
top is a Cayman grain vinyl top in black and it sports landau bars
on the rear pillars. This 4-door version has suicide doors for the
rear openings. A nice slowly curing downward rear deck meets up
with a horizontal rear deck panel that houses sequential
taillights, emulating the front with the wide mouth design. Turbine
style wheel coverings have faux knockoff hubs and thin whitewalls
on all 4 corners of this neat design car.
Interior
The T Birds of yore are famous for utilizing a band of brushed or
machined aluminum that starts on the door panels and runs through
the dash, and this car uses a satin finished brushed aluminum which
runs through the doors with black vinyl uppers and armrest, and a
band of black carpeting below. Inside a seamless console races
through the back vinyl buckets in low back form. These chairs have
tuck and roll in seats and smooth bolsters. For the console more
brushed aluminum and black molded plastic as it rises to the dash.
The dash has 4 deep inset round gauges lining up along the driver's
side then some futuristic temp/wiper washer sliders. In back is a
rounded similarly styled rear bench with a central armrest. All
seats are excellent and original, as the slide to the side steering
wheel and column are all original. Nice black carpeting for the
floors, and a textured black vinyl headliner is tight above. Also,
the landau bars make a cameo appearance framing the rear courtesy
lights in back above the rear bench.
Drivetrain
Under the hood is a wonderfully preserved and highly detailed 390ci
V8. It sports a blue block and blue valve coverings. There is a
650cfm Holley 4 barrel on top, which is not original but certainly
gives it wings! On the back a C6 3-speed automatic transmission to
float you down the highway, and a Ford 9-inch 3.00 gear rear axle
saves you gas while floating.
Undercarriage
Some invasive rust has taken over the secondary mufflers in the way
back of this car, although the remainder of the H pipe exhaust is
surface rusted but no holes, as are the primary mufflers. Matte
black undercoating is in overall good condition for the floor pans
and rockers. Some light surface rust is on the very edge of the
rockers. Independent coil sprung front suspension, and a 4 link
with coil springs on the back, power disc brakes for thew format
and drums for the rear.
Drive-Ability
A quick starter and smooth acceleration took me to the test track.
Here it performed well with all working functions, good handling
and bias free panic stopping. All original for sure.
A fine example of this iteration of the bird, most all original,
and a classic bird of a different feather. Come see it in our
hallowed halls before it gets snapped up. An HOPF award winner @
Hershey in 2019.
VIN DECODE
7Y84Z153963
7-1967
Y-Wixom, MI Assy Plant
84-4 Door Sedan Vinyl Top
Z-390ci V8 4bbl 315hp
153963-Sequential Unit Number
WARRANTY TAG
BODY 57B-Thunderbird Sedan
COLOR P-Medium Palomino Metallic
TRIM 2B-Black Vinyl
DATE 21B-February 21st
DSO 15-Newark
AXLE 9R1-Ford 9" 3.00 Conventional
TRANS U-C6 3 Speed Automatic