Vehicle Description
1961 Ford Thunderbird Coupe
The Jet Age is in full swing, the country is riding high on
Beatlemania, towering beehive hair doo's, fur boots, and getting to
the moon before the end of the decade. To mirror these times Ford
motor company put elements of design into the Thunderbird for
1961.
A Jet Age front, thruster rear tail light configuration, all in
sophisticated Corinthian White attire. This hard topped cruiser is
perfect for a boulevard drive that will certainly turn heads. This
one remains true to form, well maintained and mostly original
looking. A repaint, rebuilt transmission, new suspension parts and
brake system, turn the key and drive away in your like new "bullet
bird".
Exterior
Borrowing its nickname literally by imitating a bullet with its
exterior styling, this beauty has a Corinthian White respray. Fit
and finish are good with nice aligned gaps, and panels are straight
and not rusted or dented. Fender skirts and the thruster shaped
rear taillights create what is my personal favorite bird shape. The
dual headlights and bullet front end also help with this classic
looker. Chrome is not perfect but still shiny and just slightly
aged. Badging is all correct and window trimmings are nice and
shiny with excellent clear glass all around. Wire wheels are on
with a bird badged hub in the center. Surrounds for taillights are
showing some aged chrome and have dulled.
Interior
Literally surrounded by horizontal ribbed gold anodized aluminum
trim which completely encircles the mid-section of the interior of
this bird. Above is a tan painted sill with thin chrome edging,
shiny chromed cranks and a metal white painted lower trimmed with
vertical chromed ribs. This swoop styling runs right down into a
center console/glove compartment. Seats are newly fitted with white
leather, tuck and roll centers, and padding is excellent. Brown
padded vinyl makes up the curved dash which is above the swooping
ribbed aluminum. This dash top has a tan carpet on top of it which
we did not remove to see if any damage exists under it. Circular
midcentury modern inspired gauges are all functioning, as are the
futuristic styled chromed pulls. Carpet is golden nice, and this
car has an AM radio. Let's make this a rarer bullet and obsess over
the fact this car does not have the tilt away steering column.
Drivetrain
A 300hp 390ci V8 sits in a clean engine bay. It has been rebuilt
but is correct for this car. Spinning right behind this mill is a
correct rebuilt 3-speed automatic Cruise-O-Matic transmission with
a Ford 9-inch 3.00 rear. A single 4-barrel carburetor feeds the 390
fossils and air which can produce a nice steady 300HP's
Undercarriage
All completely restored to perfection brown coating and black
framing with no road dirt and no rust underneath, looking showroom,
and structurally sound. Near perfect dual exhaust works its way to
the rear, past independent coil spring front suspension, and leaf
spring rear suspension. Power drum brakes are all around. A new
fuel tank has also been put on, and the brakes are new as well as
the tires.
Drive-Ability
After talking about the wonderful design all in, I finally hopped
in and felt like I was right back in 1961, ready to go to the
office. As I pet the company dog, kissed my company secretary...uhh
crack decoder and I headed to the city. This car started right up,
took a bit to warm up, but once it did all I can say is there are
not enough oooh's in smoooooooth for this ride. A real cruiser,
even the radio works great. Good acceleration and easy steering, it
has a covered steering wheel for extra grip.
A boulevard cruiser that was described as a "fur coat for dad" by
the Ford Ad Men. It is a beauty with its Jet Age styling interior
and exterior, built in a time when cars were cars. Fully
functioning, beautifully maintained and restored with plenty of new
parts, all enjoyed as well during this 3rd owners time with it.
Please fasten your seatbelts, and make sure your tray tables are in
the upright position. Your stewardess will be around shortly so
serve cocktails.
VIN DECODE
1Y71Z125141
1-1961
Y-Wixom, MI Assy Plant
71-Thunderbird Hardtop
Z-390ci V8 4bbl 300hp
125141-Sequential Unit Number
WARRANTY TAG
BODY 63A-Thunderbird Hardtop
COLOR M-Corinthian White
TRIM 54-White Vinyl
DATE 30A-January 30th
TRANS 4-Cruise-O-Matic
AXLE 6-Ford 9" 3.00 Conventional
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.