Vehicle Description
Real code 76B/89 Sport Roadster. Largely original with one older
repaint. Rebuilt 390 cubic inch V8 that runs great. Top works
properly and is in good condition. Original red leather interior.
Real-deal Sport Roadster for a reasonable price!Fake Sport
Roadsters are common and garden-variety Thunderbirds wearing
aftermarket tonneaus and replica wire wheels are frequently on the
market. But if you're a purist who insists on the real deal, this
car gets it right. Finished in correct code J Rangoon Red, which
was the single most popular color on the Sport Roadsters for good
reason, it looks every bit like the expensive luxury car that it
was in 1963. This one wears an older repaint that looks presentable
but is no longer show quality with a few touch-ups here and there
plus the usual signs of age. Not that it doesn't look great, but
please keep in mind that this is not a show car. The doors fit well
and the giant rear deck lid snugs down flush, which isn't easy to
do given the complexity of the convertible top mechanism. The '63s
received a little more detail on the doors, including the three
sets of hash marks, so they're easy to spot, but the overall look
of the Bullet Bird remains 100% intact. This is a great looking car
from any angle.The interior was little changed on the Sport
Roadster aside from the passenger-side grab handle, but when
something looks this stylish, it really doesn't need much
improving. Red leather was a popular choice and looks appealing
against the bright red paintwork, and like the rest of the car, it
shows some age but we're not sure replacing the original upholstery
would be the right choice. Big, round gauges are in their own
chrome housings and everything works including the clock and
relatively unusual AM/FM radio. Other options include power windows
(the driver's window requires some finesse on the switch to operate
correctly), windshield washer, seat belts, and a remote driver's
mirror. It currently shows 72,398 miles, and we believe that to be
an authentic reading. And to answer your other critical question,
yes, the top runs itself up and down properly, a mechanical
symphony that makes onlookers stop and gawk. Leave the top up and
you also have a good-sized trunk, although top down there's not
much space for gear-the price we pay for fashion!The Sport
Roadster's standard Z-code 390 cubic inch V8 makes 300 horsepower
and has been recently rebuilt so it runs great. Gold tinwork makes
a statement under the hood and it remains quite correct throughout,
right down to an original washer fluid bag. Power steering and
brakes were standard equipment (can you imagine wheeling something
this big around town without power steering?) and it is effortless
to drive. It starts easily with a turn of the key and idles well
even when it's cold, all thanks to some careful tuning to get
things just right. The big V8 just loafs along at highway speeds
and feels plenty punchy around town, although this isn't a car
designed for drag racing. There's a pleasing V8 burble from the
twin tailpipes out back but it never gets too aggressive, which
wouldn't be fitting. The only transmission available in the
Thunderbird was a 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic, which works
rather well behind the torquey 390. The undercarriage is original
and a bit scruffy, but the floors are in good order and it doesn't
look like a car that has spent much time out in the elements. The
suspension is supple and luxurious, with air shocks out back to
help with attitude control, and the power drum brakes are more than
adequate for the car's performance. Out back, there's a 9-inch rear
end with 3.00 gears inside, making this a fantastic highway cruiser
that feels like a one-car parade everywhere you go. And, of course,
the Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels are just gorgeous and are
fitted with 225/75/14 whitewall radials.An attainable example of an
automaker's attempt to improve an already excellent product, the
Sport Roadster lives at the top of the Thunderbird hierarchy. This
nicely preserved example isn't a perfect car and could use a little
TLC, but it can easily be used as-is without any excuses and you
can add value as you enjoy it. Call today!Harwood Motors always
recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any
vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
