The 1962 Ford Thunderbird Convertible was a gesture toward buyers pining for the two-seat Thunderbird in the early 1960s. A fiberglass tonneau cover, designed by Bud Kaufman, fit over the rear seat area of the normal four-seat convertible to give the appearance of a two-seater with a very long rear deck.
Twin headrests at the cover's forward edge fit over the regular front bucket seats, and were raised so as to flow back to the rear, thus avoiding a too-flat appearance. The cover was designed so as not to interfere with the convertible top's operation. Kelsey-Hayes chrome-plated wire wheels were optional, and the stock rear fender skirts were deleted to provide clearance for their knock-off centers. Its swing away steering wheel is a feature that allows the driver to enter and exit the car with ease.
Although they were offered by the factory for 1962 and 1963 only, a few tonneau covers found their way onto the restyled 1964 convertible (minus the wire wheels) at the dealer level. In all, this was a clever idea (usually attributed to Lee lacocca), but it didn't take hold, probably because the cover was cumbersome to remove or replace and the price was high.
This Thunderbird has all the features that indicate it is an authentic Roadster including the grab bar on the passenger dash, the red, white and blue logos on the front fenders and on the rear tonneau cover and Kelsey Hayes wire wheels, although we are unable to authenticate this. There were not many produced since the base cost of the car at $5,439 was only $149 less that a Cadillac Sixty-Two convertible. Distinctive good looks make the 1962 Ford Thunderbird Roadster a prime collectible among T-Birds of these years.
This rust-free example has 30,714 miles as evidenced by virtually no wear on the pedals and its clean frame. The paint, chrome and interior are all in excellent condition. It has all the options including air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, power windows, power seat and AM radio. All gauges work and this 30,000-mile beauty will cruise down the highway all day with no issues. This car spent most of its life in California until the second owner purchased it in 1992. It has covered less than 3,000 miles since that time and was recently recommissioned. A great and unique car to enjoy on beautiful days!
