![]() ![]() This Car has had the engine pulled and has been painted as well as having new belts and hoses, the motor runs great and has been gone through and is in top notch shape, the heads have been redone and a compression test was done with all cylinders testing even across the board! This car is finished in the Chalfonte Blue with the Turquoise interior and is powered by a 390Cui V8 paired with a Cruise-O-Matic 3 speed automatic gearbox. ![]() Only 5,913 convertibles and 455 Sports Roadsters sold, indicating a decline in convertible popularity at the time.This 1963 Thunderbird is the last year of the third generation body style which featured much sleeker styling then the second generation but a more smooth and rounded look than the 4th. ![]() This Corinthian White car, with a white leather interior was personalized with a plaque displaying the owner's name and the car's limited production number, was limited to and sold only 2,000 units. In addition a Limited Edition "Principality of Monaco" Landau model was introduced. Landaus added simulated wood grain trim to go along with the landau top. The Landau became the second most important model after the standard hardtop, at 12,193 sold. Some additions to the option list included vacuum assisted door locks and an AM/FM radio an AM radio and a remote driver's side mirror became standard. This was the beginning of the 1960s/1970s fashion for vinyl roof treatments, and a vinyl roof was a popular Thunderbird feature for the next 20 years.Ĭhanges for 1963 were relatively mild. The engine option was quietly discontinued halfway through the mid 1963 production run.Īlso introduced in 1962 was the Landau model, with a vinyl roof and simulated S-bars on the rear pillars. This engine boasted 345 hp (257 kW) but was considered a moderate failure. This engine used 406 heads as well as the same carburetors that were found on the high performance 406 powered Ford Galaxie but with a modified version of the intake manifold to allow for proper air flow under the engine. The problem was quickly corrected when Elvis Presley was involved in an accident in which one of the Kelsey-Hayes wheels collapsed during hard turning.Īnother addition for 1962 was a special engine code (VIN engine code M) which added a "tripower" or three two barrel setup to a higher compression version of the 390 engine. Early models suffered from problems related to their specially-designed wire wheels. 1,427 Sports Roadsters were produced in 1962, including 120 models with the special M Code option noted below. ![]() The most striking addition to the Sports Roadster was a fiberglass tonneau cover which covered the back seat of the car and created a two seater appearance. The Sports Roadster was a limited production version of the convertible which added 48 spoke Kelsey-Hayes designed wire wheels, special badges to the front fenders and a passenger side grab bar to the front dashboard. Several standard features, like power steering and power brakes, back up lights and bucket seats were costly options on most other autos.ġ962 saw strong production figures of 78,011 (including 9,884 convertibles) and the introduction of the Thunderbird Sports Roadster. Depending on variable options Thunderbirds for 1961 could be purchased with options like air conditioning, power windows, power seats, AM radio, fender skirts and white wall tires. Common on all autos produced today, this feature was first found on 1961 Thunderbirds. Other innovations include a floating rear view mirror. With the transmission in the park position the steering wheel would slide approximately 18 inches (460 mm) to the right allowing the driver to exit the vehicle easily. The most distinctive feature of the 1961 to 1963 Thunderbirds was the highly touted 'Swing Away' steering wheel. The Thunderbird for 1961 introduced several firsts for the automotive market. Kennedy's inaugural parade, probably aided by the appointment of Ford executive Robert McNamara as Secretary of Defense. The Thunderbird was 1961's Indianapolis 500 pace car, and featured prominently in US President John F. A new, larger 390 cu in (6.4 L) FE-series V8 was the only engine available (in 1961). Sales were strong, if not quite up to record-breaking 1960, at 73,051 including 10,516 convertibles. It featured new and much sleeker styling than the second generation models. The third generation of the Ford Thunderbird is a large personal luxury car that was produced by Ford for the 1961 to 1963 model years. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |