1962 Ford Thunderbird Landau Sport Coupe

Description

Imported from America in 2017 and just one owner since; 300bhp 390ci V8 engine; fabulous 'Jet Age' interior; useful upgrades; advisory-free MOT; drives beautifully; a wonderful example of this exuberant slice of Sixties Americana

Launched in 1955 to compete with Chevrolet’s sensational new Corvette, the Ford Thunderbird proved a huge success and went through 11 generations of development until it was finally discontinued in 2005, although from the 5^th generation model of 1967 onwards, it completely lost its sporting looks and became just another Yank luxo-barge.

The 3rd generation model ran from 1961 – 1963 and had futuristic ‘Bullet Bird’ lines by Bill Boyer with eye-catching Jet Age styling cues. Power steering and power brakes came as standard, as did a 390ci (6.4-litre) FE-series V8 producing a smooth 300bhp and driving through the mandatory Cruise-O-Matic three-speed auto box which made it a relaxed long-distance cruiser.

Four body styles were available, but the two-door Hardtop Coupe accounted for 75% of the sales, offering great looks and snug year-round motoring that the convertible version couldn’t match.

A 1962 facelift introduced a new ‘electric shaver’ grille and the addition of a second mid-body chrome ‘character line’ that matched the existing one which ran the full length of the car atop the wings and doors, ending in raised rear fins which sat above dramatic, jet exhaust-style taillights. A Landau Sport Coupe was also introduced with wide rear C-pillars adorned with dummy S-bar ‘hinges’, a vinyl roof designed to make it look like a Convertible with a removable hardtop, and dazzling Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels.

The T’bird’s trump card was the spectacular Space Age interior with a dramatic sweep of brushed-aluminium trim that flowed around the cockpit and into the rear passenger compartment for that essential Apollo 11 look. This included a ‘flight deck’ centre console (housing the ash tray and glove box) which extended down from the dash and between the front bucket seats – a real sensation at a time when virtually all American cars still featured flat bench seats. Another striking feature was the ‘Swing-Away’ steering wheel which slid to the right when the car was in Park, allowing the driver to gracefully exit the cockpit.

No wonder the Thunderbird proved such an enormous hit – more exuberant than the somewhat spartan Corvette, it was soon outselling its Chevrolet rival by a factor of 2.3:1, around 68,000 Hardtop Coupes being sold before the more squared-off 4^th generation model appeared in 1964.

Our vendor acquired this 1962 Landau Sport Coupe from Ideal Classic Cars of Florida in May 2017 when it had 98,771 miles on the clock, the invoice showing that it cost $28,359 including five new whitewall tyres.

Finished in Rangoon Red with a matching red leather interior, it features power steering, power brakes, power windows, power seats and factory air conditioning. Completing the Sport look are Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels and fender skirts and a factory-fit chrome engine dress up kit. You can still see the dealer video for the car on YouTube if you copy and paste this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUaO5UkCjA

A rust-free Arizona car, it was shipped to England with all duties paid and flew through an MOT in August 2017 with no advisories, being registered here as a Historic Vehicle with the number 396 UYX.

A Goodwood Road Racing Club member, our vendor has used the car regularly, adding some 2,300 miles to the clock and attending the Goodwood Revival every year since 2017 (Covid excepted), the Thunderbird being latterly displayed in the GRRC’s Lavant Bank enclosure.

Throughout this time it has been fastidiously maintained by classic car specialists Thompson Garages of London, including annual servicing at MOT time, always passing with no advisories. Much money has been spent on the car to make it more suited to British roads, including a thorough overhaul of the steering, suspension and brakes to sharpen up the handling.

Expenditure of note includes: Bilstein shock absorbers all round; heavy duty front sway bar; additional rear sway bar; various new polybushes; uprated PowerMaster starter motor; new alternator;  new water pump; ethanol-friendly fuel hoses; upgrades to the wiring; LED tail lights; air con regassed plus innumerable other minor items – you get the picture, this car has been kept in tip-top running order regardless of cost.

A few useful spares are included in the sale (new set of brake shoes; original headlights; original starter motor) along with a car cover, a factory workshop manual and some detailed spec sheets for the 1961/62 model years. Although it no longer needs one, it has an MOT until March 2027 with no advisories recorded.

As you can see in the photos and the video, this Thunderbird is in great condition both above and below with a fabulous interior and a dazzling engine bay. We are told that it drives as well as it looks and it has certainly been starting instantly and running beautifully as we have moved it around on site, with a wonderful V8 burble from the twin exhausts.

An exuberant slice of Sixties Americana, it will be a fine way to cruise around during the long hot summer that lies ahead of us.   

Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 – [email protected]