School me on the 62 Thunderbird

[BXR12NT]

I've had an itch for a classic American cruiser, Mustangs and Vettes are all over the place in Australia, but at a recent car show I came across the 62 Thunderbird. I am taken by the style and looks of the car. Parts seem to be plentiful and reasonably priced. Are there any demons lurking or are they fine old lumps of iron?

[Jim Bremner]

Fine Lumps.

20 years ago I would say run! due to no one making the front end bushings but they're good to go now. All had 335 hp 390's but some got 3 dueces making a little more power. All ar Auto trans. Damn fine looking car. I dig the door handles in the beltline. The cockpit dsign of the cabime is *****en and I'm prety sure that it was the first to start that trend. I could see myself owning one.

[Jim Bremner]

[Nostril Cheese]

I'm actually bringing a 1965 T-bird back to life as we speak. The 390 is good engine, but thirsty. Even if it sat for 30 years, if it has good compression, it will run smooth all day long. You'll want to check if the heads have been rebuilt at some point with valve seats for unleaded gas.

Keep in mind that the T-bird is a cruiser. They arent hot-rods. They were built to roll in style. Low and long. They also were pretty much the top of the line Ford in America, so they came with a ton of comfort options.

Plenty of places are making the hard to find parts.

Thunderbird Headquarters Ford Thunderbird Parts

Bird Nest 1958-66 Ford Thunderbird Parts

[BXR12NT]

Thanks Jim, and Cheese, definitely going to have a look now, want the car for a weekend cruiser, not expecting a hot rod. Car club runs will be its bread and butter, most of the other members have old British cars so I want something to stir them up. A friend wants me to come on cruises with him, I can swap with his E type when we are on the road.

[Seahawk]

What should/does this vintage of T-Bird cost, driver type convertible?

I've one an obligatory search but wondering where the mean is.

Thanks.

[ledhedsymbols]

I had a 62 T-Bird coupe right after high school. Sold it shortly after i joined the navy. Without a doubt my worst car decision ever. Loved the swing away steering wheel and the way the trim ran from the front bumper to the rear with those big afterburner tail-lights! Great car! Pretty easy to work on except for the transmission linkage was a bit dodgy on mine. Of course... I was 20, I'm sure it would be easier to work on now.

[jwgn777]

I have never owned one but i worked on them with my dad at his business when i was young. And latter on got a chance to drive one. Easy to work on and a nice cruising car.

[pavulon]

heavy, groovy cars w/ crummy brakes. My mom crashed one hard when I was about 4...my first and biggest (yet) wreck.

Whenever I see one, I think of the Chrysler turbines...still exotic today!!

[Jim Bremner]

Good convertables should be in the mid $20's there was a roadster version that had a fiberglass cover that you could put over the rear seat that was pretty sporty that will up the cost due to only 300 or so made.

My dad was on a guys race team that raced winston west cars back bafore it was nascar. They built a 61 Tbird into a racecar around '73? It ran Riverside and Ontario and once it got banged up it went to Mesa Marin and at the end it ran Ascot. If I remember right the Tbird set fast time of the day at Riverside on a practice day with all types of cars out. The firewall was made to clooect air at speed and force it into the carb. Dad also wrenched on a '61 Starliner. thats's a car that collectors want now a days.

[johnco]

my 64. it was fun at first. now it's just taking up space for other projects

[Rot 911]

I love all of these old cars. But what keeps me from buying any of them is the cost of gas. None of the V8's from the 60's ever gave you more than 12-14 mpg around town and not much more than 18mpg on the highway. Didn't matter when gas was 25 cents a gallon. Sure does when it costs you $3.50 a gallon.

[ledhedsymbols]

Also, same body style from 61 to 63. Minor trim differences, and I think the swing away steering wheel may have been an option only in 61 and standard in 62 and 63. To use it, you pushed the gear selector up into park, and slide the whole column to the right. There is no other way to put the transmission in park.

[Nostril Cheese]

The 65 im working on has the swing away column as well. Neat feature.

[Adam]

Beautiful cars! I regret selling my '60 Tbird. Not as boat-like as you'd expect.





It sure turned heads, driving it around in Melbourne.

[strupgolf]

Adam, that 60 Tbird is one great looking car, just the right color combination. I had a 1961 White coupe, 390 back in the 80's. I loved it for the ride and it looked great with those lines. Rode like a yaught.