1966 Ford Thunderbird

1966 Ford Thunderbird Convertible

For consignment, and looking more like a high-priced Lincoln than a working man\'s Ford, the fourth generation Thunderbird reimagined the brand\'s familiar bullet profile with heavy style lines and intricate trim. This car comes with a slew of manuals, the correct chrome wire wheels as extras, and even has an electrical bypass hidden in the interior should the top stop working. This 67,102 title verified actual mile example comes to our Hallowed Halls from the 4th owner and remains all original with the exception of a repaint that was done in the correct color as an enamel finish. Let\'s explore some top down motoring in Ford\'s larger than life \"personal luxury car\"

Exterior
Resprayed in its original Candy Apple Red paint code T, and wearing a white canvas convertible roof, this car is in good condition with only minor chips and dents along with a few areas of hazing and dullness. Watching the top mechanism raise and lower is similar to watching a ballet, with the trunk performing it\'s reverse opening and the entire top and its framing gracefully tucking down into the trunk, very much akin to the Ford retractable hardtops of the late 1950\'s. When the top is down we get a full view of the very rarely seen roadster tonneau that can easily be removed for access to the rear seats. At the front of the car, a \'66-exclusive egg crate grille flows seamlessly into a blade style bumper, which centers petite parking lamps beneath ribbed bezel \'eyebrow\' headlights that intentionally recall the earlier \'Square Bird\'. Above that grille, a correct, badgeless hood centers a tasteful scoop between classy turn indicators and stainless-trimmed glass that\'s capped by the convertible roof. And at the back of those quarters, a wrap-around bumper holds sequential tail lights that flank a centrally mounted reverse light with a Thunderbird emblem. Standard T bird turbine style hubcaps cover steel wheels and are wrapped in thin whitewall 225/75R15 rubber and the correct chrome wire wheels are included with your purchase. Brite work and bumpers as well as badging, appear in nice condition.

Interior
Black as was the original, and indeed remains original for the crinkle vinyl buckets in front and a rear bench in back, with a fold down armrest. A jet age inspired center console swoops past the buckets, offers a center glovebox and the standard 1960\'s cigarette setup, then turns to a chrome and black textured covering that houses the window controls. As it moves forward it climbs to the dash it houses the temperature controls and factory AM/FM radio. Up to the top of the dash where it turns to vinyl, here are the futuristic wiper and air vent sliding toggles. These are reminiscent of the very same toggles used on the Starship Enterprise when it jumps to warp speed! The ultra-modern speedometer has numbers in squares, and a bar that rolls right as you gain speed. LOOK MA no needle indicator! This is fronted by 4 ball in cup stainless gauges, and the original tilt away steering wheel. Very clean black carpeting is flooding the floors and to the outsides are molded door panels finished in black vinyl with swooping arm rest, deeply ribbed vertical inserts and plush carpeting on the lowers.

Drivetrain
Standard fare for the 1966 Bird was the rock solid 390ci V8 producing 315hp. Attached to the back of this venerable mill is a 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic transmission. A 3.00:1 ratio Ford 9\" conventional differential is noted. The engine has a Ford blue painted air cleaner cover, valve covers as well as the block. Looking mostly original and cosmetically restored, this engine bay has been well detailed and even the new hood insulation is up to snuff.

Undercarriage
Surface rust is present on the unibody and suspension parts but only in areas that have not been painted or had the undercoating flake off. Factory undercoating is present on the floors and has done a fine job of keeping things solid. Newer dual exhaust is showing the whole way back and new mufflers are at the end of the system. A newer fuel tank is noted at the rear of the car and power disc brakes are on the front and power drums bring up the rear and independent coil spring suspension is on the front and leaf springs provide the ride on the rear. All buttoned up and looking good down here.

Drivability
I slipped behind the swing away column, I think Ford designed this for us rotund gentlemen, and twisted the key. It idled smoothly and went into gear and gave me a nice cruise. Out on the test track it ran and accelerated, handled nicely and exhibited bias free braking. Allwas good on my drive and I came from the test track with a smile on myface with the only frown being the right rear window not going up or down.

A respray in the factory color and retaining the original interior this car is one to be had. A smooth runner and the last year of the \"Flair Bird\" it t

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