VERY NICE T-BIRD IN FACTORY COLORS! SMOOTH 390 V8, A/C, PWR STEER & PWR FR DISCS

1965 Ford Thunderbird Description

If you like the look of the mid-60s luxury cars, this 1965 Ford Thunderbird hardtop is probably the Thunderbird you want. With disc brakes becoming standard equipment, along with the famous sequential taillights, it gets extra points for both style and substance. Add in a flashy color combination, lots of options, and impeccable road manners and it's a great hobby car that's a pleasure to drive.It's easy to make out the color code on the original door tag, code JM, which means Rangoon Red with a white painted hardtop (no, it's not white vinyl, that was for the Landau). The T-Bird was restyled for 1964, so changes for '65 were purely detail-oriented, and it retained its upscale look. With a paint job that was refinished a few years ago, this appealing 'Bird still looks pretty good, offering a decent shine, the right amount of gloss, and a few appropriate signs of use that don't diminish the overall look. Take a moment to note how the character line that starts at the grille, wraps around the headlights, then streaks back to the quarter panel where it takes on a bit of a fin look is mirrored by a similar line along the rocker panel. Cool, right? Fender skirts help with the illusion and good gaps all around help with the luxurious, upscale image that Ford was trying to cultivate with the T-Bird in 1965. There's still plenty of chrome, with a fine mesh grille that merges seamlessly into the bumpers, and out back those sequential taillights are framed by the chrome bumper itself for a very clean look. Personal luxury really meant something in 1965, as the tasteful bucket seat interior offers plenty of eye candy for both driver and passengers. The red power bucket seats are in good shape, mirroring the Rangoon Red bodywork and while you might think it would be red overload, it's actually beautifully done, a tribute to Ford's stylists. A center console was standard equipment, and it includes controls for the power windows and A/C system, as well as a slickly styled armrest. The gauges are outrageously different, with a ribbon-style speedometer across the top and four individual round pods like eyeballs for the secondary gauges. There is, of course, a swing-away steering wheel which was standard equipment, and aircraft-like controls for the heater, defroster, and windshield wipers. An AM/FM radio is original and has a white face that fits in beautifully with the overall look, and it, too, operates correctly. The trunk is, of course, massive and includes a correct mat set (there are like a dozen pieces) plus a full-sized spare up on its own shelf.The Z-code 390 cubic inch V8 provides the kind of big block torque you need for a heavy cruiser like this. Looking pretty original but wearing a gold air cleaner and valve covers, it runs even better than it looks. There are no major modifications, but the factory spec is pretty good, with a 4-barrel carburetor and all the power options, including power steering and power front disc brakes. Cast iron exhaust manifolds feed a nice, mellow dual exhaust system that's sporting but never obnoxious. Underneath, you'll find a 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission and heavy-duty 9-inch rear end with 3.00 gears inside, making this car ideal for long road trips. The steel wheels are fitted with wire spoke hubcaps that feature faux knock-off centers and there are 215/75/15 whitewall radials at all four corners.Thunderbirds have always represented style, but this one also represents value with its full-sized luxury ride and nice documentation. Call today!