1964 Ford Thunderbird Convertible, professional body-off mechanical restoration

1964 Ford Thunderbird Thunderbird Convertible Description

1964 Ford Thunderbird Convertible

MotoeXotica Classic Cars has another stunning 1964 Ford Thunderbird in its roost. This example was built at the Wixom, Michigan factory on May 15, 1964 and shipped to the Charlotte, North Carolina area.

A new white, power-folding top complements its Silver Mist exterior. The paint, which was recently applied and the car’s trim are in overall show-quality condition. The body was removed and the underbody was refinished in iron oxide. New nuts and bolts were used throughout. With new suspension, exhaust and new brake components, front and rear, the driveshaft, transmission and more are all in new or rebuilt condition.

The left and right wing windows are inoperable but overall, the car’s glass panels are in fine shape, including the plastic rear window. This bird’s lights are also in very condition, clear and crack-free. The car rolls on redline and whitewall tires, size 215/75R15, surrounding Kelsey-Hayes style wire wheels and all are in splendid, newer condition. The car’s body panels are straight and solid, including the new, white power-folding top. The engine bay is very tidy; the bumpers are in very good while the cargo bay and battery are in good order.

Under the hood of this bird is Ford’s Z-code 390 CID V-8 with a four-barrel carburetor and 10.1:1 compression, linked to a Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission and a 3.00:1 rear end.

Inside, the car’s red front buckets and rear seat are in near-excellent shape, while the matching red carpeting is in very good order. The red metal instrument panel, two-spoke steering wheel (Swing-Away; see next paragraph), door panel, mirror glass and center console are all in very good condition. The shift lever is in good shape and the car includes its factory AM radio.

The Swing-Away Steering Wheel was a new option introduced on the 1961 Ford Thunderbird. Priced at $25.10, it was a special steering column that moved to the right about 10.5 inches to allow for easier entry and exit for the driver, especially with a purse, briefcase, or packages in tow. On this design, the steering column itself moved and a special metal plate on the instrument panel to the right of the steering column filled the gap when the steering wheel was in the normal drive position and a color-keyed vinyl panel filled the gap on the left side of the column when it had been moved aside.

The car could be started with the steering wheel in either position, but for safety’s sake, the transmission could not be shifted out of park until the column had been moved back to normal driving position. And for the same reason, the steering wheel was securely locked in place for driving except for when the transmission shifter was in park.

Despite its popularity on the Thunderbird, this did not carry over to the other Fords and cars with this option are somewhat rare.

The revised Thunderbird was initially offered as a hardtop, convertible, Sports Roadster with dealer-installed tonneau cover and wire wheels, and Landau with vinyl roof, simulated landau irons, and wood grain interior appointments. Total 1964 sales were excellent: 92,465, up nearly 50 percent from the previous year. The 1964 Thunderbird was the only car to have the word ‘Thunderbird’ spelled out on the front hood instead of a chrome Thunderbird emblem. The only transmission available was the Cruise-O-Matic MX three-speed automatic.

Competition to this Thunderbird in 1964 included Buick’s Special Convertible, Chevrolet’s Chevelle Malibu Convertible, Dodge’s Polara 500 Convertible, Oldsmobile’s F-85 Convertible and Pontiac’s Tempest Convertible.

This car is currently located at our facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Current mileage on the odometer shows 84,014 miles. It is sold as is, where is, on a clean and clear, mileage exempt, Arizona title. GET OUT AND DRIVE!!!

VIN: 4Y85Z180017

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