The story of the Ford Thunderbird begins when Chevrolet launched the Corvette in 1953. I think that created some panic at Ford headquarters as Ford and Chevrolet have been intense rivals since Hector was a pup.
I additionally suspect that the Corvette was a shock to Ford, and the constructive suggestions the Corvette obtained was sturdy motivation for Ford to create the primary Thunderbird in 1955. The shocking outcome was not a real Corvette competitor, however a brand new automobile class for the U.S. market.
The primary era of Thunderbird was a two-seater constructed from 1955 to 1957. In contrast to the Corvette it was extra of a private luxurious automotive than a sports activities automotive. The second era for Thunderbird from 1958 to 1960 was a four-seater hardtop and convertible typically known as the primary of the Massive Birds.
The third era was from 1961 to 1963 and is our topic at the moment. It’s also a four-seater with sleeker styling, extra curves and rounded aspect panels. With the brand new styling got here some new options, most notably the “swing-away” steering wheel. When the transmission was within the park place, the steering wheel would swing away about 18 inches to the suitable to let the motive force exit the automobile simply. Including to the joy, it was the Indianapolis 500 tempo automotive for 1961.
This was a luxurious mannequin, so it included or had accessible the tools related to pleasure automobiles of the time like energy steering, energy brakes, energy home windows, air con, an AM-FM radio, fender skirts and whitewall tires.
This third era of Thunderbird was the very best vendor by far, promoting 214,375 models over the three-year mannequin yr interval. A 390-cubic-inch V8 rated at 300 horsepower was its customary engine. Two transmissions have been supplied, a guide or three-speed computerized Cruise-o-Matic. The listing worth for a 1963 Thunderbird was $5,563 or about $56,780 at the moment.
This situation’s featured automobile is a third-generation 1963 Ford Thunderbird owned by Mike and Rita Press, of El Cerrito. The couple paid $3,000 for it in 1989, shopping for the automotive from a personal occasion in Alameda.
“The unique proprietor did a superb job by way of sustaining the automotive, nevertheless it wasn’t garaged. It was black-on-black with duct tape on the motive force’s seat,” Mike mentioned. “It was all there, however every thing there wanted work. After we first obtained the automotive, I did a few of the minor stuff with the engine to ensure it was working correctly.
“Then I began prepping the physique for repaint. One aspect of the automotive and the rear had been hit. We took it to George Fichtner’s Auto Perfectionists in Fairfield, who had painted a earlier automotive for us. He completed the bodywork on it.
“Due to the harm, he took off the factory-side moldings, stuffed within the holes the place the trim was, and body-puttied over them. He painted the automotive inside and outside for $4,000.”
That’s not the top of the story, although. Mike associated what occurred in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“About two years in the past in the midst of the evening, we heard a bang like somebody shot a large-caliber pistol. The battery had exploded. It blew acid everywhere in the engine compartment, each exterior fenders, the grill, the hood and the bumper.”
Due to the age of the paint on this 1963 Thunderbird and the legal guidelines involving paint in California, it was unimaginable for Fichtner (or anybody else) to match the automotive’s end. The Hagerty Insurance coverage Co., which makes a speciality of basic automotive insurance coverage, agreed that the paint couldn’t be matched and paid $27,000 for the entire automotive to be repainted once more.
So now Mike and Rita Press, who’ve solely invested about $7,000 out-of-pocket since shopping for this 61-year-old automotive, personal an award-winning basic 1963 Thunderbird with a $27,000 paint job.
Through the pandemic getting the supplies essential to restore the Thunderbird was very tough. Getting the automotive repaired, repainted and again on the highway took virtually two years. The Presses love their 66,000-mile T-bird, and it’s received most each automotive present it’s entered since completion. The automotive’s estimated worth is at present about $35,000, however the couple has no plan to promote it — the love affair is simply too sturdy.
Have an attention-grabbing automobile? E mail Dave at [email protected]. To learn extra of his columns or see extra images of this and different points’ automobiles, go to mercurynews.com/writer/david-krumboltz.
