thevacuumman
Well-known member
I got my Thunderbird yesterday, it's got 70,000 miles on it
1966 Ford Thunderbird
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super-sweeper
Well-known member
beautiful!
What's its story? And what is that car behind it?
I know what car I'm looking forward to buying, it's sitting in the car-lot behind my house, calling my name!
It's a 1961 DeSoto, with 383,000 miles on it (that's a LOT considering the car was driven only 18 years!)
What's its story? And what is that car behind it?
I know what car I'm looking forward to buying, it's sitting in the car-lot behind my house, calling my name!
It's a 1961 DeSoto, with 383,000 miles on it (that's a LOT considering the car was driven only 18 years!)
suckolux
Well-known member
Is that their Tahoe Turquoise? Sequential tail light signals working?
paulg
Well-known member
Wrap-around rear seats
On the Thunderbird were oh, so elegant!
On the Thunderbird were oh, so elegant!
suckolux
Well-known member
Yes, very Cocktail lounge!
danemodsandy
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I Think....
....That is Tahoe Turquoise.
Yours is a Town Hardtop, which means its vinyl roof was a dealer-installed option; Ford didn't offer the vinyl roof from the factory on this model. The Town Hardtop had the same roofline as the Town Landau, just no vinyl roof or landau bars. There was also a base hardtop that used the old '64-'65 roofline, and a convertible.
Our next-door neighbor had a '66 Town Landau in Arcadian Blue (light blue) with the white Levant-grain vinyl roof. It was loaded to the gills, with the console-mounted 8-track player, the overhead safety/convenience control panel, everything. Gorgeous, gorgeous car.
I wanted a Town Landau sooooo bad when they were new, and for several years thereafter. Then along came the Continental Mark III....
....That is Tahoe Turquoise.
Yours is a Town Hardtop, which means its vinyl roof was a dealer-installed option; Ford didn't offer the vinyl roof from the factory on this model. The Town Hardtop had the same roofline as the Town Landau, just no vinyl roof or landau bars. There was also a base hardtop that used the old '64-'65 roofline, and a convertible.
Our next-door neighbor had a '66 Town Landau in Arcadian Blue (light blue) with the white Levant-grain vinyl roof. It was loaded to the gills, with the console-mounted 8-track player, the overhead safety/convenience control panel, everything. Gorgeous, gorgeous car.
I wanted a Town Landau sooooo bad when they were new, and for several years thereafter. Then along came the Continental Mark III....
suckolux
Well-known member
My brother had a 65, Diamond blue? base model and later in life a 66 town landau, he named it Marilyn , was registered in the T bird club, I think had the optional engine that year, I want to say 428 or 9?
cb123
Well-known member
thevacuumman!
That's a nice Saint Anthony's Cross you have proudly displayed.
That's a nice Saint Anthony's Cross you have proudly displayed.
vac-o-matic
Well-known member
Congrats!
That's a wonderful find, especially with the low miles. They just float down the highway! I do have a question about the steering wheel. Does it slide over, or pop up and to the right when you exit the car? Some friends of ours had a '62 T-Bird and I believe the slid over to the right, but when they got their '67 Cougar XR7, I believe it popped up to the right. I wasn't very old but was enanmored with both cars, and do remeber they regretted giving up the T-Bird for the Cougar. They said they lost some of the ride and more comfortable buckets, but they wanted something sportier!
That's a wonderful find, especially with the low miles. They just float down the highway! I do have a question about the steering wheel. Does it slide over, or pop up and to the right when you exit the car? Some friends of ours had a '62 T-Bird and I believe the slid over to the right, but when they got their '67 Cougar XR7, I believe it popped up to the right. I wasn't very old but was enanmored with both cars, and do remeber they regretted giving up the T-Bird for the Cougar. They said they lost some of the ride and more comfortable buckets, but they wanted something sportier!
suckolux
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slides over in Park
danemodsandy
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P.S.:
Is that a Studebaker next to the T-Bird? Looks like it could be a Scotsman wagon.
Is that a Studebaker next to the T-Bird? Looks like it could be a Scotsman wagon.
suckolux
Well-known member
and I think the swing away wheel was an option, not standard equipment.
Gr8DaneDad
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My grandparents had a '69 4 door T-bird for many years, still kick myself for not buying it from them when they got a new Lincoln Town Car in '81. My first car was a '68 Cougar XR-7 and it too had the tilt away steering wheel and the best darn AC in any car I've ever owned. Wish I had never let that one go too. The folly of youth.
rugsucker
Well-known member
66 Thunderbird
Looks great!A real color and you don't look through modern wheels and have to see brake parts.
There were 2 where I grew up.A yellow/black Landau that was kept until traded on a 73 Grand Prix and a standard blue that was finally parked until the weeds grew around it.
There was a 64 with crank windows here a year or so ago and a nice 65 Landau came to Sat night cruise in last year.The owner had it in basement for years and had even used the trunk lid as workbench.Then restored which mostly just required repaint.Looked NEW and had the slide up headrest built into passenger seat back.Also a custom(as if it wasn't already custom on the showroom floor) black 65 nearby.
A great year for a great car.And don't forget flow through ventilation,double sided key and more.
For those who want something newer there is a white/black 4 door 67 2 blocks from me.
Looks great!A real color and you don't look through modern wheels and have to see brake parts.
There were 2 where I grew up.A yellow/black Landau that was kept until traded on a 73 Grand Prix and a standard blue that was finally parked until the weeds grew around it.
There was a 64 with crank windows here a year or so ago and a nice 65 Landau came to Sat night cruise in last year.The owner had it in basement for years and had even used the trunk lid as workbench.Then restored which mostly just required repaint.Looked NEW and had the slide up headrest built into passenger seat back.Also a custom(as if it wasn't already custom on the showroom floor) black 65 nearby.
A great year for a great car.And don't forget flow through ventilation,double sided key and more.
For those who want something newer there is a white/black 4 door 67 2 blocks from me.
that is one BEAUTIFUL car!!!!!!!!!
It said, "T-BIRD" loud and proud! You could tell it was a Thunderbird and not some other car. They said something back then. American pride. Many more happy miles to you with that car.
John
It said, "T-BIRD" loud and proud! You could tell it was a Thunderbird and not some other car. They said something back then. American pride. Many more happy miles to you with that car.
John
suckolux
Well-known member
Remember, you weren't driving, you were Thunderbirding!!! First personal luxury car, which Buick answered with Riviera
thevacuumman
Well-known member
The car next to the thunderbird is a 57 Studebaker Scotsman wagon. I got the thunderbird from my old boss after asking him everyday for two years if he'd sell it. I gotta do some work to it before she's roadworthy.
thevacuumman
Well-known member
The steering wheel does slide out of the way. She's also got a 390.
suckolux
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390 was standard. I believe there was an optional engine available that year also
danemodsandy
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Scotsman:
That Scotsman wagon could NOT be more different to your new T-Bird.
The Scotsman was a special, loss-leader "stripper" model that Studebaker dealers could advertise at very low prices ($1776 for the two-door sedan), in hopes they could switch prospective buyers to something a little nicer - and more expensive - when they had them in the dealership.
The Scotsman had the smallest engine, the three-speed manual and the least amount of trim Studebaker could get away with. There was almost zero chrome on the car, except the bumpers, and every Scotsman had the same grey vinyl interior. It even had a manual choke, which was already rare in 1957. People were very attracted to the Scotsman's price, surprising Studebaker with strong sales (Eleanor Roosevelt owned one). This positive response to an economical model led Studebaker to come up with the Lark for '59.
Personally, I'd love to own a Broadmoor, the top-of-the-line Studebaker wagon of the time. Those could be optioned to the gills, and they were very nice cars indeed.
I wish you well with your T-Bird. Does it have a vinyl roof, or is it the white painted roof? Very, very pretty car.
That Scotsman wagon could NOT be more different to your new T-Bird.
The Scotsman was a special, loss-leader "stripper" model that Studebaker dealers could advertise at very low prices ($1776 for the two-door sedan), in hopes they could switch prospective buyers to something a little nicer - and more expensive - when they had them in the dealership.
The Scotsman had the smallest engine, the three-speed manual and the least amount of trim Studebaker could get away with. There was almost zero chrome on the car, except the bumpers, and every Scotsman had the same grey vinyl interior. It even had a manual choke, which was already rare in 1957. People were very attracted to the Scotsman's price, surprising Studebaker with strong sales (Eleanor Roosevelt owned one). This positive response to an economical model led Studebaker to come up with the Lark for '59.
Personally, I'd love to own a Broadmoor, the top-of-the-line Studebaker wagon of the time. Those could be optioned to the gills, and they were very nice cars indeed.
I wish you well with your T-Bird. Does it have a vinyl roof, or is it the white painted roof? Very, very pretty car.
suckolux
Well-known member
428 or 429, its been years I can't remember. My brother would. I remember 110 mph across the Golden Gate Bridge on a Sunday morning
suckolux
Well-known member
Great year and color
beerad
Well-known member
omg. a Thelma and Louise T bird!!
I love that car
Its exactly the same year and colour they used in Thelma and Louise
)
I love that car
Its exactly the same year and colour they used in Thelma and Louise
)rugsucker
Well-known member
"Eleanor Roosevelt owned one"
I've read that she also had a DeSoto convertible in the mid 50s and one of the sons imported British cars.
There was a very good Scotsman article in one of the better collector car magazines(maybe the one from Hemmings)within about the last year.
I've read that she also had a DeSoto convertible in the mid 50s and one of the sons imported British cars.
There was a very good Scotsman article in one of the better collector car magazines(maybe the one from Hemmings)within about the last year.
rugsucker
Well-known member
58 Olds
I knew a family that had a 58 88 sedan in a pinkish color.Then to show how America was before Toyota/Honda it was followed by-
64 Dynamic 88(If you've seen an automatic you might understand the need for uniform shift.)Had air conditioning.
70 98-Added power windows and seat.
73 98-also loaded.
Then we learned words such as OPEC and the above mentioned brands!
I knew a family that had a 58 88 sedan in a pinkish color.Then to show how America was before Toyota/Honda it was followed by-
64 Dynamic 88(If you've seen an automatic you might understand the need for uniform shift.)Had air conditioning.
70 98-Added power windows and seat.
73 98-also loaded.
Then we learned words such as OPEC and the above mentioned brands!
