1965 Ford Thunderbird in Manitowoc, Wisconsin

Vehicle Description

Reduced! All vehicle trades considered, including classics and performance. I can assist with financing and transport as needed.

The Ford Thunderbird has been through many different designs since its introduction in 1955, but the fourth generation convertible (1964-66) is my favorite. Not because of "Thelma and Louise", but rather because the car combines a roomy interior with a clean, sleek look without a bunch of silly design gimmicks, excessive chrome, or other such trends of the era. Throw in the slick convertible top operation and sequential taillights and you've got something to talk about.

This 1965 convertible has a gorgeous look with its original color scheme: Q-code Brittany Blue exterior, white top, and G2-code white-and-blue interior. The car has an especially great look with the top down; there is no soft boot like other convertibles, just a smooth hard surface. The body is solid and rust-free, with just one small patch under the driver seat floor. The car has seen one repaint and the top has been recently replaced. The Goodyear Polyglas G78-15 white line tires are a nice touch along with the original Thunderbird wheel covers.

The 390 cubic inch motor and 4100 4-barrel carburetor have been rebuilt. While the car is a hefty 4,700 pounds, this 300 hp setup moves it along nicely (though you won't win many drag races). The Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission and 3.00:1 rear gears make for nice cruising, while the power steering and power front disc brakes keep this Thunderbird easy to drive. It also has new upper and lower ball joints.

The white and blue interior is such a great complement to the car; I think the colors look perfect together. The seats are in nice condition without any rips, and the driver seat has a power adjuster. Note the Swing-Away steering column and unique rear seat with center armrest. All the ribbon style gauges and speedometer function properly, as do the wipers, radio, horn, heater/defroster, power windows, dash lights, courtesy lights, backup lights, and parking brake. Even the seat belt indicator is functional.

And of course there is the power top with its unique operation. This works great in both directions and is really neat to watch (though it makes the trunk a bit less practical). Also present and functional are the fender turn signal indicators and rear sequential signals.

This is a nice example of a classic Thunderbird convertible. It has had a lot of recent work to keep it driving and looking good, while all the unique aspects of the model are present and functional. Just get used to people asking to see the top do its thing.