1966 Ford Thunderbird Convertible Convertible 428 V8 Automatic Classic Vintage C

Description

Mid-60s Thunderbirds, particularly convertibles like this 1966 model, are seeing some recent gains in the market, and this is a great car for cruising and casual shows. With a cool period color, all the luxury and comfort options, and a smooth 428, it delivers personal luxury unlike anything else of the era. Drawing on both the original Ford "Retractable" hardtops and the Lincoln Continental 4-door convertibles, this big 'Bird is the epitome of Ford's high-end products in... 1966. The restoration was finished years ago, but this car still owns eyeballs everywhere it goes. Wearing bright turquoise paint, it looks a mile long yet incomparably sleek. Workmanship is quite good throughout and with that much sheetmetal, there are plenty of places for things to go wrong. Fortunately the guys in charge of the restoration didn't miss a thing. Note how well the doors line up with the quarters, the deep shine, and the total absence of waves that would suggest significant bodywork underneath. Trim is surprisingly restrained on this lovely Thunderbird, but details like the fender-mounted turn signal indicators, faux hood scoop, and the finely detailed grille are in excellent shape. And yes, the sequential turn signals are fully functional. The interior features new Italian leather upholstery, and combined with just a few woodgrained accents and stainless trim, it makes this feel like an adult's car in every way. The bucket seats offer gorgeous upholstery with a wonderful combination of pleats and quilted seating surfaces, and the rear seat with its wrap-around look is perhaps even more inviting. A ribbon-style speedometer and small round pods for the auxiliary gauges are an incredible piece of design, as is the swing-away steering wheel that really makes a difference in ease of entry. Check out the little tricks like the original clock replaced with a digital piece and a newer AM/FM stereo head unit. The insanely complex top mechanism on these cars is a ballet of electro-mechanical automation, although this one has been upgraded with linear actuators in place of the original hydraulic rams, so it's more reliable. Most importantly, it works properly with zero issues and the black convertible top fits well. The trunk is also correctly finished with gray mats and plenty of space (provided you keep the top up). Ford's 428 cubic inch Q-code V8 was optional equipment in the 1966 Thunderbird and makes the kind of leisurely torque you need in a luxury machine like this. Fully rebuilt about 5000 miles ago, it has a few upgrades such as an Edelbrock carburetor, HEI distributor, and a giant aluminum radiator to keep things cool. There's also plenty of Ford Blue paint and an open-element air cleaner proudly advertising the big block underneath. This big 'Bird uses a C6 3-speed automatic transmission linked to 3.00 gears in the 9-inch rear, so it just loafs along at highway speeds without breaking a sweat. A new dual exhaust system gives it a burbly V8 rumble that's got a bit of muscle car DNA in it, and with disc brakes becoming standard equipment in 1965, it's a fine road car in every sense of the word. Right-sized 215/75/15 whitewall/redline radials look great on those vintage Cragar mags. '60s convertibles like this are red hot right now, so don't delay and get this awesome Thunderbird into your garage. Call now!