Ford : Thunderbird Convertible

OVERVIEW:
This is one of 10. 61 1959 Ford Thunderbird Convertibles built.
It was built at the Wixom. Michigan plant and retains its original factory build sheet dated May 27. 1959. These birds weighed in at 3. 13 lbs. and ride on a 113” wheelbase.
This one is equipped with its original Thunderbird 352 ci. Special V8 rated at 300 hp. . with 4 bbl. carb and Cruise-O-Matic transmission.

Included on this car are power steering. power windows and driver seat. AM push button radio. and wire wheels with knock-off spinners.
The door pillar data tag provides the following info:
Body 76A. Color J. Trim 1X. Date 27E. Trans 4. Axle 1.
Serial # H9YJ146130.
Odometer reading 93. 00 original miles.

The owner acquired the car in 2000 from the then president of the Calgary Thunderbird Club as a project to be completed. He stored the car until 2004 and then started restoration which was completed in 2005.
It has only been driven approximately 2. 00 miles since.

The cosmetic restoration process included stripping the body exterior to bare metal and gutting the interior. and professional rebuild of engine and mechanical components as required.
The owner elected to do a color change from the original blue to red.

Shortly after completion. the car was shown at a local car show hosted by a Calgary Ford dealership. where it won Best of Class honors.
This is an eye catching ragtop and is a definite head turner where ever it goes.

DRIVETRAIN:
The 352 ci. Thunderbird Special V8 engine is factory rated at 300 horsepower. was professionally rebuilt. and has ran about 2. 00 miles since.
Equipped with 4 bbl. carburetor. standard ignition. and mechanical fuel pump. the engine runs smooth and strong with no smoke or irregular sounds.

All components under the hood. including belts. hoses. and cables. appear as either new or rebuilt. and in good roadworthy condition.
Exhaust manifolds seem in good condition.
The radiator was recored in 2015 at a cost of $600.

The owner elected to chrome a few items under the hood. These include the air cleaner. valve covers. fan and pulley. and the heater fan housing and plenum.
Overall the engine compartment presents itself as quite clean.

The transmission is the factory 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic. equipped with a transmission cooler.
With a 3. 10:1 rear axle ratio. this car can cruise at highway speeds no problem.
Overall there are no serious leaks evident on the underside. just the usual minor ‘sweat' drips that one finds on any driven vehicle.

CHASSIS:
This T-Bird rides on a 113” wheelbase. and is 205” in total length.
The unibody undercarriage is essentially original and unrestored. It shows the road dirt and surface rust of its age and miles.
Overall the short sub-frame rails and floor pans appear solid. but the front sub rails are dented. as is the spare tire well.

There was some rust out at the bottom edges of the drop down panels from the trunk where they meet the bottom edge of the rear quarters. behind the rear wheels. which has been trimmed off. There is also some rust out in the stone shield panel directly behind the rear wheels.

Everything looks to be as originally equipped.
The car has dual exhaust with pipes and mufflers in good condition.
Suspension coil and leaf springs likely original. new shocks are evident.

The steering and front end components have been replaced as required. including ball joints. tie rod ends. idler arm. stabilizer links. etc.
A couple of new power steering hoses are evident.
The standard non-power brake system was rebuilt as required to ensure roadworthiness. with some new lines and bleeder fittings evident.
The master cylinder was left in place during the repaint and as such it and the main fluid line to the frame are painted body color.

The tires are a matched set of 5 Dayton Quadra SE. P215/75/R14 wide white radials in like new condition.
They are all mounted on 5 new wire wheels. and have spinner caps with nice red center medallions.

BODY & PAINT:
Although this was a relatively solid car prior to restoration. it did have some minor rust issues.
These were primarily some rust spots in the rockers. and were addressed during the course of body and paint work. which was done at a cost of about $8. 00.
Overall the quality of bodywork is okay. although upon close inspection ripples and waves are present. and most evident in areas like the tops of the front fenders and lower sections of the doors and rockers.

With the work being 10 years old. at this point the only spot where rust has reappeared on the body exterior is on the flange over the right rear wheel.

Panel fit and gaps are overall okay. but the left door has poor alignment and fit at the rear vertical gap as it sits proud from the body from midway down.

The car has fender skirts but they are not installed. and one of the rubber seals for mounting is missing.

The owner chose to do a color change from the original blue to Velocity Red Metallic. a 2005 Mazda color.
Overall the paint job is in good condition. It is relatively smooth with a light ‘gun finish' texture as opposed to a wet sanded and polished glass surface.
It has excellent shine and luster. and shows very little in the way of scratches or chips from its miles of use since completion. but there are some minor ones here and there. most notably along the rear edge of the left door.

ELECTRICAL:
The wiring harnesses are original and look to be in good condition.
The battery has a disconnect terminal on the negative post.
The car is equipped with power windows and power driver seat.
All power and electrical items are in working order except for the clock.
This is a non-air conditioned car.

Stock gauges and instruments are in good condition. br> It is equipped with an original AM push button radio in working order.
The plastic knob is missing on the end of the fan blower lever.

Tail light lenses are in very nice condition.
The left front park light lens is broken.

INTERIOR:
The interior on this car is nice. and it is equipped with seat belts for 4 passengers.
It is a combination of very good original and correct patterned new. showing only minor blemishes here and there.
The list of new interior kit items includes new white leather seat covers. sun visors. dash pad. door panels. weatherstrips. pedal pads. carpeting and Thunderbird logo floor mats.
Whatever items were not available as new were re-dyed red to match.

There is a small rip on the left door arm rest.
New windlacing was installed. there is some minor wear evident on the latch post sections. and the top end of the right one needs to be properly tucked in.

The bright trim in the interior is in very nice to excellent condition.
The ribbed dash panels around the gauges and on the glove box door are in nice shape.
New repro sill scuff plates were installed.

The original steering wheel has been very nicely restored and has no cracks. It has a nice original horn ring. and 2 of the chrome spears on the spokes are new.
It has a decent ‘Power Steering' horn button with some very minor hazing cracks in the plastic.

The windshield is shaded and in good condition. but has one scallop chip on the left side.
The flat door glass in the right door is cracked. all other glass is good.
Glass channels are originals in good condition. as are the glass sweepers.
New vent window seals were installed.

HIDE-AWAY TOP:
A new white vinyl top was installed and has a nice snug fit.
The convertible top bows assembly is original and in good condition.

All aspects of the lift mechanism are in good working order and its operation is smooth. with proper alignment of all related components.
The top goes up and down as it should. The trunk lid also performs flawlessly and secures itself with a nice fit over the weather seals. The front latches are in good order.

The complete trunk area was painted for the color change. and new weatherstrips installed.
Body color matched vinyl was selected for trimming out the trunk compartment.
There is a non-original jack.

BRIGHTWORK:
Most stainless trim and chrome items on the car are either new. re-chromed. or nice originals in good to very good condition.
The grille bars are very straight and in nice condition.
The front bumper and guards are in good original condition.
The 5-piece rear bumper is in beautiful re-chromed condition.

The hood scoop grille and headlamp doors have also been re-chromed. as have the door spears and wiper bases.
The Thunderbird scripts on the doors are new. along with the gun sight spears on the front fenders.
Very nice hood and trunk Thunderbird emblems.
Original tail lamp bezels are also in very nice condition.

The windshield header stainless molding shows minor dents. but as it is stainless these are easily repaired and polished out.
There is some very minor pitting on the vent window chrome.
Door handles in nice condition.
The chrome wire spoke wheels and spinners are in very good condition with only some very minor and tiny pits seen in a few spots.

Included is an original owner's manual.

SUMMARY:
The distinctive body lines and styling of this car clearly help one appreciate why Thunderbirds of the day rated in the upper echelons of sporty automobiles.
If you are looking to drive a sleek and desirable top down T-Bird. this could be it!
This striking red ragtop is a crowd pleaser. and is ready to cruise and enjoy.

With a busy and hectic schedule. the owner has little time to enjoy and appreciate his Thunderbird. as attested to by the low miles he has driven it over the last 10 years. He has therefore decided to make this convertible available to its next caretaker. It is being offered with a reasonable reserve.

PAYMENT TERMS:

This collectible bird is being listed on behalf of the owner. Please email ‘carsgoneby@telus. net' or phone Rick at (403)534-2222 for additional honest and accurate information from a professional auto restorer. All information listed has been gathered from discussions with the owner. and a visual inspection. Over 130 pics are available for viewing at www. carsgoneby. com/PhotoAlbumsPro/1959TBird . Additional specific pictures are available upon request. No warranties expressed or implied. Successful bidder to make a minimum payment of 50% of closing bid amount (US funds) within 5 days of auction closing. with the balance payable upon vehicle pick up within 21 days (international) or 14 days (US/Canada).
Payment must be in certifiable form such as cash or wire transfer. Other forms of payment only acceptable with time allowance for instrument to clear bank prior to vehicle being released. Any deviation from. or changes to the preceding terms must be reasonable. and should be requested. discussed. and agreed to prior to bidding and auction closing.

IMPORTANT OTHER:

Please submit all inquiries prior to bidding. and please only bid if you are able and willing to conclude the transaction should you be the winning bidder.
This vehicle is being sold with a clear Alberta vehicle registration (title) document and bill of sale.
The car is located in Calgary. Alberta. Canada. about 3 hours north of the Montana border. Please be aware of your shipping costs before bidding. quotes can be provided upon request if necessary. We can help make this a smooth. hassle free experience by arranging all inclusive international transportation and brokerage for you. References relating to similar transactions are available. Cars Gone By has sold and shipped numerous collector vehicles to the USA and worldwide. the majority through Ebay transactions.
Please do not ask us to disclose the reserve price. In fairness to all bidders we will not do so and request that you simply place a bid that is comfortable for you.
Thanks for looking!

Also published at eBay.ca

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