1963 Ford Thunderbird Italien Show Car

Concept cars are intended to forecast or test future styling, or explore new technology or safety features. Prototypes are 'production-intent' vehicles with less radical styling and technology. A show car, sometimes referred to as a dream car, is a custom-made vehicle specifically for public display at auto shows and other exhibitions. They are not intended for sale, nor are they a prediction of future production styling trends.

The 1963 Ford Thunderbird Italien was a show car and not a concept car. It began life as a 1962 Thunderbird convertible that was set directly from the Ford factory to the Dearborn Steel Tubing (DST) facility. DST built the special cars for Ford special vehicles operations, among them was the famous lightweight Thunderbolt drag racing machines and the Ford Mustang II concept car.

As suggested by the name, the Thunderbird Italien show car wearing a bright paint job in candy apple red was influenced by Italian culture. It successfully combined Ford's pursuit of Total Performance with the sheetmetal styling penned in Italy. Under the direction of DST's Vince Gardner, the Thunderbird underwent a transformation, gaining a fiberglass fastback roofline drawn at Ford Styling. It was given reshaped rear fender openings, 1963 Thunderbird front fenders and doors, and around 80 custom trim pieces, including a chrome-plated hood molding, a Ferrari-inspired egg-crate grille, and engine-turned metal flourishes on the sides. The interior received chrome-plated moldings and faired-in rear seat headrests. Leather was used throughout the interior, including on the headliner and rear package tray.

Like many concept and dream cars, the one-off Italien was scheduled to be crushed after its show career ended. It was saved from this fate and sent back to DST where it was later acquired by film and television actor, Dale Robertson, star of Tales of Wells Fargo and other popular Westerns of the time. Robertson used the Italien in Southern California until 1965 when it was sold to his gardener, William Warner, who sold it in 1974 to Joe Navaro. While in the care of Mr. Navaro, the Italien was refinished in a more subtle dark blue paint scheme. He used it regularly for years as a daily driver in Los Angeles.

In 1989, Mr. Navaro sold the Italien Show Car to Don Chambers, who planned on having the car restored but instead stored it for 16 years. In 2005, Tom Maruska became the car's next caretaker, and during his ownership, a complete restoration was executed. The interior was restored in the original-type materials and patterns, with the metal trim restored and engine-turned as-new. The body was redone in numerous coats of correct deep candy apple red.

Several months after the car's restoration, it was sold to the previous caretaker in January 2008. The car was sold at auction (RM Sotheby's / ModaMiami) to its current owner in March 2024.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2024