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The Ford Thunderbird was introduced in 1955 and improvements and changes continued throughout the years. The two-seater's popularity grew through 1958, when Ford added a back seat to the car. By 1960, the final year of production for the second-generation 'Squarebird', the Thunderbird outsold its rival - the Corvette - nine-to-one.
The third-generation Thunderbird was introduced in 1961. By this point in history, the car had become much more of a personal luxury coupe than a sports car. The four-seater, third-generation Thunderbird was nicknamed the 'Bulletbird' due to the vehicle's sharply pointed noise and rounded sides. Sales were strong but slowing by this time. Lee Iacocca appointed designer Bud Kaufman to try to fix this concern.
Kaufman's solution to the slowing sales was to introduce a removable fiberglass tonneau that would both cover up the Thunderbird convertible's rear seats and incorporate headrests for the front seat occupants. This was originally a dealer-installed option, but in 1962, it came from the factory as part of the Sports Roadster package, which also included a passenger side grab bar, Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels with knock-off center caps, and a rear fender skirt delete, to clear those gaps.
There were 1,427 examples of the Thunderbird Sports Roadster produced in 1962, falling to just 455 units in 1963. Even rarer were Thunderbirds ordered with the 390 cubic-inch tri-power V8, which was designated by an M in the VIN, resulting in the nickname of 'M-Code' cars. The engine breathed through three Holley two-barrel carburetors and offered 340 horsepower at the crankshaft. In total, Ford produced just 37 M-Code Sports Roadsters in 1963.
This particular example is finished in Corinthian White with a black Haartz power convertible top, and original factory red interior. The car has been given a recent cosmetic refurbishment. It is equipped with the optional power windows, a power driver's seat, optional factory air conditioning, and the unique Thunderbird Swing-Away steering wheel.By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2014
The third-generation Thunderbird was introduced in 1961. By this point in history, the car had become much more of a personal luxury coupe than a sports car. The four-seater, third-generation Thunderbird was nicknamed the 'Bulletbird' due to the vehicle's sharply pointed noise and rounded sides. Sales were strong but slowing by this time. Lee Iacocca appointed designer Bud Kaufman to try to fix this concern.
Kaufman's solution to the slowing sales was to introduce a removable fiberglass tonneau that would both cover up the Thunderbird convertible's rear seats and incorporate headrests for the front seat occupants. This was originally a dealer-installed option, but in 1962, it came from the factory as part of the Sports Roadster package, which also included a passenger side grab bar, Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels with knock-off center caps, and a rear fender skirt delete, to clear those gaps.
There were 1,427 examples of the Thunderbird Sports Roadster produced in 1962, falling to just 455 units in 1963. Even rarer were Thunderbirds ordered with the 390 cubic-inch tri-power V8, which was designated by an M in the VIN, resulting in the nickname of 'M-Code' cars. The engine breathed through three Holley two-barrel carburetors and offered 340 horsepower at the crankshaft. In total, Ford produced just 37 M-Code Sports Roadsters in 1963.
This particular example is finished in Corinthian White with a black Haartz power convertible top, and original factory red interior. The car has been given a recent cosmetic refurbishment. It is equipped with the optional power windows, a power driver's seat, optional factory air conditioning, and the unique Thunderbird Swing-Away steering wheel.By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2014
2014 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona
Sale Price :
USD $85,250
1963 Ford Thunderbird Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Ford Thunderbird
(Data based on Model Year 1963 sales)
1963 FORD THUNDERBIRD Chassis#: 3Y83Z157028 Sold for USD$49,280 2024 Gooding : Amelia Island | |
1963 Ford Thunderbird Chassis#: 3y83z136872 Sold for USD$11,000 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1963 Ford Thunderbird Chassis#: 3y83z158642 Sold for USD$25,300 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1963 Ford Thunderbird Chassis#: 3y83z159963 Sold for USD$10,450 2023 Mecum : Kansas City | |
1963 FORD THUNDERBIRD M-CODE SPORTS ROADSTER Chassis#: 3Y89M122691 Sold for USD$91,300 2023 Barrett-Jackson : New Orleans | |
1963 Ford Thunderbird M-Code Sports Roadster Chassis#: 3y89m118121 Sold for USD$151,250 2023 Mecum : 2023 Monterey | |
1963 Ford Thunderbird Sports Roadster Chassis#: 3y89z103700 Sold for USD$45,100 2023 Mecum : 2023 Monterey | |
1963 FORD THUNDERBIRD M-CODE SPORTS ROADSTER Chassis#: 3Y89M106102 Sold for USD$181,500 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas | |
1963 Ford Thunderbird Chassis#: 3y87z148067 Sold for USD$15,400 2023 Mecum : Indy | |
1963 Ford Thunderbird Chassis#: 3y83z158642 Sold for USD$20,900 2023 Mecum : Indy | |
1963 Ford Thunderbird Convertible Chassis#: 3Y85Z120869 Sold for USD$43,680 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Enthusiast Auction | |
1963 Ford Thunderbird Hardtop Chassis#: 3y87z148067 Sold for USD$11,000 2023 Mecum : Houston | |
1963 Ford Thunderbird Convertible Sold for USD$29,700 2023 Mecum : Glendale | |
1963 Ford Thunderbird Convertible Sold for USD$40,700 2023 Mecum : Glendale | |
1963 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: 3Y85Z156177 Sold for USD$33,000 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Az. | |
1963 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: 3Y85Z138823 Sold for USD$31,900 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Az. | |
1963 Ford Thunderbird Custom Sold for USD$12,650 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1963 Ford Thunderbird Sold for USD$27,500 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1963 Ford Thunderbird Landau Sold for USD$23,650 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1963 Ford Thunderbird Convertible Sold for USD$25,300 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee |
Ford Thunderbirds That Failed To Sell At Auction
1963 Ford Thunderbird's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1963 Ford Thunderbird Convertible | 3y85z137277 | 2024 Mecum : Indy | |||
1963 Ford Thunderbird | 3y83z158642 | 2023 Mecum : Kansas City | $24,000 | ||
1963 Ford Thunderbird Convertible | 3y85z137277 | 2023 Mecum : Houston | $71,500 | $75,000 | $100,000 |
1963 Ford Thunderbird Sports Roadster | 2022 Mecum Indy | $40,000 | |||
1963 FORD THUNDERBIRD COUPE | 3Y83Z134675 | 2021 Bonhams MPH July | $15,000 | $20,000 | |
1963 FORD THUNDERBIRD | 3Y83Z134675 | 2021 Bonhams : Bonhams MPH May Auction | $20,000 | $22,000 | |
1963 Ford Thunderbird Convertible | 2021 Mecum : Kissimmee | ||||
1963 Ford Thunderbird Sports Roadster | 2020 Mecum : Indy | $57,000 | $70,000 | $80,000 | |
1963 FORD THUNDERBIRD CVTBLE | 2020 McCormick's Auction # 68 | $31,000 | |||
1963 FORD THUNDERBIRD 2 DOOR | 2019 McCormick's # 67 | $14,000 | |||
1963 Ford Thunderbird | 2019 GAA : November 2019 | $14,000 | |||
1963 Ford Thunderbird Fastback Italien Concept Car | DRF76806 | 2019 Mecum : Monterey | |||
1963 Ford Thunderbird | 2019 Historics at Brooklands Ascot Racecourse | $18,000 | $22,000 | ||
1963 FORD THUNDERBIRD CVT | 2018 McCormick's # 65 | $19,000 | |||
1963 Ford Thunderbird | 2018 Carlisle Auction : Fall Carlisle | ||||
1963 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE | 3Y85Z113664 | 2018 BarrettJackson : Palm Beach | |||
1963 Ford Thunderbird | 3Y83M117917 | 2018 Mecum : Los Angeles | $38,000 | ||
1963 Ford Thunderbird | 3Y85Z128086 | 2018 Mecum : Los Angeles | $17,000 | ||
1963 Ford Thunderbird | 2017 Mecum : Las Vegas | $14,000 | |||
1963 Ford Thunderbird Convertible | 2017 Mecum : Las Vegas | $16,000 | |||
1963 Ford Thunderbird Convertible | 2017 Russo & Steele : Newport Beach | ||||
1963 Ford Thunderbird | 2017 Russo & Steele : Newport Beach | ||||
1963 Ford Thunderbird | 2017 Branson Collector Car Auction | $44,000 | |||
1963 Ford Thunderbird Convertible Roadster | 2017 Amelia Island Select : Hollywood Wheels Auction | $60,000 | $70,000 | ||
1963 FORD THUNDERBIRD | 2017 GPK Auctions Atlantic City | ||||
1963 Ford Thunderbird Sports Roadster | 2016 Auctions America : Hilton Head | $48,000 | $52,000 | ||
1963 Ford Thunderbird Sport Roadster | 2016 GAA : October | $41,000 | |||
1963 Ford Thunderbird M-Code Hardtop | 2016 Auctions America : Auburn Fall | $37,500 | $55,000 | $65,000 | |
1963 Ford Thunderbird Convertible M-Code | 2016 Auctions America : Santa Monica | $45,000 | |||
1963 Ford Thunderbird Hardtop | 2016 Auctions America : Santa Monica | $37,500 |
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1963 Ford Thunderbird
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