It was fully restored in 2007 and is now owned by the Blackhawk Collection and is for sale.
1963 thunderbird tv#
It wound up in the ownership of American TV star Dale Robertson who then gave it to his gardener. Somehow this unique Thunderbird avoided being destroyed like so many concept and prototype cars. The Italien was presented at many Autoramas including Detroit, Miami and Los Angeles.
1963 thunderbird full#
The Italien received custom touches such as fender vents, custom bumpers and a full leather interior. was head of the project, who was also responsible for the short wheelbase Mustang. Vince Gardner at Dearborn Steel Tubing Co. to create the fiberglass roof and trunk, as well as the other custom features. Not Zagato, Ghia or Bertone but this beauty was created in Ford’s own styling department.įord sent the design over to Dearborn Steel Tubing Co. The Thunderbird Italien Concept was not created by any Italian design house as we might expect. That is what happened when I went to the Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance this past July 2021 and I spotted the 1963 Ford Thunderbird Italien (not Italian). The base engine was the 390 CID V8 rated at 300 horsepower.Ī Limited Edition Landau version, commonly referred to as the Monaco Edition, was introduced in January of 1963 and had a white exterior with maroon top, white steering wheel, and white leather interior.One of the interesting benefits of attending car shows is when you come across a unique one-of-a-kind car that you likely will not see again. The second most popular was the Landau Hardtop with 14,139 sales followed by the convertible with 5,913 sales. The hardtop coupe received the most sales at 42,806. The Sports Roadster was the most expensive and exclusive, with a price of $5,560 and 455 examples sold. The two-door Landau Hardtop had a base price of $4,550 and the convertible listed at $4,900.
On the side of the door, just ahead of the line dip, are three sets of five cast 'hash marks.'īody styles on the 1963 Thunderbird including a two-door hardtop coupe with seating for four and priced at $4,450. The 1963 Thunderbird had a mid-body feature line that begins to dip near the back of the front door. Approximately 200 examples of the M-Code engine were placed into the Thunderbird between 19. An upgraded version of the 390 cubic-inch V8, called the M-Code, came with three two-barrel Holley carburetors, larger cam, special heads, larger dual exhaust, and was rated at 340 horsepower. Due to the steep price, sales were sluggish.Īnother new addition for the 1962 Thunderbird was the vinyl-roofed Landau option with simulated S-bars. The Sports Roadster package came with 48-spoke Kelsey Hayes wire wheels, unique side badges, and a passenger grab bar. This design effectively transformed the four-passenger Thunderbird into a two-seater. Kaufman penned a Sports Roadster that used the Thunderbird's sweeping lines with a unique fiberglass tonneau cover extending from the trunk to behind the front seats. Division Chief Lee Iaccoca commissioned designer Bud Kaufman to develop a solution. Mr. Sales were strong but demand still existed for a two-place Thunderbird. Kennedy during the inaugural parade (who appointed Ford executive Robert McNamara as Secretary of Defense) helped boost sales.
Promotional appearance at the 1961 Indianapolis 500 where it served pace car duties and its use by U.S President John F. During its first year, 73,051 examples were sold. Under the hood was a new 390 cubic-inch FE V8 rated at 300 horsepower and backed by a three-speed automatic transmission.
Having spawned the personal luxury car segment and proven adequate demand, the Thunderbird was redesigned for 1961 with styling that earned it the nickname the 'Bullet-Birds.' It had a unique bullet-like body side appearance with aerospace influences by Alex Tremulis. Over the next three years, over 200,000 Thunderbirds were sold, eclipsing the first generation by a factor of four. Ford executives, particularly Robert McNamara felt that the two-seater limits its sales potential, thus the four-seat configuration for 1958. The second generation was introduced in 1958 and its redesign saw the addition of additional seats. Ford introduced the Thunderbird in 1955 and the first generation, produced until 1957 was a harmonious fusion of sport and luxury.
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