The 1961-63 "Bullet Birds" are currently the fastest appreciating Thunderbirds in the hobby. Yes, this cool 1963 Ford Thunderbird hardtop may just be a smarter buy than even an early 2-seater. It offers awesome styling, lots of firepower, and the all-important back seat to make it a fun, practical, and downright gorgeous hobby car that you can use every day.The '63 Thunderbirds are highly prized by their owners due to its clean styling. There's no such thing as an ugly Bullet Bird, but the '63s, with their simple trim and three hash marks on the door, stand above the rest. The design is defined by the pointed front fenders (hence the nickname) and it was a big step forward compared to the earlier cars. It looks clean, elegant, and timeless. Code N Diamond Blue is this car's original color, and it's a lovely light blue that captures the early 1960s perfectly. It was repainted a few years ago but still looks great, showing only a few minor issues that are probably inevitable on a car that's going to be driven and enjoyed like this. However, the doors open and close easily, the hood swings up on well-oiled hinges, and unlike its convertible siblings, the huge trunk is easy to access. The lovely stainless trim running along the tops of the fenders from nose to tail is in excellent shape and the massive jet-inspired taillights are bright, clear, and still very cool. The two-tone blue interior is the perfect choice to go with the Diamond Blue body and it's pure Thunderbird cool. We believe it to be the car's original interior, so there's some wear but it would be a crime to replace it. Bucket seats flank a wide center console, and while the driver's chair shows some modest wear, it's completely in line with the car's age. The swing-away steering column makes climbing in and out easy and the original wheel has a big leather wrapper that makes it easy to grab. The dials for the instrument panel seem to float in the dash and show big, crisp numbers and everything works like it should. The original radio has been supplanted by a modern AM/FM/iPod/Bluetooth unit that fits so neatly most folks will never notice it. The back seat looks almost completely unused and the aforementioned trunk is outfitted with its original mat set and a spare tire with cover.Ford's erstwhile 390 cubic inch V8 provides 300 horsepower's worth of performance, and this Thunderbird is indeed lively on the road. Its specialty is consuming vast sections of highway at a single stretch, but around town it still feels punchy and energetic. The engine is dressed in proper gold tinwork and wears the right decals in the right places, so it looks quite correct. You can see how clean this car is by the condition of the inner fenders and it does indeed run very well. The only transmission available was the 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic, which clicks through the gears without issues (remember to use the green dot position for best performance!) and 3.00 gears out back are part of why it's such an awesome highway cruiser. Oddly enough, dual exhaust was an option, so this car has a correct single exhaust pipe that has a muted hum that sounds luxurious and the floors are more proof that this car comes from someplace warm and dry. Beautiful chrome wire wheels and 215/75/14 whitewall radials complete the rather handsome package.This is a lot of car for the money. Big V8 power, head-turning style, and an interior that will make you feel like Sinatra. What's not to love? Call today!
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