1964 Ford Thunderbird Convertible

1964 Ford Thunderbird Landau Hardtop People who Thunderbird move in a special atmosphere. Their car is unique. It has a tradition for innovation that sets it apart from all others, that has made it a classic in its own lifetime. This year a completely new Thunderbird continues this heritage in many new ways. People who Thunderbird have a talent for setting trends. And for discovering them. For a decade their car has been a symbol of all that is modern. From a 1964 print ad.  For consignment, a 1964 Ford Thunderbird Landau Hardtop with a title verified 42,418 actual miles. The Thunderbird is the most noteworthy car utilizing the ornamental Landau bars, a nod to horse drawn carriages of the 18th century that used the bars not only as functional hinges, but as ornamental scrolls as well.  Exterior The extra shine is compliments of two stage Wimbledon White over this Flair Bird with its side contours and straight edges. The serious eyes are backed up by an aggressive hood scoop while the grille underscores the front with a more modest profile. Straight edges continue in back where rectangle tail lights are enveloped in a contouring chrome frame and the entire assembly becomes the bumper itself, complete with Thunderbird emblems on the lights and Thunderbird displayed across the center. Reverse lights live in valance and exhaust tips emerge from under it and extractor vents line the rear deck where it meets the window. Then there's the black vinyl top with wide C-pillars adorned with sizable Landau bars and giving the car not only its name, but its character. Imperfections include some dechromed spots in the bumper and some surface rust, blistering down low, cracks, dimples, chips, paint loss on and around the rocker and a long scratch.  Interior The door panels are a cool 60's combination of woodgrain, polished aluminum, gold/green vinyl, and gold carpet, along with small, round courtesy lights and both show some patina with a taped tear on the driver's armrest. Inside, gold/green bucket seats and the center armrest are in good shape and the rear 2+2 is a mid-century delight with vertically stitched, curve backed seats with integrated armrests and a center pull down. The package tray doesn't just conform to the seats, it's trimmed in polished stainless to make it evident, and it's home to the Silent-Flo ventilation intake louvers. It's fun up front too where the woodgrain steering wheel fronts a horizontal speedometer, round gauges with rectangle windows, and an L-shaped woodgrain panel that cascades down the center stack and center console. Along the way, it picks up an AM/FM/Cassette radio, vent levers including the flow through controller, and lock and window controls between the seats where the woodgrain shows some patina. Under the dash pad are aircraft like levers for wipers, washers, and air vents along with a vintage clock. Gold loop carpet below, white perforated headliner above, and a clean and fully lined trunk complete the interior features.  Drivetrain Under the hood we have a 390ci V8 with 300 horsepower and a 4-barrel carburetor. It's mated to a Cruise-O-Matic 3-speed automatic transmission that routes power to the Ford 9 in back with 3.00 gears. Power brakes and power steering are on board.  Undercarriage Driver quality underneath with some surface rust, peeling protectant coating, and some residual oil on the pans. Power drum brakes are on all four wheels and the dual exhaust travels through stock style mufflers before terminating out back. Suspension is standard with coil springs up front and leaf springs in back.  Drive-Ability Oh yes, cruising like the Rat Pack; 60's style! Now, we note the swing away column does not swing away, but we still have easy access to the low back gold/green buckets and fly the 390 onto the test loop where it provides good power and the low, sleek car handles well and other than that one blind spot, provides good visibility. Also noted are the rear powe