1961 Ford Thunderbird Convertible

The Jet Age is in full swing, the country is riding high on Beatle mania, towering beehive hair doo's, fur boots, and getting to the moon before the end of the decade. To mirror these times Ford Motor Company put elements of design into the Thunderbird for 1961.

A Jet Age front, thruster rear taillight configuration, all in sophisticated Honey Beige attire. This convertible is perfect for a boulevard cruise that will certainly turn heads. This one remains true to form, well maintained and mostly original looking. A repaint, rebuilt engine and brake system, and a modified system for the convertible stowage, turn the key and drive away in your new “bullet bird”.

Exterior
Borrowing its nickname literally by imitating a bullet with its exterior styling, this beauty has a Honey Beige respray. Fit and finish is fair to good with some inconsistent gaps, but panels are straight and not rusted or dented. Fender skirts and the thruster shaped rear taillights create what is my personal favorite bird shape. The canvas beige power top has been converted to solid state and floats up and down with the touch of a button. It truly is a marvel of automotive engineering taken to excess, and not to mention just fun to watch it perform this function, slipping right into the trunk, all automatically, and now, all solid state. Badging and wheel covers are correct, and the rear window is clean and clear plastic.

Interior
Literally surrounded by horizontal ribbed aluminum trim below the dash, this swoop styling runs right down into a center console/glove compartment. Seats are newly fitted with leather, and padding is excellent. Interesting that this model has the power window toggles located in the doors and not the center console. May have been an early build? Tan padded vinyl makes up the curved dash which is above the swooping ribbed aluminum. Gauges are all functioning, the power front driver's seat is functioning, and even the clock works! Carpet is nice and this car has an AM/FM radio. Let's make this a rarer bullet and ogle over the fact this car does not have the tilt away steering column.

Drivetrain
A 300hp 390ci V8 sits in a clean engine bay. It has been rebuilt but is correct for this car. Spinning right behind this mill is a correct rebuilt 3-speed automatic Cruise-O-Matic transmission with a Ford 9-inch 3.00 rear. A single 4-barrel carburetor feeds the 390 fossils and air.

Undercarriage
All red, yes red and black framing underneath, looking rust free, and structurally sound. Some slight rust can be seen in the lower inside of the doors. Near perfect dual exhaust works its way to the rear, past independent coil spring front suspension, and leaf spring rear suspension. Power drum brakes are all around. A new fuel tank has also been put on.

Drive-Ability
After spending the day watching the top go up and down, I finally hopped in and felt like I was right back in 1961, ready to go to the office. As I pet the company dog, kissed my company secretary, I headed to the city. This car started right up, took a bit to warm up, but once it did all I can say is there are not enough oooh's in smoooooooth for this ride. A real cruiser, the radio works great, and I can be sure I'm not running late due to the interior clock still ticking after taking an 18-year licking. Good acceleration and easy steering it pulled to the left when braking but seemed to get better as we drove on. Also, the steering wheel did not center when going straight. Minor inconveniences compared to the overall experience.

A boulevard cruiser, that was described as a “fur coat for dad” by the Ford Ad Men. It is a beauty with its Jet Age styling interior and exterior, built in a time when cars were cars. Fully functioning, beautifully maintained and restored over 6 years, and enjoyed as well during that time. Please fasten your seatbelts, and make sure your tray tables are in the upright position.

VIN Decode
1Y73Z107700
1-1961
Y-Wixom, MI Assy Plant
73-Thunderbird Convertible
Z-390 ci V8 300hp
107700-Sequential Unit Number

Warranty Tag
BODY 76A-Convertible
COLOR T-Honey Beige
TRIM 84-Beige Leather
TRANS 4-Cruise O Matic 3 Speed Automatic
AXLE 6-3.00 Conventional

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 450 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.