1961 Ford Thunderbird Coupe

The Jet Age is in full swing, the country is riding high on Beatlemania, 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 tail light configuration, all in sophisticated Corinthian White attire. This hard topped cruiser is perfect for a boulevard drive that will certainly turn heads. This one remains true to form, well maintained and mostly original looking. A repaint, rebuilt transmission, new suspension parts and brake system, turn the key and drive away in your like new “bullet bird”.

Exterior
Borrowing its nickname literally by imitating a bullet with its exterior styling, this beauty has a Corinthian White respray. Fit and finish are good with nice aligned gaps, and 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 dual headlights and bullet front end also help with this classic looker. Chrome is not perfect but still shiny and just slightly aged. Badging is all correct and window trimmings are nice and shiny with excellent clear glass all around. Wire wheels are on with a bird badged hub in the center. Surrounds for taillights are showing some aged chrome and have dulled.

Interior
Literally surrounded by horizontal ribbed gold anodized aluminum trim which completely encircles the mid-section of the interior of this bird. Above is a tan painted sill with thin chrome edging, shiny chromed cranks and a metal white painted lower trimmed with vertical chromed ribs. This swoop styling runs right down into a center console/glove compartment. Seats are newly fitted with white leather, tuck and roll centers, and padding is excellent. Brown padded vinyl makes up the curved dash which is above the swooping ribbed aluminum. This dash top has a tan carpet on top of it which we did not remove to see if any damage exists under it. Circular midcentury modern inspired gauges are all functioning, as are the futuristic styled chromed pulls. Carpet is golden nice, and this car has an AM radio. Let's make this a rarer bullet and obsess 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 which can produce a nice steady 300HP's

Undercarriage
All completely restored to perfection brown coating and black framing with no road dirt and no rust underneath, looking showroom, and structurally sound. 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, and the brakes are new as well as the tires.

Drive-Ability
After talking about the wonderful design all in, 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...uhh crack decoder and 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, even the radio works great. Good acceleration and easy steering, it has a covered steering wheel for extra grip.

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 with plenty of new parts, all enjoyed as well during this 3rd owners time with it. Please fasten your seatbelts, and make sure your tray tables are in the upright position. Your stewardess will be around shortly so serve cocktails.

VIN DECODE
1Y71Z125141
1-1961
Y-Wixom, MI Assy Plant
71-Thunderbird Hardtop
Z-390ci V8 4bbl 300hp
125141-Sequential Unit Number

WARRANTY TAG
BODY 63A-Thunderbird Hardtop
COLOR M-Corinthian White
TRIM 54-White Vinyl
DATE 30A-January 30th
TRANS 4-Cruise-O-Matic
AXLE 6-Ford 9" 3.00 Conventional

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 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.