Highlights
- A recently restored American icon
- Huge list of work completed in recent years
- Space-age styling and lashings of ‘60s flair
- New MOT valid for 12 months
The Appeal
You couldn’t ask for a more dramatic, mid-century, American name for a car than ‘Thunderbird’.
Born in the era of loud tailfins and acres of chrome, with space-age styling and an insatiable public demand for futuristic products, the Thunderbird was first launched in 1955.
By the end of the ‘50s, the tailfins had grown and chrome had found its way into the very soul of the American auto industry.
Born in the era of loud tailfins and acres of chrome, with space-age styling and an insatiable public demand for futuristic products, the Thunderbird was first launched in 1955.
By the end of the ‘50s, the tailfins had grown and chrome had found its way into the very soul of the American auto industry.
But in the 1960s tastes changed, peak tailfin had been and gone, and chrome-mania had subsided to some extent. So the fourth generation Thunderbird, as seen here, was much sleeker than its predecessors.
This is a textbook example of a ‘personal luxury car’, having a big engine but with a design focus on comfort rather than performance and handling.
This is a textbook example of a ‘personal luxury car’, having a big engine but with a design focus on comfort rather than performance and handling.
The vendor tells us that he has spent the past five years of ownership overhauling the car, including an engine rebuild, a respray and an overhaul of the suspension and drivetrain, to name but a few of the tasks carried out.
So this car offers a big dollop of ‘60s Americana, with the reassurance that the major works have already been completed.
So this car offers a big dollop of ‘60s Americana, with the reassurance that the major works have already been completed.
The History and Paperwork
- Imported from the US by the previous owner
- First registered in the UK in 2016
- Personal plate included
- Some service history from the US, the rest during the vendor’s ownership
- Two sets of keys, with central locking
The Interior
- Space-age instruments and controls
- Sumptuous seating for four
- New headlining
- AM/FM radio fitted but not connected
There is no doubt that this is a big car by our standards on this side of the Atlantic.
And the sense that it could pass as Gerry Anderson’s Thunderbird 2 continues with the interior: the cockpit has a decidedly aeronautical theme with the controls for the air vents and windscreen wipers resembling the throttle levers of a four-engined aircraft.
The sumptuously fluted upholstery transports the passengers back to the jet-setting age in style and comfort.
And the sense that it could pass as Gerry Anderson’s Thunderbird 2 continues with the interior: the cockpit has a decidedly aeronautical theme with the controls for the air vents and windscreen wipers resembling the throttle levers of a four-engined aircraft.
The sumptuously fluted upholstery transports the passengers back to the jet-setting age in style and comfort.
With the gear shifter mounted on the steering column and the ‘hand’ brake actually being a foot pedal, there is ample free space between the front seats, which makes the passenger compartment seem decidedly spacious.
The vendor has replaced the headlining but states that the rest of the interior is largely original.
The windows are electrically operated, with the front windows reportedly raising and lowering perfectly but the rear quarter windows will require work in order to function again.
It has been suggested that this may just be a wiring issue, or new motors could be necessary.
The windows are electrically operated, with the front windows reportedly raising and lowering perfectly but the rear quarter windows will require work in order to function again.
It has been suggested that this may just be a wiring issue, or new motors could be necessary.
A period AM/FM radio is fitted and said to be in working order, but has been disconnected. Some of the trim on the centre console around the radio has been cut away.
The car comes with modern luxuries such as air conditioning and central locking. The air conditioning system will require recommissioning.
The car comes with modern luxuries such as air conditioning and central locking. The air conditioning system will require recommissioning.
The Exterior
- Decadent ‘60s styling
- Wheel spats present but not fitted
- Aftermarket alloys and disc brakes
Two magical words apply to the exterior of this vehicle: full respray.
Along with the huge amount of mechanical work undertaken by the vendor, this shows that the car has been lavished with care and attention in recent years.
Along with the huge amount of mechanical work undertaken by the vendor, this shows that the car has been lavished with care and attention in recent years.
The vendor recalls that although the original red paint was ‘passable’, he had noticed micro-blisters beneath the clearcoat, so decided that a full respray was the only course of action to be taken.
He then had the car undersealed three years ago, and believes there to be no corrosion present to this day.
The respray has stood up well for the past few years, other than one reported area of damage to the right-hand door, which the vendor informs us is now being resprayed, so the door will have a new coat of paint by the time of sale.
He then had the car undersealed three years ago, and believes there to be no corrosion present to this day.
The respray has stood up well for the past few years, other than one reported area of damage to the right-hand door, which the vendor informs us is now being resprayed, so the door will have a new coat of paint by the time of sale.
Everything on this car appears to be largely standard equipment, other than the ‘American Racing’ alloy wheels, fitted by the current owner, which certainly add to the Thunderbird’s wow-factor and unmistakable presence on the road.
The Mechanics
- Huge 6,500cc (390 cubic inch) engine
- Clean engine bay
- A long list of mechanical works completed
This seems to be one of those cases where no stone has been left unturned.
The vendor has gone through the mechanics of the vehicle with a fine-tooth comb to bring all aspects of the car up to his exacting expectations.
The vendor has gone through the mechanics of the vehicle with a fine-tooth comb to bring all aspects of the car up to his exacting expectations.
The vendor informs us that when he acquired the car it required a huge amount of work.
His list of works carried out since purchase is a long one: a full rebuild of the original 390 cubic inch (6.5-litre) V8 engine, with new cylinder heads, pistons, con-rods, camshaft and hydraulic tappets; an overhaul of the original Ford Cruise-O-Matic gearbox, including rebalancing; new universal joints and rebalanced torque tube; completely rebuilt suspension and new shock absorbers; new wheel bearings; professionally refurbished brake callipers; custom-made vented front brake discs; refurbished rear brakes; new brake master cylinder, vacuum unit and slave cylinders; re-cored radiator; thermostatically controlled electric cooling fan.
His list of works carried out since purchase is a long one: a full rebuild of the original 390 cubic inch (6.5-litre) V8 engine, with new cylinder heads, pistons, con-rods, camshaft and hydraulic tappets; an overhaul of the original Ford Cruise-O-Matic gearbox, including rebalancing; new universal joints and rebalanced torque tube; completely rebuilt suspension and new shock absorbers; new wheel bearings; professionally refurbished brake callipers; custom-made vented front brake discs; refurbished rear brakes; new brake master cylinder, vacuum unit and slave cylinders; re-cored radiator; thermostatically controlled electric cooling fan.
Clearly this car has been well looked after by someone who refuses to entertain any sort of ‘that’ll do’ attitude.
Summary
Big ‘60s American cars stand out on British roads, and that’s the point.
This car unashamedly makes its presence known, being a big bright red statement piece.
Its next owner will surely enjoy turning heads along the high street of any sleepy British market town, with the comforting knowledge that someone else has already completed the necessary major mechanical jobs.
This car unashamedly makes its presence known, being a big bright red statement piece.
Its next owner will surely enjoy turning heads along the high street of any sleepy British market town, with the comforting knowledge that someone else has already completed the necessary major mechanical jobs.
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