1964-66 Thunderbirds
I'd appreciate hearing from owners of 1964-1966 Ford Thunderbirds - particularly convertibles. I've always admired these cars and hope to own one someday. Let me hear the good and bad about these cars. How well do they drive? Are the seats comfortable? Are these good cars to own? Thanks. I look forward to hearing some insightful comments from you 64-66 T-Bird owners out there.
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I like the styling, especially the sequential taillights. The unit that sequences the taillights often fails but in my Cougars I could usually coax it back to life by cleaning the contacts.
For a mid-'60s personal luxury car I think the 289-302 Cougar is a much better driver, especially the XR-7, but it doesn't have the Bird's over-the-top appeal and there's no convertible.
That being said, the Thunderbird was still too big in the mid 60's, but looked pretty good, and was available as a convertible.
Comfort is also relative, as ergonomics were not thought of the same way as today, dumbed down for the 90th percentile.
Unless you want a convertible, I would check out the 64-66 Buick Riviera as well. Better done execution of the same idea.
Part of this road-hugging weight comes from all the gizmos they have, and probably from lots of sound deadening too. They're body on frame as I recall, and the 390 weighs more than it should. And all that weight is on a wheelbase only a little longer than a Falcon's.
The early Riviera is an excellent driver, quick, decent handling and very solid. Made the '62 Grand Prix I had at the same time feel like a wallowing tin can. The Gran Sport Rivi is a bargain I think, although more car than most people need.
In my opinion, the 64-66 T-Birds were pigs.
I do like the way they look though especially the interiors. Seats are very uncomfortable.
They handle very poorly. They are very hard on brakes and front end parts. The 64's with drum brakes were the worst.
Lots of vacuum lines that caused troubles and electrical glitches.
I'm sure others would disagree but I think you would be buying a major money pit.
Still...running around my town there is a beautiful '65 that always turns my head.
T-Bird...Dean Martin. Has custom wet bar installed.
Riviera...Peter Lawford. A little British, a little Rat Pack.
Avanti...Hugh Hefner. A little quirky, a little weird.
Corvette...anyone with white teeth and a perfect tan. George Hamilton?
Corvair...Bill Gates in his earlier incarnation as Robert McNamara.
The really obvious Corvair choice would be Ralph Nader. "Unsafe At Any Speed" is only partly about the Corvair but it was GM's response--looking for skeletons in Ralph's closet--that launched his career.
I really like the look of the "Flairbirds" particularly the '64. I know the 64's drum brakes are less than steller, but I believe they can be replaced with disc units - at the very least from a '65, but better units are probably available.
In terms of performance, I'm looking for a nice cruising car (hence my need for a convertible). My second choice is a '66 Mustang GT convertible, but nice one's are pretty pricey (though nice T-Birds aren't cheap!).
Neck snapping acceleration and slot-car handling are not priorities on a nice autumn day while cruising in 1960's convertible - that's not the point. In my opinion, if you want to go fast, go buy a new Firebird/Camaro (while you still can) or late model Corvette. You'll spend less money (than for a restored 60's classic) and have an exponentially better car to go romping on a twisty back road.
Anyway, this is a 1964-1966 Thunderbird discussion so let's not wander too far off of the subject. Not trying to be a "stick in the mud" - just trying to keep the conversation flowing in the intended direction.
Thanks ISELLHONDAS for the "heads up" with regard to the confort level on the T-Bird's seats. I'd heard they weren't the greatest.
Again, keep the 64-66 T-Bird comments (good and bad) coming. I appreciate them all.
My best buddy's dad bought a '63 and later a new '65 when we were in high school. I spent many an hour in both of them.
And I was there to pick my buddy up when he would drop them off to get repaired over and over.
My favorite of that series is the '65.
I guess as a straight line cruiser they would be an OK car if that's what you REALLY want.
I don't think many convertables were made.
The ones I can't stand are the 66 landaus. I think that runied the looks of them.
Just my opinion.
Isell...was the Landau that model with the really thick C-pillars that totally did away with the quarter-windows back there?
As for the fuel issue, if you can still smile watching the gas gauge needle bounce as it hits "E", well,then you don't have a problem. The 60s Birds are good "ice cream cars" to drive the kids a few miles, but for serious miles, the Mustang is more competent, I think.
The 75 year olds loved them.
I remember my friends 65 T-bird had a low fuel warning light. First of those I can remember. It was red and not amber.
When it came on it was NOT kidding! You had about 2 miles to find a station.
The swingaway steering was another gimmick that had it's problems. Even when new you had to hold pressure on the shifter while in part to get it to start. Still I loved the speedometers on those. They had numbers that looked like large magnets. Impressive when lit up at night.
The '64 T-Bird convertibles I've found that look like what I want (already restored and in "turnkey" condition) have "asking" prices in the $20,000 to $25,000 range and all available from private sellers. Hopefully, this would buy me a T-Bird that can go down the road pretty well and be able to stay in my garage more than my local mechanic's.
I drove a '65 Mustang convertible the other day that is for sale in my area (Central Indiana). It wasn't in particularly good condition and didn't have power steering or power brakes. Despite these negatives, it drove fairly decently. Though, I didn't want to drive it over 50 mph (didn't feel comfortable to do so).
One positive for the T-Bird (vs. a Mustang) is that I think the Thunderbird has a larger interior - particularly in the back seat. My wife and I have a 10 and 13 year old so back seat room is an issue. I know the Mustang's back seat is really tight.
Ya know, after reading the posts in the "looking for reliable 50-60's family classic" discussion forum, I'm starting to think a 1970-72 Cutlass convertible might be a better choice for what I want. It doesn't have nearly as much style as a 64-65 T-Bird, but it's more modern suspension probably results in a better driving car. Plus, a 350 engine and Turbo 400 auto is a pretty good combo. Finally, it's back seat area is larger than in a Mustang. Plus, you can use the trunk when the top is down (unlike the T-Bird - bummer!).
Speaking of price, I found a very clean, detailed 72 Cutlass convertible for sale via the internet at a classic car dealer in Las Vegas (autocollections.com). This is a Supreme with A/C and IS NOT a 442 or an SX - and still, they're asking $24,500! I've got a good base of knowledge with regard to the values of mid 60's T-Birds and Mustangs and $24,500 seems awfully high for a '72 Cutlass Supreme - albeit an extremely nice one. I know dealers charge a premium and a better deal can be gotten from a private seller.
Consequently, you all now have my permission (ha!) to break rank and give me your opinions in terms of 60's convertibles worth considering. I love the look of the 61-62 Cadillac convertibles, but don't want to have to call in a "tug boat" every time I want to park the thing - or my loan officer in order to keep the gas tank full. Plus, a Caddy convertible worth having is out of my budget.
Again, keep the 64-66 T-Bird comments coming (by the way, I agree the front grill of the '66 is pretty ugly), but I guess I'm now open to hearing about other 60's convertibles.
Gentlemen, the floor is yours.
If you like '60s Ford styling, a great upscale driver would be the '69-70 Cougar convertible, ideally an XR-7 (better, psuedo-Jaguar interior) with the 351-4v Cleveland. They were getting a little jukebox by then but not the full Wurlitzer like the '71.
If it was me I'd go with a '64-67 Chevelle 283 or maybe a '66-7 Fairlane 289, preferably with 4-speed. Good styling, useable back seat, not too big or heavy, excellent engines and good parts availability. But these are also going to feel a little flimsy compared to what you're driving now.
If you like them big and Baroque how about a '65-66 Bonnevile or Catalina convertible? Good styling and drivetrains, great interiors.
I decided I wanted a convertible that was as original as possible, in as good shape as possible, and didn't want to spend more than $8,000 tops. (Since your price is higher, you will have more choices). It had to be something I could inspect myself before purchase, so that eliminated cars across the country. I was not necessarily brand loyal, but it had to be something that I found attractive and something I would want to drive. Lastly, a concern for older cars is to get one that will fit in your garage (measure them, some are huge!)
I ended up with a 67 full size Ford convertible, which surprisingly very few people have ever seen. They are not as expensive as full size Pontiac's or Chevy's, (about the same as full size Dodge or Plymouth), and they built almost 900,000 full size Fords in 1967, so parts are cheap and easy to find. They are not as flashy as a Thunderbird, but they have much simpler electronics and mechanics than the Bird, and people still love them. I also think the 67's are the best looking of the post 64 full size Fords.
Most smaller muscle cars from that period have been so heavily customized or thrashed that I think a full size is a better idea, especially if you can find one that has not been used much.
Keep an open mind, but set some limitations down beforehand.
Much more practical than that T-bird!
Geez, for $25K you can buy a very decent '55-'57 Bird. Crazy prices, especially in today's market. I don't see why you couldn't find a decent 60s T-Bird convertible in the $13K-15K range with cold hard cash in hand.
I agree, GM convertibles of this era are far better vehicles.
Jsylvester makes a good point about the size of some of those old cars though. Back then, I think the typical full-size car was about 78-80" wide. As for Pontiacs, well, I think my '67 Catalina is about 215" long. Bonnevilles usually ran about half a foot longer or more, all of it in the trunk. So if you don't have enough space, a big car may not be that practical.
Another late 60's 'vert I like, which is much more practical in terms of size, is the '67-69 Dart convertible. They're only about as wide as a modern Accord or Camry, but around 195" long, so they're about as long as a current Taurus or Century. Very easy to maneuver in parking as well, because they're squared-off enough that you can tell exactly where the car ends. Most of 'em either had 225 slant sixes or 273/318 V-8's, although the GTS had a very potent 340 as its base motor. Even though they were considered compacts back then, they were still pretty roomy and comfortable.
Chevy's and Pontiac's are going to cost more than other domestics from the period, but you should get the money back out when you sell (subject to the cyclical market conditions). My choice would be Pontiac first, but expect to pay more, and to me condition was more important than the brand to me.
This is because, in general, it is cheaper to buy one already in good condition than to spend the money to restore yourself, unless you have the time and ability. I would try to find one driven by an elderly person if possible, or by someone for whom it was a hobby, and not a daily driver.
I found a good place to look at older cars is on E-bay. The ads tend to have good pictures, it gives you a chance to see what the older models looked like, and the ability to contact the owners. I almost never see any of them hit their reserve price, it is mostly just an advertising forum. You can limit your search to Indianapolis area if you like. Hemmings.com is another good one.
In the end, you will be paying for it, so the most important thing is to buy what you like. For weekend cruising on a nice day, a Thunderbird does sound appealing.
It's ironic that the entry-level makes would sell for more than the upmarket makes--a Buick Wildcat is a much better car than an Impala--but people only care deeply about makes with a sustained racing history. When's the last time you saw a guy wearing a Buick t-shirt?
A car that few people have heard of will be cheaper but it'll also be harder to sell, at least based on my plentiful experience. In a down market there might well be no real interest in the car except as transportation. In a decent market it means you'd be dealing with lots of casual car guys, people with no real interest in old cars except as a momentary fashion statement.
But advertise an Impala SS and you'll get calls from guys who've wanted one since they were ten. You want that kind of emotion on your side when you're selling.
Personally I would never--never--buy a project car, but that's because I a) spent lots of time and money on them in my 20s and 30s and b) have more of an investor attitude now. Most "restored" cars sell at a discount to the time and money invested in them. It's like the seller pays the buyer for the priviledge of spending too much time and money on his car.
I totally agree, buy one that is already done.
And...beware of the term "restored"! This term means a lot of different things to different people.
Earl Scheib has "restored" quite a number of cars!
Agree the the 65 & 66 were kind of plain, and the 68 and later Ford full size were kind of homely, and come 1969, grossly overweight. But a 67 XL with the 428 and 4 speed is appealing, but only 58 convertibles were built that way for 67.
To me, an Impala SS after about 1965 was really nothing special from a styling or powertrain perspective. Seems Chevy focused on the Chevelle then.
Also surprised how the color of the car is as important as it seems to be. On a $7,000 car, who wants to buy an ugly color just to spend 3-4 k to paint it a different one? White and robin's egg blue doesn't look good on a big car to me.
I find restored to be a murky word as well. Get too nice of a car, and you start to feel guilty for driving it. Rule of thumb is if there is not a big nationwide club for a car, it is probably not that popular. Any Chrysler Newport clubs out there?
I've always speculated that the best way to buy a car was to hang around car club meets. The thinking is that if someone thinks they're going to see you on a regular basis they're more likely to give you a better deal, but I've never verified this.
I'd love a '65 Galaxie XL, preferably with a 427/425, but more realistic would be the kind of car a co-worker has, a very clean '65 with 352 and C6. Very tidy styling and they look fairly short.
Unfortunately, now I live in a condo. The garage is about 19'6" x 10'. Now that still comes out to 234", but when I put my 218" DeSoto in there, the 16" extra space, when allocated in front of and in back of the car, doesn't leave much room. Basically, the garage leaves enough room to park the car and that's about it. Forget about trying to do any work on it in there!
I appreciate your insight as to what a nice '64-65 T-Bird convertible should sell for. I'm curious as to what information you base your value estimates on. You mention that $20,000 is high even for a 100pt show car and that $13K to $15K is a more realistic range for a nicely restored example. I tend to base my "seat of the pants" value estimates on auction results (ie., Barrett-Jackson & Kruse) and put only secondary (at best) consideration to asking prices - though I do spend waaaaay to much time scouring the listings at Hemmings.com, collectorcartraderonline.com and Ford/Mustang Trader Magazine.
Admittedly, cars purchased at auction are sometimes purchased by individuals who possess more money than brains and buyers can get caught up in the emotion of the sale. Both of these factors can contribute to auction sale prices being in excess of market value.
Are there additional market sources I should consider in order to accurately(?) value mid-60's convertibles?
Here's my reasoning when I look at prices.
Seems like most of the reliable price guides (NADA, CPI, various auction guides) put a #1 '64-'66 Bird at around $23K-$24K. Now it seems to me that in this economic climate that if you waved $20K in the buyer's face cold hard cash he'd be a fool not to take it....IF he really wants to sell the car....if he's fishing for someone to bail him out of a car he put too much money into (and if he totally restored a '66 Bird, he is upside down in the car), then that's too bad for him.
Now if a 95 point show car could be had for $20K, seems to be a clean driver could be had for $5K -$6K less.
Another factor is that the market for these cars isn't all that hot....they made over 22,000 of them and I don't believe the demand is much more than that. It's not a car "everybody wants" like a '57 Chevy convertible.
So these two factors ---economic climate and supply and demand, tend to stabilize and rationalize the price for cars like this.
Some have indicated the "flair bird" is not a particularly "hot" car and while I know it's not in the class of a Tri-Power GTO, the T-Bird name, in general, is an American icon. Thus, I have to think the T-Bird marque has more staying power than other mid-60's convertibles - and thus would help protect my investment. Furthermore, there are at least 3 major national/international Thunderbird Clubs. Ever try to find a club specifically for a Pontiac Catalina?
I just love the lines and dashboard of the 64-65's T-Birds. If only it had a useable trunk when the top is down . . . .
Looks like the biggest difference is the '66's grille is much taller, and wraps under the headlights. I guess I like it because it's a finer lattice style, and not as chromey as the '64 and the '65.
Parm, if one of these T-birds is what you really want, I say go for it! If it's what you want, a Pontiac just wouldn't be a proper substitute, and you'd still probably be wanting that T-bird instead.
Although running a 2+2 briskly through the gears with the top down on a summer afternoon...getting the full audio effect of 421 cubic inches...feeling the adoring gaze of your wife and kids...what's not to like? ;-)
Remember that? Very popular option on Pontiacs at the time!
Reverb was called different things by the different car mfgs. ford called it Studio-Sonic sound.
These were built by Motorola and pre-dated car stereo tape decks.
They were called Vibrasonic.
The unit mounted in the trunk and was controlled by a knob on the dash. It would delay the sound a tiny bit before it hit the rear speaker.
This gave a wierd echo chamber effect that we all thought sounded cool!
My '65 Riviera had a stock unit.
I have some early jazz recordings that were "enhanced" that way too--they sound like they were recorded in the men's room.
The Ronettes "Walking in the rain" is a great example. Almost like double vibrasonic.
This car didn't have power seats and thus could only be slid fore and aft manually. In 1964-65, only 4-way power seats were available (6-way seats weren't available until '66). I know 4-way includes fore/aft movement. But, don't know if this includes any type of reclining movement (ie., so that the entire seat tilts back). Does anybody know? If the other power movement is simply a vertical up/down then this wouldn't be much help.
After sitting in this Thunderbird, I gotta say that a mid-60's Catalina/Bonneville/Grand Prix sounds pretty good right now. There's a nice '67 GP convertible for sale in my area, but it's not a #'s matching car (400 cid engine is out of a '73 Catalina) and he wants $16K. As usual, this seem rather high - though the rest of the car looks very nice and it has bucket seats and console w/automatic - plus, 8-lug wheels, A/C and a factory 8-track (big deal?).
Any additional information as to what adjustments are typically included in a 4-way power seat movement would be appreciated.
Parm...it sounds like seat comfort is very important to you. Cars of the sixties didn't exactly excel in that catagory.
If you flop the seatback forward, look at the bottom of the seat. There is a bolt and a locknut. You can adjust the bolt in and out to set the seatback angle. Obviously, it can only set while the car is not moving.
It does nothing for the seat bottom, however.