1963 Ford Thunderbird T Bird Convertible - My Car Story with Lou Costabile

On "My Car Story" we're in Fountain Hills AZ on 3-23-14 at their regular Sunday Car Show.
We're looking at a 1963 Ford Thunderbird T Bird Convertible.
The car's Owner is Don McNutt. He's had the car since 2012. The car features a swing away steering wheel for the driver.
ENJOY!

[@craigjorgensen4637]

Extra Nice in every way !

[@loucostabile]

Hi Craig, High praise :-) Lou

[@1royalpalm]

In the fall of 1962 my late uncle bought a new 1963 T-bird convertible (not a sports roadster, unfortunately). He bought the car from Norman Ford of College Park, Maryland. The car was black with white top and red interior (like the car in your video). I was 14 years old at the time, interested in cars, and really impressed with that car. I think the interior impressed me the most, with all the chrome, brushed aluminum trim, and red vinyl seats, door panels, etc. The new car smell was intoxicating! I remember my uncle telling me the T-bird was "Lincoln equipped." The car is just a distant memory now, but I have a factory supplied white covered hardbound booklet (that my uncle gave me) that came with the T-bird, which contained numerous photos of how the car went through rigorous quality control tests, describing the construction and integrity, etc., of the car.

[@loucostabile]

Your Uncle has great taste :-) Thank you for sharing, Lou

[@dj33036]

There were only 450 Roadsters built for '63. Is this a clone or the real deal?

[@loucostabile]

Hi, This car upon lose inspection seems to be the real deal, Lou

[@dj33036]

Lou Costabile A quick check of the data plate would confirm it. Hopefully the numbers match too.

[@thebird9942]

To tell if this is a real roadster the vin number will start off 3Y89 which indicates is a roadster -- if it reads 3Y85 it is a regular convertible -- grab bar below the padded dash on the passenger side should be there -- also the original wire wheels on a roadster are 48 spoke - not 56 spoke -- i have had three 62 and two 63 roadsters in my lifetime and at this time i have a 63 reg conv which i prefer over the roadsters -- taking the tonneau cover off when you need more seating can be a real headache

[@Mr1963corvette]

There were actually only 355 Sports Roadsters built in 1963 out of 5000 convertibles. If it is a sport roadster it will have a grab handle in front of the glove box. Yes one can take a convertible and clone it into a sports roadster with the badging on the two front fenders, add the fiberglass tonneau cover and equipe it with Kelsey Hayes wire rims. Also the serial number on the data plate located on the driver's door inside will reveal if it is a sport roadster. An M code 390 package is very rare they were 340 h.p. with 3 Holley two barrel carbeoraters and were 10.75 to 1 compression versus the 390 Z code 4 barrel which was 10 to 1 compression good for 300 h.p. It had a chrome dress up kit where the valve covers, radiator expansion tank, lid top on the power steering reservoir and the dip stick handle were chrome plated. Only 22 M codes are believed to exist for the 63 Thunderbird making it indeed a very rare bird.

[@dj33036]

@@Mr1963corvette Google is your friend 455 were built.