What Makes The 1963 Thunderbird SO AWESOME!?
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- Опубликовано: 23 янв 2025
- What makes the 1963 Ford Thunderbird such a cool car? Is it the big 390 cubic inch V8? The totally rad door handles that are build into the door? Could it be the steering column that slides over to the right side? Maybe the hidden hood release in the grille?
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First ford with curved side windows too along with Lincoln still way behind Imperial
That scoop wasn't functional from the factory - there was a blocking plate bolted to the inside, someone removed it on this particular car.
And that swing-away steering column needs adjustment - they are supposed to swing away automatically when you put the car into park and open the door.
Hey, you're learning...
(I hope)
The styling, interior and exterior, is awesome! Also, it is not a "derivative" of some other model Ford or Lincoln, and nothing from any other manufacturer was anything like it. It even made the man or woman who drove it look special!
Outstanding American design made with breathtaking confidence and style.
It’s always a hoot to hear someone younger discover a car like this ‘bird and marvel over design, features, and accoutrements which were so common when I was growing up. I remember when this ‘bird series deputed in 1961 and seeing them in the showroom with my dad. Back in the 80’s I came close to buying a black ‘63. The interior looked great, the black paint was flawless. Was not to be, however. I had a guy put it up on the rack and discovered that unibody underside was rusted so badly I doubted the integrity of the entire car and passed on it. Wound up buying a ‘65 Rambler (AMC) Marlin and had it for years.
21 and I've had my 63 for about 3 years, and I love it! So much effort put into making it something special, 1,200 miles on mine, hadn't been registered since 78'
Work of Art!!!
Love my 1963 TBird. I’ve had it about 30 years.
I've regretted selling my '63 Landau. I traded it on a '73 F-100 pickup. I still have dreams where I'm driving it and I'm 76 years old now lol.
What you refer to as chrome down the side of the car is actually stainless steel. The metal trim on the interior was anodized aluminum.
Thanks for the info and for watching!
Very odd automobile?
Does it really matter. Any metal on a car is called chrome. It looks good that's what matters.
The 1963 Thunderbird was always my favorite Thunderbird! Although I never owned one this one is my favorite design!!!❤
Beautiful car. I find it very cool that a man your age has an interest in such vintage cars. Keep up the good work!
Haha - thanks - check out my other videos of my 64 Impala convertible, 64 wagon, and 72 Lemans too!
Nice Thunderbird! My first car was a 62 convertible white with red interior! This was back in 1970! It was great car and fast for what it was! I learned how to work on and fix it! My father and I rebuilt the engine in our house garage! Alot of great memories!
Your thunderbird sounds WAY cooler than this one!
Very nice! My favorite year is 1966. I have had three of them over the years. Prettiest one was white with white and teal green interior . The sequential rear turn signals were awesome.
66. My first car. Was AWESOME. I had aluminum slot cregers. With 70s
LOL..I'm old! I remember when a manually operated remote mirror was the greatest thing since sliced bread.
It still is! Thank you for watching!
I know what you mean I had a 1966 mustang with one
I had one , a wedding present from my husband.. it was Champagne beige. Loved it .A man at the gas station said his Cadillac was heavier than my husband Thunderbird so they went out to the gravel pit and weighed them on the scales
So which one is heavier?!
@@WiringRescue I'm turning blue here too
These are beautiful cars and I’m looking to buy one just like this next year for my daily driver. Just amazing cars
The "swing away" steering wheel was introduced as an option in 1961. It was standard equipment for 1962-1966 T-Birds
My 67 Tbird has it
It's also fine for the lady's, so they can easely en decently get in! 😉
Those t birds are sweet cars,my landlord has a 63' t bird roadster that the top folds into the trunk,it's red and been parked since 1978.
I had one of these !963 T Birds. It was a great car, even in Alaska where I added another leaf to those long rear springs that were never intended to carry any additional weight . Never had a problem with that master cylinder or the engine till a garage replaced those Autolight spark plugs with Champions during a routine tune up. Bad move! Refused to start until we changed them again. Alignment shops hated the front suspension because of what Ford called walking caster. However, it was the only vintage Ford that I had that went where you pointed it. It was great comfort on trips even while pulling my tent camper in those days, good on gas and ever reliable till I traded it off. Should have kept it!
One interesting fact is the wipers were hydraulic and operated off the power steering pump. I didn't know I had a leak in my power steering hose. I tried to make a turn in a heavy rain storm and wipers and power steering went out at the same time. oops
I loved mine and would love to have another. It was huge inside. Lots of power. For it's time the sound system was pretty good even though it was an AM radio. And if you are a smoke the wind wings (windows) were essential. I thought the fender skirts were cool too. I can't think of anything I didn't like about the 63 Tbird.
'63 was the first year they offered an FM radio, but it's a pretty rare option.
@@dj33036I had it. Now I really miss that car.
oh
My very first car was '63 Thunderbird, black/white top, with a bad idler arm and a bad carbeurator, I purchased in late 1973 for $225.00... 👍❤❤😎
That’s a bargain!
I had a 65, and LOVED it!!
They are pretty great! Thank you for watching the video!
I've been driving a 65 for 32 years nothing like it
I have one now, runs but needs a little attention.
Yeah buddy it's a freaking Awesome ride, built the same year i was born, Happy Birthday Thunderbird & Happy Birthday James 😎
My uncle loved the Thunderbirds he owned a bunch of them like about five of them. For years that is all that he drove. They very unique cars and excellent cruisers that were very comfortable to drive.
Your interpretation of this bird is very adorkable dude!
Well played indeed 👍
Why thank you! Just doing what I can to make some entertaining video content with the cars I wrench on! :)
Cool video! This is my favorite old school car.
My parents had a 1962 Thunderbird, my mom called it at her T-Bird.
It also had power windows.
That is one of the most stylist and beautiful T Birds.🇺🇲
Agreed. I really like the 61-63's
This was my mom’s car. Got it new in October ‘62. Hardtop. Color was called Champagne. It was a super cool car. Took my drivers license test in it in ‘67. Those were the days when you had to know how to parallel park. The bird the long, but it parked easy. One problem, people kept stealing the rear fender skirts, so my dad just decided not to replace them anymore. In ‘70, they traded it for a Z-28 Camaro. My mom was really cool.
That’s some great stories. My mom had a 72 barracuda, she was cool too! Thanks for watching the video!
Ratty Muscle Car.......obviously since we had cool moms, that’s why we’re so cool too.😂
My mom had a 64 bird and later a 69 Javelin with a 390
The final year of the rounded design. A fine model year.
Im old but i love those little wing windows so cool! 👍😄
Always loved them. I built many models of TBirds. Owned many Fords, but never a 'Bird. Missed that one.
Maybe you should treat yourself to a T-bird! You deserve it! Thanks for watching!
THE BEST THING THAT WOULD MAKE THIS 63' THUNDERBIRD AWESOME... IF I OWNED IT 😎
Lol. There are many of them out there! Treat yourself!
Wow! A blast from MY past!
In 1986, I met my then to be wife. We decided to move in together, we had to make some decisions about what would stay and what would go.
As we went through a draw of keys I found a set of Ford keys with a Thunderbird key fob.
I asked when she had a T- bird....
She said she still had it!
It was stored in a garage out in sticks.
It was nearly perfect!
Ok .. maybe not perfect but very close.
It's "Ford-o- matic" was shot.
So it couldn't go in reverse ...
She took me out to see it.
We freed up and put air in the tires, and pushed her out into the daylight it hadn't seen in 25 years.
After a little work (new ??? Ford C-6 transmission out of a Lincoln)
New front brakes disc instead of drums, a rebuilt power steering pump and a replacement air conditioner compressor and new tires it was good to go!
My wife gave it to me.
It was the greatest gift any one ever given me.
I actually teared up!!!
The $5000.00 engagement ring and wedding bands were small change to me.
Nothing would ever take it's place. We still have that car, it's only driven on sunny days and we take it to car shows.
The most beautiful car ever built in that period.
The car is 60 years old.
I'm 63.
I'm lucky to have it.
Thats a REALLY cool story. Thanks for sharing it and watching the video!
Tom, you're lucky to have that wife as well. 😊
Lucky ALL the way around, continued joy in a union that started off 'right'!
Yes you are lucky, both wife and car!
THAT is known as the SINGLE POT OF DEATH. Changed my 63 Dart GT Conv. to a dual pot.
I had a 61, still in love with it. Didn't have the 390, but I felt like a million bucks (I was only 20 then). Great video.
Great story! Thanks for swinging by here to check out the video!
I knew a lady that bought one new. She was a backyard mechanic and did all her own work. Her dad was a mechanic and taught her everything as a young child.
That a good year , my favorite thunderbird.
One of the most beautiful cars ever sculpted and built. The early 60's were the best looking TB's built.
Bullet Birds were neat. They were available in 4 trims. Base, Landau, both hardtops, and Base and Sports Roadster, both convertibles. These were the only years Sports Roadster was a factory model. 64-66 had a Roadster tonneau that was available from dealers, but would fit any convertible.
Great info! Thanks for watching the video and sharing the knowledge!
I’m glad I watched this, I have a 63 390 car with ac.. need to get it back to its glory
Absolutely! If it helps motivate people to wrench on their cars - I’ll consider this a giant win!
Beautiful bird!
Agreed!
That 3rd gen T-Bird was the one that started my love affair with Thunderbirds when I was about 8 years old and one was displayed in the showroom of the local Ford Dealership a half block from my house. Man, I wanted Dad and Mom to get one!
I had a very similar experience, Roeper Ford in Maplewood Missouri was just two blocks from my house. I remember them having a yellow Landau on their show room floor. I was 14 and thought it was the most beautiful car in the world.
I rebuilt the 390 and the Cruis-o-matic on one. I like the older '58.
Totally AWESOME.
Agreed! Thanks for watching!
I like the way the door panels integrate into the dash, Very cool.
Surprised this car didn't come standard with pwr windows.
At the time, the T-Bird was pretty expensive, like 75% more than the new Mustang that was introduced a year later.
This must be a “base” trim, therefore manual windows and no A/C.
In the 60s a lot of stuff was optional
My family has a 62 that my mom and dad bought brand new. Ours has manual windows and no AC as well. and yours is the only other one that I've seen equipped that way. These cars were quite high-end for their day and most had all the options.
Thanks. Looking at one on Friday. Manifold gasket
Has blown but it looks great. Thanks for the information
Great updated Video Bro such a stunning ride
Nice car , love the old T. Birds
Same here!
Unibody vehicles are always interesting to work on
I had a 63 t bird in high school. would love to have another...
Find one and treat yourself! You deserve it!
Awesome car my man! I have a 67 Fordor in triple black and love it! Seems like I’m a one of a kind out here in Northern Va as I can find anyone else with a Thunderbird to hang/cruise with!
Never seen a navy blue one. Pretty!
Love Thunderbirds.
Same!
This is my dream car. Born the same year as me.
Love those birds
Same here!
Nice Car !Good Video
Thank for showing these little things that most people do not notice I have work on many of these t bird I work for for 20 yrs in the hy performance for ford linc mercury development thanks. L.#. K.
Thanks for watching! I appreciate it!
Love older thunderbirds way nicer then now days
I wish Ford Would remake the 62-63 Thunderbird man that was a beautiful looking car.
@@robertsamson4610 I agree
In 1966 the year of my High School graduation, I bought a 1963 Thunderbird from Galaxy Ford in Chicago for $1,300 as I recall. Only had it for a few years, and moved on to a 1966 Dodge Charger. But now that I look back, it was a beautifully designed car, and with the 390, it drove like a dream. Not the hottest thing on the road, but plenty fast.
Anodized aluminum. This one is pretty bare bones as well. You could get a 63 Tbird with AC, power windows, power seats and power locks. No cruise though, that came out in 1964 with the new bodystyle. These are cool cars and for the price a great classic car to own. Interesting thing about the car, in 1961 Ford glued the rear view mirror to the windshield. This was the first car that did that.
Thanks for the info and watching the video! I didn’t know that fun fact about the rear view mirror! That’s excellent!
Beautiful 😍
That would be real dope!
Learned to drive in my dad's '63.
I'm building a 61 now! Has the best hood!
I agree! I think 61's are a better looking car all around!
I live in South Wales UK and a local man has a 63 thunderbird in a light metallic blue colour and it's immaculate and I love it, it's enormous compared to British cars and it takes up the whole lane when going down the road.
Yes, these 1960's cars have a presence, especially when compared to the British cars at the time!
Also first car with rearview mirror glued to the windshield opposed to the top frame of the windshield which was hazardous
Yes! I remember reading about that! Thanks for sharing, and watching the video!
I love the 66-67 Tbird Convertible, wish I bought one back 30years ago and keep it till now days
They are sweet, and more of them out there. Buy one and enjoy like you are 30 years younger!
I redid my front end and let me tell you… those springs are some of the most difficult to remove… I bought an OTC tool and it broke and the spring almost killed me.. luckily it popped out the front of the da under the bumper.. always use a snap on spring compressor for these cars!!!
Good info! Luckily I have no reason to take the springs out of this one!
Awesome indeed!
Haha - this one I won’t hide! Thanks for watching.... again!
They also had a special jack
Wasn't a big fan of the Square Bird 58-60, but the Bullet Birds 61-63 were awesome! I don't remember the 64-66 having a nickname but I liked them too, just not so much the Landau version during that period. Too much blind spot.
I called the 61 to 63 Thunderbirds "torpedo cars".
I lost brakes on my 1962 T-Bird on the offramp of I-694 to White Bear Ave on the way to Maplewood Mall in St Paul. I dropped the car to Low to get as much engine braking as possible. I ran over the divider that separated the right turn lane and the forward lane to slow me down further. And then I yanked it hard right to merge with traffic. That was back around 1974 or 1975. The brake line had rusted out.
So you survived, and so did the thunderbird!! I’d call that a win! Great story!
@@WiringRescue Yes, not a mark on either of us!
@@WiringRescue Now here is "the rest of the story". I was 19 and had steel balls and a granite brain. I drove all the way home, 45 miles to Deer Park, Wi WITHOUT BRAKES. I tried to get a garage to help me first but they did not have flare tools and fittings. So, I took a chance. I made it home without event! I used the engine braking and make use of ample lead time at all intersections. But, hey, I had plenty of experience already having towed cars with log chains down many highways without letting any slack develop on the chain. (I was always the guy in the car being towed). I would NEVER these things now that my balls are a bit more delicate and my brain is fully developed!
humbuckerpickups - hahaha. Great story (again)! Thanks for sharing it. I love hearing stories like this.
You'll notice above the headlight dimmer switch there is another small pedal. It's called the "emergency brake". It's used for - wait for it - emergencies. It is a mechanical linkage connected to the rear brakes and stomping in in an emergency will stop the car. It has no connection to the hydraulic brake lines.
...hey, Jeremy...
...nice educational video regarding the 3rd gen Thunderbird...
...the final year of this generation ( Ford had instituted a 3-yr. cycle for its models back in the early 50's to reduce the massive outlays for tool and die switchover...saving the company mega$$millions...)...
...this design makeover, as with the first 2 gens was overseen by a ypung designer named Bill Boyer, who was retained by the company to help develop what Henry Ford II termed " the personal car"...
...produced at Ford's Wixsom plant in Dearborn...these Burds were all equipped with a 390cid)5.4L FE V8 which had been T-Birds Performance power plant...
...these Birds were featured prominently in the '61 Inauguration Parade...thanks to Kennedy's close friendship with Robert McNamara...who was later picked as JFK's Defense Secretary...
...and though sales figures were lower than the record-setting '60 models...a respectable at just over 63,300 buyers...
...a Landau Coupe was featured, fitted with vinyl roofs...a rarity at the time... high a Sports Roadster ( removable fiberglass cover for the rear seats ) was lavishly touted in the automotive press, but due to its hefty pricetag, only 455 were sold...
...keep 'em coming, good sir...🤔👍💙😎
That’s a ton of great info! Thanks for sharing it and watching the video of course!
Just picked up a clean 63 everything electric even the windows
Awesome! Congratulations on the new ride!
The door panel is aluminum you would be amazed at how far back aluminum has to been used for
Round tail lights are a kiss of death in car sales.
I dunno - my 64 Impala has round tail lights, and it’s a pretty hot ticket!
@@WiringRescue Ok u got me there ....lol. Good come back. Nice classic of CLASSICS. 2. Door 64 empala😞
New for 1963 unique in all the world Fords new Thunderbird! How do you wanna go Boat, Plane, Thunderbird?
Mine is FMC Caspian sea blue with same color turquoise interior convertible roadster With tonue cover. The only way to Fly !
61 to 66 are the best year tbirds in my opinion with 64 to 66 being my personal best .
If it were up to me, the headlight dip switch would be back on the floor where it belongs.
My mom had one in about 63.
Well done you tubee.
Thanks - if you like this, you may enjoy some of my other automotive content too! Browse around, and thank you for watching!
The Thunderbird, except for the 70s are some of the best looking American cars ever produced, don't forget also other beauties, 68-70 mustang, 70 Cuda, Charger, Challenger, 60s Impala's, and 57-62, 63, 68-72 Corvette. 🇺🇸👍
My brother had one. Does your seat swivel so you can step out?
This one does not swivel. It would be cooler if it did.
Awesomeness 👌
I think so too! Thanks!
The windshield wipers are hydraulic powered by the power steering pump. Infinitely variable.
I have a 61 that lost it's brakes being deliver and this might help figuring it out knowing now that is a single chambered master cylinder
My mom's car that I learned to drive at 12yr in 1969 lowered with supreme rims
I had a cherry 63 back around 1985 ish.. Butternut Yellow with black leather int. My back was wrap a round... different from this one. Man - if had that car now.
The steering wheel slide to one side?
Yes, just to the posse get side!
Do you have any vids on 1964 Tbirds?
Sadly I don’t. I owned one years ago, but never made a video on it. :(
You missed an opportunity to mention something really strange and cool about the windshield wipers. The reason you had to have the motor running when you showed them in operation is because they are hydraulic and are powered by the power steering pump on the motor!
Good point! Ah well. Thanks for watching!
I had one very cool car.
You're quite fortunate to have one of these. Two high school classmates had a 62 and a 64. The 64 looked like an airplane cockpit at night when lit up, especially with all that chrome. And yes, that car could fly. Bumping into another car destroyed the voltage regulator and destroyed the dash instruments. The car was never the same afterwards. Stupid thing Ford did.....putting that regulator between the grill and radiator bracket. Stupid just stupid.
Bonus! Extra footage this time around! One more time for fun!!!
Yes! Sorry about that. I made the first one, then I realized that there were more cool features that I should show. So I tried again! ;)
I'd love to hear from you brother, On 5/20/23 The Big 60 ✌️
I think its a bird beak on the front and not a bullet.
Thanks for the vid of this awesome car
3:25. The key had to be on the left because putting it on the right would have interfered with the swing steering column mechanism.
The 64+65 GTO’s had them on the left side of the column as well. They were a bit higher though and sadly, didn’t have the swinging column. Thanks for watching!
@@WiringRescue To this day, Porsches have the ignition switch on the left. I made my comment because there was a reason that Ford put the ignition on the left and that was because of the swinging steering column. Had the switch been higher on the dash away from the steering column, Ford would have been able to put it on the right. FYI, my dad had a gold '63 with a black Landau top. The top was actually made of rubber. Nice video!
Ford had the ignition on the left for years. The last year for that was '64. Starting in '65, they put it on the right.
@@gordonvincent731 My 55 & 56 had the switch on the left.
We had a red '61 T'bird ragtop. I think it had A/C. Occasionally, those wipers would meet end to end. The top retracted into the trunk, much like today's convertible hardtops. Incredibly complicated system of electric motors, limit switches, hydraulics, etc. Inevitably, it stopped working in mid-sequence with the top down and the trunk lid nearly vertical. That prompted one of my dad's most colorfully profane denunciations of FoMoCo.
Awesome story! I'd take a red 61 convertible with a broken roof ANYTIME! haha
On the old Perry Mason series they had several T Birds, most were black rag tops. But one car ........was a rag top 62 (I believe) but not a bird. Would LOVE TO FIND OR BUILD ONE myself. Wish I knew what it was....something about a 'star' I think.
@@Rev22-21 Probably a '62 or '63 Oldsmobile Starfire. Very gaudy car with an 8- or 10-inch brushed aluminum strip running the length of the car at the waistline.
@@Rev22-21 Perry had a Lincoln in a lot of his shows.
@@daveriley6310 In 1967 I traded a 1959 Chevy Impala convertible in on a 1963 Olds Jetfire. A cool car.
I found one of these at a car lot, it's been abandoned for 7 years and the hood won't open, one of the latches is stuck and it has power windows
What are you waiting for? Go buy it!
@@WiringRescue me and a friend are planning on it, but I need a job and it's in pretty bad condition, the person who person who left it there apparently died, so the car lot owner can't technically sell it to me
The reference Bullet Nose must be newer. I think these were called the jet-age or space-age bodies.
They were often referred to as Bullet Birds, never heard them referred to as Bullet Nose.
Only 'bullet birds'
@discerningmind, they certainly were referred to as jet-age or space-age by reviewers and the media, owing to their radical (for the time) design. But in the T-Bird community, the '61 through '63s have come to be identified as Bullet Birds, as a way to differentiate them from the next generation 'Square Birds' of 1964 through '66.