![]() As a result, the Thunderbird would soon find itself upsized again and, as the 1960s ended, equipped with an extra set of doors. ![]() Thunderbird reached its Swan Song, as Ford prepared to make room in the lineup for the upcoming sport coupe, the Mustang. (Image/OnAllCylinders – Patrick Miller)īy 1963, the third-gen. The 1961 Thunderbird was also the first car to have its rear-view mirror attached to the windshield-a feature that’s pretty much standard on cars nowadays. (Image/OnAllCylinders – Patrick Miller)įor 1961, Thunderbirds were offered in both a convertible and hardtop, but in 1962 a “Sport Roadster” package was offered that used a hard tonneau cover to conceal the rear seats of the convertible, mimicking the look of a two-seater-though it wasn’t a hot seller at the time. T-Birds could also be equipped with power windows, power seats, and air conditioning. The redesigned 1961 Thunderbird’s interior featured a handful of clever innovations-including a swingout steering wheel that lets you get into and out of the car more easily. We have found this is a very good mix of hardware and will be more than you need when changing out. The 390 was the only available engine from 1961-63, though starting in ’62 you could opt for a 390 equipped with a trio of Holley two-barrel carburetors that made closer to 340 hp.Ī three-speed automatic was the only transmission you could get. This complete bumper hardware kit comes with 6 7/16'-14 x 15/16' CAD plated faceted-flange lock-nuts, 6 7/16'-14 NYLOCK nuts, 8 regular 7/16'-14 hex nuts, 2 7/16' lock-washers, 2 7/16'-14 X 1-1/2' hex-head bolts, and 6 7/16'x14 bumper bolts. Since the one we spotted is a 1961 edition, under the hood likely resides Ford’s then-new 390ci FE big block engine good for around 300 horsepower. Note how the fender and bumper meet to form a point up front-a styling trait that earned these third-gen. 1966 Ford Thunderbird Dash Wood Grain Applique, Under Steering Wheel, Without A/C. 1964-1965 Ford Thunderbird Dash Wood Grain Applique, Under Steering Wheel, Without A/C. Thunderbird was not only tapped as the Pace Car for the 1961 Indianapolis 500, it was also used in the inauguration parade for President John F. 1966 Ford Thunderbird Dash Wood Grain Applique, Slide Away Steering Wheel Panels. ![]() 1961-1963 Ford Thunderbird Door Edge Guards, Stainless Steel. 1963 Ford Thunderbird Door Panel Aluminum Trim, Right, Coupe Or Convertible With Power Windows. bumper - to- body rubber cushions or gaskets. 1961-1963 Ford Thunderbird Vent Window Handle, Left, Chrome, No Button. We know it’s a 1961, thanks to the horizontal side trim pieces on the rear flank, the shape of the taillights, and the horizontal grille treatment up front. 1961 By 1961, two generations of Thunderbirds had flashed across the. So yeah, even though the Thunderbird nameplate itself was less than ten years old, it was already in its third generation-one the earned the nickname “Bullet Bird” thanks to its long pointed “beak” up front. (Image/OnAllCylinders – Patrick Miller)ġ961 marked the first year of the T-Bird’s third generation that spanned from 1961-63. Here’s a good look at the quartet of horizontal flutes on the Thunderbird’s rear flanks and the unique taillight design that immediately tell us this is a 1961 model. The documentation readily available to the average restorer or mechanic on many other cars is not as extensive or complete.We spotted this 1961 Ford Thunderbird convertible in the Summit Racing Retail Store near Akron, Ohio. We're lucky to have incredibly well-illustrated original shop, body and electrical manuals for our birds. (Fits all Ford body styles except Station Wagon) 3.99. 1961-1963 Ford Thunderbird Trunk Lock Ornament Assembly, Chrome, Includes Base & Cover, Coupe. 1961-1962 Ford Thunderbird Front Brake Shoe Adjusting Spring. 1961 Ford Thunderbird LED Tail Light Lenses & Flasher, Red Lens With 41 Red LEDs. Of course, the other thing is that often it won't be known (or obvious) how an assembly was put together or installed at the factory. 1961-1963 Ford Thunderbird Brake Booster Vacuum Fiber Washers, Pair. Since I lost my second pair of hands (my son) when he got married and moved to Tennessee, I'm usually working on cars by myself these days and have found you have to think things though a bit more carefully and sometimes get very inventive. Classic Industries offers 1996 Ford Thunderbird Bumper Components. If you're reinstalling something as massive and heavy as a Bullet Bird bumper assembly and you're doing it alone, then it might be a lot easier (and perhaps safer) to get the main piece on and aligned properly and then add on the grill and other pieces - always assuming that's practical. Alan is quite right that the first thing to do is think about re-assembling something the way it was done at the factory, but there are a couple of mitigating factors that could cause you to do it differently:
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