Ford Motor Company ended production of the Thunderbird on July 1, 2005. It is hard to believe that next summer, we will be coming up on the 20-year anniversary of the discontinuation of one of the brand’s most memorable models. For 11 generations, the T-bird garnered a strong enthusiast following. Does Ford have any plans to resurrect the nameplate? Time will tell.
The Pick of the Day is a 1964 Ford Thunderbird Landau coupe listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Hanesville, Illinois. (Click the link to view the listing)
“Original survivor, one repaint,” the seller says. “All the interior and exterior chrome is there and not dented.”
For its fourth generation, which debuted in 1964, the Thunderbird took on a more formal look when compared to prior versions. This was driven in part by the goal of keeping the car true to its “personal luxury” objective in the marketplace. According to production numbers that were released by Ford and published in Thunderbird Fifty Years in 2004, there were 92,465 units sold in 1964.
Today’s featured car shows well inside and out. While the listing doesn’t include a trim tag, I referenced some online resources for paint colors for 1964, the one that appears to most closely align is code F – otherwise known as “Arcadian Blue.” The contrasting Landau top is a nice touch, although the look isn’t for everyone.
Interior designers called the inside of the car a “jet-age cockpit,” and the instrument panel was referred to as a “flight deck.” A lot of thought went into the layout, and one of the Thunderbird’s most famous features from this era was a swing-away steering wheel which would pivot to allow for easier entry and exit to the driver seat. The seller says that an aftermarket air conditioning systems has been installed, but the system lacks some needed configuration to get it fully up and running.
In 1964, the Thunderbird came standard with a 300-horsepower 390cid V8 mated to a Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission. Included in the classified listing is a summary of the maintenance that has been performed in recent years: Replacement parts include the alternator, voltage regulator, water pump, radiator reservoir, starter, and flex plate. The seller believes that the motor may have been overhauled at one point previously.
“Needs very little work to be back to showroom quality,” the listing concludes.
As the Thunderbird falls deeper into the recesses of automotive history, this car is your chance to keep a classic on the road. The asking price is $15,000 or best offer.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, stop by and view the archives at Pick of the Day.
$15,000.00 for this beautiful square bird is a steal. I’m not in the market for one right now but I’m willing to bet it will get into a bidding war and will sell for better than the asking price. I’ll be keeping a close eye on this one.
My parents had a 64 Thunderbird when I was a kid. The interior was fabric instead of vinyl or leather. And it had all the bells and whistles. The fabric interior is very hard to find.
Definitely, IMO $15,000 for a car like this is a total steal. It will go fast and I hope the seller gets closer to what it probably is worth.
Unless it looks good but sits on a rusted frame!
I had a 64 but only for a few years due to it having nothing but problems. But it is a beautiful car
Howdy, wondering if your 64 T-Bird us still available at $15000? I live in Frisco, Texas (outside Dallas).
Where are you located? Would it be better to fly or drive there?
I’m very excited to see your car. My Dad has on lease from Ford Aerospace at NASA in Houston. Unfortunately, on a trip to California, a drunk driver cut him off and he totaled the car. We really missed that car!
Anyway, feed me some information about the engine compartment, electric stuff, “flappers” etc..
Appreciate it,
You need to reach out to the seller, who can be found within the links in the story, or try clicking on the pics.