Location: Santa Monica, California

$42,900 USD | Sold

Although the two-seat Thunderbird had been discontinued after 1957, there remained a constituency committed to a sporty car. To satisfy this demand, a Sports Roadster adaptation of the T-Bird convertible was introduced for 1962, making two seats out of four.

To create the Sports Roadster, designer Eugene Bordinat designed a fiberglass cover for the convertible’s rear seats, with raised headrests for the front buckets and a closure panel between them. Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels, a passenger grab bar on the instrument panel, and special emblems on the front fenders completed the package, which was made a separate body style, designated 76B. Fender skirts were not available, since they would have interfered with the faux knock-off hubs on the wheels.

Painted in sultry Sahara Rose, a Thunderbird-only color, this car has matching vinyl upholstery, accented with white. The carpets match the seat and body color. In addition to the requisite Sports Roadster equipment, it has factory air conditioning, windshield washers, modern cassette AM/FM stereo with Thunderbird faceplate in the original radio location; power steering, brakes and windows.

Body contours are very good, with the exception of a small right rear fender flaw. The paint is generally excellent, as is the brightwork. An apparent nut-and-bolt restoration; the car is very clean and well detailed underneath, and the engine compartment is correct in nearly every respect. The engine is the 300-hp version of Ford’s 390-cid Interceptor V-8. P215/75 R14 Dunlop whitewalls are mounted on the Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels, giving the whole car the coveted sporty look

https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/ca14/lots/r0125-1963-ford-thunderbird/