We don’t know if it’s the 2-barrel carb version at 265 hp or the 4-barrel at 320. We’re told the 390 cubic inch engine is stuck, which was the only engine choice for the Thunderbird in ’61. This 1961 T-Bird looks to have been dormant for quite some time if the amount of dust, dirt, and grime on it are any indication. ![]() The source for background info was Automotive Mile Posts. ![]() While sales were surprisingly off slightly from the prior year, Ford sold 73,000 Thunderbirds for 1961, with 85% of them being coupes like the seller’s car. The ’61 T-Bird quickly gained celebrity status by serving in the inauguration parade for President Kennedy (Ford executive Robert McNamara was Kennedy’s new Secretary of State) and appearing as the pace car for the 1961 Indianapolis 500 (both used T-Bird convertibles). Another goodie was its “floating” rearview mirror which was mounted to the windshield glass instead of at the top of the windshield. With the transmission in Park, the steering wheel would slide some 18 inches to the right. One of the most creative options on these cars was the highly touted ‘Swing Away’ steering wheel which provided easier access to the driver’s seat. One of the advertising slogans for the third generation T-Birds was “Unmistakably New, Unmistakably Thunderbird” and that’s not likely an overstatement. The car is in Morristown, Minnesota and available here on Facebook Marketplace for $2,700. This 1961 coupe looks to have been inhabiting a barn for quite some time, but there are some rusty floors and a stuck motor to be dealt with. It featured sleeker, less boxy styling than its 1958-60 predecessors and could arguably be considered the best-looking of the T-Birds, except for maybe the original 2-seaters. The top offer at the time of writing is $5,000, but of course, there’s a chance it’ll go higher as we approach the last hours of the bidding wars.After a successful three-year run as a personal luxury car with a back seat, the Ford Thunderbird was redesigned again for 1961. There’s no rust on this barn find, and this is clearly good news for someone planning a full restoration, especially given the car has been sitting for so long.Īs for the price, this is something we’ll find out in about 6 days when the auction comes to an end. The odometer indicates about 37,000 miles (59,500 km), and the seller says this is fully accurate. This Thunderbird is also unrestored, so everything you find inside and outside is exactly the way Ford wanted it to back in 1961 when the vehicle rolled off the assembly lines.Īnd last but not least, the mileage is impressively low as well, which kind of makes sense given the car has been sitting for a long time in a barn. This means both the engine and the transmission are still there, and while the car drives, it should still be towed because the radiator leaks. ![]() Then, it’s complete, as no parts seem to be missing. ![]() Of course, a visual inspection is definitely recommended to sort this out and determine what was the original color of the car. eBay seller shelbob originally said the black finish you see in the photos is fully original, though, on the other hand, they claim there are signs the Thunderbird actually left the factory in lavender. But the 1961 Ford Thunderbird convertible that we have here appears to be ticking pretty much all the boxes that you can have on a list for a restoration candidate.įirst of all, it’s fully original with one unclear exception: the paint.
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