300hp 352ci 4bbl V8/Cruise-O-Matic/Power Steering & Brakes/Drivable Project Car

1960 Ford Thunderbird Hardtop

”Just say Thunderbird! The very name evokes an image of glamour and spirit and distinction. You find another car with lines so clean. So unaffected. So smart. Nor can anyone approach the Thunderbird for performance. Because no other car combines Thunderbird’s compact size and handling agility with Thunderbird’s mighty power. No wonder the 4 passenger Thunderbird is such an historic success!” The cover page text from the 1960 sales brochure.

For consignment, a 1960 Ford Thunderbird hardtop with 2,109 miles, but the true miles are unknown due to a PA title exemption. 92,843 Thunderbirds were produced in 1960, the final year of the successful second generation which sold about 200,000 in the three years between 1958 and 1960. 

Exterior
Soothing Corinthian White paint adorns this long car with wide set dual headlights that dictate the personality of the car as the face also includes a wide gaping grille surrounded by a robust chrome bumper, bumper guards, and a centerpiece that bisects the mouth. In lieu of a center hood ornament, two fender ornaments emerge at the front of each, in symmetrical harmony with the side mirrors closer to the windshield.  The straight shoulder line of the car is accented by the sculpted arrow body line low on the car which starts on the door, absorbs the fender skirts, and widens at the rear fender. The hardtop and its right angle fits like a canopy over the curved windshield and nine accent trim pieces are in the back for no reason other than design. Six tail lights at the end of a sculpted trunk and flanking fins are unlike any car on the road, then or now! 14-inch wheels carry 215/75R14 tires with a late 2024 date code. Imperfections include crazing, chips throughout, general age and patina, scuffs, scratches, rust in bumper filler seams, rocker panel, wheel openings and at door handle, bubbling and blistering, and filler in several places.

Interior
The arrow on the outside of the door is mirrored on the door panel where a brown vinyl template surrounds a concave chrome arrow which in turn houses the door pull and armrest and the window crank handle. The other major portion of the door panel is stitched beige vinyl and both doors present well. Beige inserts of the vinyl seats wear ornamental buttons and are surrounded by brown on low backed bucket front seats in very good condition mirrored by the 2+2 configuration in back. A white plastic steering wheel, ribbed for grip, includes a chrome horn ring and column shifter fronting a dash that is backed by polished lined metal and has three white faced gauges in a brown sculpted dash surround with some chips in the color. This lined metal repeats in front of the passenger and serves as the glove box door and surrounds the vintage AM radio. State of the art for 1960, the center console hovers over tan twist carpet and matching rubber mats, all under a perforated headliner that is in good shape showing one tape repair. The entire trunk is covered in a period plaid mat and vintage rubber mat, all showing some age and use

Drivetrain
A driver quality bay reveals the 352ci V8 with patina, supplied fuel by a 4-barrel carburetor and wearing yellow valve covers and a body colored air cleaner housing. Power, 300 horsepower to be exact, is transferred to the rear wheels via a 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic transmission and the Ford 9” rear has 3.10 gears. Power brakes and power steering are on board. 

Undercarriage
Driver quality here as well with surface rust, oil present under the engine and or rear diff, and some grease build up on the knuckles. There’s also some surface rust on door bottoms. The dual exhaust flows from the engine and meets glasspack style mufflers then immediately exits straight polished tips. Coil spring suspension is found in the front and leaf springs in the rear while power drum brakes are provided on all four wheels. 

Drive-Ability
She starts right up and idles smoothly and moves with decent power onto the test loop where the car tracked straight, hit turns with little body roll, and was able to slow and stop with confidence. Our test reveals that all systems and functions work as they should on this well sorted and clean Thunderbird. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase. 

A clean interior and straight body panels means this is a fine candidate for a bit of TLC to graduate to show car potential. Second generation Thunderbirds were striking looking cars, holding on to some of the elaborate styling of the 50’s and incorporating the sleekness and slab sided cars that would define the 60’s. We invite you to check this one out.

0Y71Y192546

0-1960
Y-Wixon, MI Assy Plant
71-Thunderbird Hardtop
Y-352ci 4bbl V8
192546-Sequential Unit Number

WARRANTY PLATE

BODY 63A-Thunderbird Hardtop
COLOR Y-Gunpowder Gray
TRIM 8Y-Beige Leather
DATE 12W-September 12th
TRANS 4-Cruise O Matic
AXLE 3-Ford 9” 3.10 Conventional 

Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that’s more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit [hidden information] or call us at [hidden information]. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price. All prices are before state, city and county tax, tag, title and license fees. Out of state buyers are responsible for all state, county, city taxes and fees, as well as title/registration fees in the state that the vehicle will be registered. Classic Auto Mall is not responsible for errors and omissions. Please verify listings with dealer. Vehicles may require VIN verification and/or safety and emissions inspections to transfer ownership and register the vehicle in the declared state of residence. Please check with your local DMV office to ensure compliance with your state’s titling and registration process.

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