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. It’s been fun and a wonderful learning experience as I relived my youth driving and working on this car, but probably time to move on.After a successful three-year run as a personal luxury car with a back seat, the Ford Thunderbird was redesigned again for 1961. As with previous owners, I have many more $ than this in the car. Yes, the usual 10 mpg, better on long runs.Īsking: $20K. I enjoy it most when just cruising the backroads of Chesapeake, VA. It’s not an all-original show car, but a head-turner at cruise-ins. Weekly 20 mile drives are a pleasure and I’m not concerned about trusting it for 200 mile runs. Summary: I really hate to part with this car. Original and extra parts: Many, including a nice car cover and a spare, period correct Autolite 4100 carburetor. Modifications/work done: front disc brakes, new booster and dual master cylinder, 15” Magnum 500 wheels with 225 BFG tires (speedometer reads accurately), stiffer shocks, heavy duty sway bars front and rear, springs front and rear, halogen headlamps with relay, engine gauges (original gauges work, too), drivers seat moved back 3” for greater comfort, seat belts, Redhead rebuilt steering gearbox, power steering pump, generator replaced with generator-looking alternator, Pertronix Ignitor distributor module and coil, replaced/rebuilt and recurved distributor, rebuilt original carburetor (larger jets), RobbMc mini-starter, FPA headers, 2 1/4” exhaust with Magnaflow stainless mufflers and Vibrant resonators, high flow water pump, high efficiency radiator with auxiliary cooling fan on a switch (rarely used), transmission cooler, converted from road draft tube to PCV with air/oil separator, larger engine valves with hardened seats, Harland Sharp adjustable roller rockers, Comp Cams 255DEH camshaft (RV-type for low rpm torque), aftermarket heavier engine damper, Holley fuel pump. Transmission: Rebuilt by previous owner in early 2000’s. When I drive her on hot days, a cigarette lighter-powered fan keeps us cool.Įngine: 390, rebuilt 0.030” over in 2014 with some power enhancements, about 10,000 miles since the rebuild. Original radio works (I never turn it on…I prefer the sound of the exhaust). Interior: Pearl Beige leather, reupholstered in the mid ‘90’s according to a previous owner, power seats, power windows. Stored in our humidity controlled garage since 2013.Ĭolor: Heritage Burgundy Metallic (the original color), about 20 years since last repaint, in good shape. She has the usual few leaks and very little rust. During my ownership attention was paid to safety, reliability, improved handling and performance (minor). Overall condition: Very good, a driver car. I found her in Rangely, ME where she was kept in a climate controlled garage and driven 500 miles in 5 years. Dubbed the Satin Doll, she was a ribbon winner in small shows. The car was repaired and mostly cosmetically restored by a previous owner, a NASA engineer, in Ohio in the early 2000’s. History: She was a midwest car most of her life, undercoated and garaged by all accounts. I’ve been unable to find suitable storage/maintenance space nearby for my 61 TBird so I will sell it.ġ961 Thunderbird Hardtop, owned since 2013. I’m February 2022 my wife and I will be moving to a retirement community in VA Beach.
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