1963 Thunderbird top going down

1963 Thunderbird convertible top going back down into the trunk compartment. This is the same system used on all 1961-66 Ford Thunderbird convertibles as well as all 1961-67 Lincoln Continental convertible's.

[@1royalpalm]

In the fall of 1963 my late uncle bought a '63 T-bird convertible. It had black exterior, white convertible top, and red interior. I was 14-years-old at the time and I thought this car was cool! A relatively thin hard bound white book came with the car, with photos showing all the quality control that went into the car, features, etc., which my uncle gave to me. I managed to hang on to it to this day.

[@mikehenson819]

I had an uncle who bought one of these new, and I was mesmerized by it at first sight. 57 years latter and it still has me in awe! And that's why today's cars are lacking so badly that pick ups are more popular.

[@TexasScout]

That car and the 63 Rivera were two of the most beautiful American cars ever made.

[@kellynorris4213]

Great car.

[@dj33036]

You and I are definitely on the same page. I grew up about a block away from a Buick dealership and walked past those Rivieras on the way to school everyday. Most of the salesmen knew me by name because I spent so much time ogling them. The Ford dealership was just a few blocks further and their storage lot could be viewed from the widows of my school. I spent a lot of time there too lol. Across the street from the Ford dealership was the Chrysler Desoto dealer and next door to that was Studebaker. I remember when the Avanti came out. . Ahhh those were the days. I took my first driver test in my Uncle's '63 Thunderbird Landau when I was 16. I wish I had that car today.

[@sdmercuryman]

I agree, but would add a 63 Lincoln Continental convertible to the list.

[@chuckchuck4016]

And a 72 Rivera

[@TexasScout]

@@chuckchuck4016 sorry, that’s a boat.

[@davidhadaway9311]

This brought back memories, especially the roof stopping halfway! I had a 67 Continental and that electro - hydraulic mechanism with its switches, rams, relays, motors and screws would sometimes work like a dream and other times, usually if it started to rain, take quite some persuasion!

[@Iraqkingdom1921]

Beautiful piece of art.....

[@91Kingscrib84]

My dad had his car special ordered from Detroit in 'Steel City blue'. I chamois-washed and dried that car by hand every Saturday, just so he & I would go for a drive together. Turned heads wherever we went. Most beautiful car I'd ever seen, and there was never a day I begrudged carefully going over every inch to make paint & chrome gleam. Sure do miss it. Unlike this beauty, dad's roof matched the exterior blue almost exactly, and he never had to fiddle with the roof as it was going down (or being raised).

[@jamesbarry6979]

Outstanding* thanks for the memories! My dad had 61 falcon 3 on the tree,,, LTD with a 390 than Grand Torino in 73 with a 351....

[@Oldbmwr100rs]

'63 sports roadster, magnificent. Most people have no idea how well built those thunderbirds were built. The doors weighed a good 100+ pounds each on their own, the cars were tanks. Even in the 80's and 90's I'd still see them running around, often with what looked like the original owner driving by the look of it. For an American car, seems some treated them as long term investments, built at a time when the US auto industry was at the top of it's postwar form. I do sometimes look for this series, some are still around and one hell of a nice car even now.

[@kingkrimson8771]

T-Birds of that era were the first American cars to use any kind of rustproofing (galvanized body panels).

[@Oldbmwr100rs]

@@kingkrimson8771 I never heard that, but it would explain why the few I still see around sometimes are not rusted out!

[@TheOrdonje]

Sports Roadsters did not come with rear fender skirts. My guess is this was born a standard convertible and the tonneau cover was added...still, a gorgeous car.

[@Mr1963corvette]

​@@TheOrdonje You are correct. The Sport Roadsters had a grab bar on the passenger's side and came with the exclusive Kelsey Hayes wire wheels introduced on the 62 and 63 Sport Roadster Thunderbirds. They did not have fender skirts on the Roadsters as they would not clear the KH wire wheels. A badge was affixed to the front left and right fenders. If it had a 390 M Code engine with higher compression and 406 heads and three 2 barrel Holley carburetors which was rated at 340 h.p. versus the standard 300 h.p. Z Code 390. The M Code also had a nice dress up engine kit with a chromed valve covers, radiator tank, power steering reservoir top and oil breather cap and a chrome LeMans type air cleaner for the tri power carburetors. That is a rare bird only 27 of the 455 Sport Roadsters produced were ordered with the M Code engine.

[@greyfox78569]

Got to love the Thunderbirds from that era. Literally a Lincoln with the back seat covered up.

[@thyslop1737]

Wow! That T-bird is sweet, sweet, sweet.

[@Yfree4321]

Nice car! I believe the Lincolns of the era had similar mechanisms as well. Complicated as anything, but they sure looked nice when the tops were down. And they were especially nice for a T Bird with the tonneau cover over the back seats, for a smooth flowing look.

[@jillcalhoun276]

Absolutely love your car and have since I wss a kid. My friend's mom had one and it was the greatest thing around. Thanks for sharing and thanks for keeping it in great shape and thanks for showing the unique mechanism of the convertible top. You made my day!!!

[@markus4758]

This Bullet Bird Convertible is dream and also my dream to afford such car, since it is fro my year of birth. For the moment I have to stick with a 2002 Retrobird. Bullet Birds are very rare here in Germany/Europe and mostly offered in not very Good conditions and only few are convertibles.

[@kellybaumann1450]

It's worth what someone is willing to give on a given day.

[@Renny1953]

Gorgeous car. My fav classic vehicle of all time.

[@carsonridge8978]

It's always amazing to watch that. and it's all done with relays & position switches.

[@mittman9977]

That 1963 T-Bird may be the perfect automobile! What a dream machine!

[@keithoneil6711]

Very beautiful amazing looking car beautiful colours thanks friend have a very nice day

[@christopherkraft1327]

What a beautiful Thunderbird convertible, reminds me of my uncles 58 Ford Skyliner ☺

[@bluesharp59]

Nice video and a thumbs up for you.

[@starxlr7863]

Hey, Thank you!

[@bluesharp59]

@@starxlr7863 Welcome also.

[@yamstar1johnson991]

Styled inside and out by true artists.

[@z4bmwz4]

Beautiful car. Smooth on the highway. I owned a white on blue one, in the late 60's.

[@JimmyCruiser_CGE]

Beautiful!!! That is the cleanest T-bird Ive ever seen!

[@starxlr7863]

Yes it really is a clean Tbird when you see it in person. There is nothing else that needs done or replaced at all. I even got to drive it and it runs perfect and so smooth running. Its actually very similar to my 1961 Cadillac.

[@JimmyCruiser_CGE]

+AMCNorthstar 93 Coooool!! I always liked tbirds... That is really sweet

[@starxlr7863]

Channel C.G.E. The 50's and 60's is such a great era for cars. I have really steered away from 70s and 80s cars. There are still certain cars that I like from those decades but you just can't beat the cars of the 50's and 60's. And the Tbird has always been a top icon of that decade for obvious reasons.

[@JimmyCruiser_CGE]

AMCNorthstar 93 Oh yeah, I gotta agree with ya... If your gonna go back, go back! A good friend of mine who is looking for another car of his own at the moment said he really wanted something pre 1980, but now I see him possibly making an offer on a 1964 Ford Falcon. Might as well go pre 1970 if you can help it, they were really built!

[@starxlr7863]

Channel C.G.E. Yes I tell people to go Pre-1970. Haha The 70's was not a good time for the auto makers as that's when quality, style and performance went downhill. Even my parents do not care for 70's or 80's cars except the 79- 85 Eldorado and Seville that I have.

[@paulhayman7407]

I My self just Marvel at the technical engineering that has gone into designing the folding mentel Of The cars Of The 1950-1963 how it all came together

[@dallisb1047]

One of my favorite cars. I had a 61 coupe.

[@stanleycrowder9747]

I have theses that i got in cereal boxes in 60's about 1 1/2 inches. still have, they were hard top convertibles and this one, i guess i have 7-10 total.

[@mazen723]

A very futuristic, indeed .

[@garyvonmirbach8651]

Real steel beautiful 🤩

[@bcgrittner]

I think Robert Conrad would be envious.

[@marksiegel374]

Beautiful car,,way undervalued

[@bobbarham6119]

Those are cool cars. I was about 8 when this was new

[@robertcummings1096]

Beautiful

[@manbunmullet372]

They're calling for rain next Thursday. Better organize a crew and start putting the top back up now.

[@starxlr7863]

That's funny! This was different because its not a car driven much at all. Its a fully automatic top operation that does work great. The biggest downside for these Thunderbirds and Lincoln's of the 60s is not having an trunk space left over when the top is folded down inside.

[@brianferrell4566]

Okay, hands up who else is sporting a woody? These cars were smoking hot.

[@joewoodchuck3824]

I love these older cars.

[@danielsan3681]

Beautiful!

[@danielsan3681]

@Brian Lee Me also. The 55 and 56. 🙂

[@garywood9525]

That car is just like mine back in 1977 for the hood release. The center bar in the grill had a T-handle at the top to pull out and down . It was spring loaded but never went back to the proper position where I had to align it for picture. It didn't have a slot to true it up.....but hey , almost every 1967 Cougar I saw that just left the factory didn't have the headlight cover grill bars trued-up to stop inline with fixed grill for continuity. It's also an imitation Roadster with the fender badge Toneau cover. The real Roadtser had the Grab-Bar for the passenger cowl which matched the interior colour. The VIN data plate will have the Convertible body as 85 where Roadster is 89. In late 61 when the 1962 Roadsters were introduced.... the first one used the code 85 as a Convertible while the dealer order had the Roadster Option to match the VIN id . The 62 clones are harder to spot and you should only pay top dollar if they original Purchase document is with it because the Build Sheet would still show the convertible 85 code with the parts options for rims and other items since the Roadster wasn't assigned an actual Body Stamped VIN in the 4 places or door DATA plate.

[@mikestang679]

She's a clean machine, what's the point of two guys outside helping to put the top in place, something is OFF......

[@jamesw1659]

They weren’t “helping”, one of them was explaining the workmanship on the replacement top. Listen to their conversation.

[@craigjorgensen4637]

No, they were unzipping the plastic rear window so it wouldn’t get kinked. They also folded in the sides so they wouldn’t get bound up. They did what they were supposed to do!

[@mikestang679]

@@craigjorgensen4637 Déjà-vu

[@asteverino8569]

Love this car. Hey, just let me rent it for a weekend. Fully insured. I treat her nice.

[@rabihchaya6974]

Most super beautiful American cars 😍

[@peterj2439]

Beautiful car! ❤️❤️❤️

[@chuckselvage3157]

That's so cool

[@michaelharper4977]

I remember a critic at the time referring to the styling of this car as looking like a "petulant sea bass".

[@Mr1963corvette]

That critic is entitled to his opinion. But that twit had no taste.

[@peterhodges6684]

Simply stunning !

[@carlosochoa8435]

ESTE ES EL AUTO MÁS HERMOSO DE TODOS LOS TIEMPOS EN EL MUNDO, NO EXISTE OTRO.

[@davidbritton1802]

MY FAVE: 1958-&-1961 CONVERTABLES!!! THUNDERBIRDS NEVER DIE!!!! "THEY JUST FLY AWAY"!!!!! T-BIRD'S FOREVER!!!! DJB@NEPA...DJB43....U.S.A....!!!

[@califdad4]

Very similar to the way the top works on a 61-67 Lincoln Continental Convertible. Very nice Thunderbird. The cover over the back seat was factory only in 62 I believe

[@Mr1963corvette]

There were 1427 Sport Roadsters produced in 1962. Only 455 Sport Roadsters were produced in 1963. I own one and I love it.

[@toddknox685]

What an idea Ford had, and what great group of engineers. What they developed in 1957-1959 (retractable hardtops) lived on in the Thunderbird convertibles. Shame Ford has decided to stop building cars and concentrate on trucks. Hey, maybe they will come up with some really great truck ideas.

[@Mark-yy2py]

A Work of art.

[@thatguy6171]

You can hear “You belong to me” by the Duprees faintly in the background. Just thought I should let everyone know

[@russellcaldarola9707]

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!

[@34Packardphaeton]

.... Yeah... but the Lincoln's system automatically unlocked the top from the windshield header --- with the T-Bird, the top still has to be manually unlocked.

[@falcon664]

In 63 the wide whites were not a factory option. Also, the skirts were not available from the factory on the Roadsters, they were too close to the spinners on the wire wheels. The tonneau cover went over the rear seats and could have been added to any convertible later. Whatever the story, it is a beautiful car and the owner can have it any way he likes.

[@richardnone5644]

that car was one of the fist to have a steering wheel that could move over so you had more room to get in it a great looking car the ride was a little spongy but still a fantastic car

[@starxlr7863]

That is my favorite thing about the Thunderbirds from 1961-1966. That is such a neat feature and does make getting in and out easier with no obstruction.

[@JoeFlash1]

Wow. What a car. Geez.

[@TairnKA]

You're mechanic will hate you if it needs adjustment. My auto electric instructor told the class, if someone wanted theirs adjusted, charge them three times the rate and you "may" break even. ;-

[@mudflap8448]

good ol Crystal River floor-Daaaa

[@starxlr7863]

Yup Kings Bay plaza

[@desiderium3243]

Interesting that You belong to Me by the Duprees is in the background

[@starxlr7863]

It was perfect timing with the song playing. Haha

[@beverlyanne5699]

Beauty. Nice Cranberry red too. The design was so streamlined. Not sure why today's designs like to be so boxy and cost more fuel with resistance. Making fossil fuel industry motivated to destruction.

[@roberthart9886]

I had a 1960 cream with tourquoise interior. It was a POS. $40,000 for the pinnacle of automotive art? All day. Every day

[@SimirJohnson]

Not a fan of this gen with the hard top for some reason, but as a convertible this car is stunning!

[@stephenspilker9334]

i will never understand why ford made so many complicated models of convertibles. i do love the car.

[@randybock82]

Id take this over a new look a like suv

[@randallfrank5682]

Boy, it would be "fun" getting that spare tire out of the boot!

[@jimgewalt5471]

Now just to get it fixed so it works.

[@vassa1972]

Neat

[@carloslopes5831]

2 tonnes 2 places but 30/35 Liters/10and no baggage well his a car or atruck?.Nice design...

[@kevinlittell3433]

If it was for sale I'd buy it...

[@packrcch]

i rarely see these at auction. no surprise. who in their right mind would sell this?

[@rick-kx7gy]

Back in '58 my uncle showed up with brand new Ford retractable hard top . Black & white 2 tone with a 312 OHV V-8 automatic trans if memory serves me correct . Skyliner or Sunliner was the model it was called ?.

[@moldyoldie7888]

Skyliner. A 312? You sure it wasn't bigger, like a 352?

[@rick-kx7gy]

@@moldyoldie7888 The more I think about it I bet it was a 352 . My father's '56 Ford wagon ( I learned to drive on ) was the 312 V-8 & 3 on the tree . Dam I'm old .

[@moldyoldie7888]

@@rick-kx7gy If the Skyliner had a "Marauder" insignia on the glove compartment, it was probably a 4 barrel. I didn't work/play on a 312 or their ilk. I recall an overhead oiler accessory was a common aftermarket addition for the 312, etc.. Ya know, this stuff is hard for me to remember, too.

[@MrTbirdteddy]

There are rear seats !

[@kevins1834]

"Whoever did the top deserves and award" then the mechanism hangs up....LOL

[@azmusclecar]

They STOPPED the top so they could fold the plastic window and material to minimize any damage to either. They knew what they were doing.

[@TheOrdonje]

@@azmusclecar exactly... you can stop the top at any point in the cycle..seen some done that way on purpose at car shows.

[@Marc816]

50 - 100 in 19.4 seconds.

[@gingerelvira6587]

Look at the 442 behind it

[@buckolsen6470]

Sweet! Just get rid of those prissy looking wide white walls and it'll look good.

[@williamshumate5242]

Buck Olsen bite your tongue!

[@noangel3652]

40,000 the right price for this classic 2 seater T bird most 1963 T birds were 4 seaters

[@steviedouglas808]

This is a 4 seater, the rear seats are covered with the tonneau cover.

[@craigjorgensen4637]

The wide whitewalls look totally out of place on this car!

[@starxlr7863]

Yes, a thinner whitewall would be my choice as well.

[@kingkrimson8771]

A one-inch whitewall would have been the factory spec if whitewall tires were ordered

[@asteverino8569]

Yeah, wrap it up. Conversation from limbo.

[@sultansuleiman8507]

They don't make them like they used to!

[@starxlr7863]

Yes I agree. Many convertibles have a similar design but are not like this. Ford was the first company that came out with the best style convertible designs and this is one of them. :)

[@sultansuleiman8507]

Yeah, and it's nice to see their roofs are powered too. Were power convertible roofs new in the 60's?

[@starxlr7863]

Tsar Alexander II of the Russian Empire This design here was new for 1961 being an fully automatic convertible system. Power convertibles were around since the 50s. It use to have to be done by hand and I believe the first power tops were on the Cadillac's. The newest options always came out on the high end, upscale brands and models.

[@sultansuleiman8507]

Nice, thanks for the info, friend!

[@starxlr7863]

Tsar Alexander II of the Russian Empire Absolutely :)

[@thomasbaker1961]

Mid seventies with the oil embargoes maybe not that particular model, you could steal those old birds. Gas hogs, twin four barrels and all!

[@dondesnoo1771]

Have one 66 most didn't live thats why they have low miles .one problem I had if you leave running in park would drive away in reverse top never worked for more than once when raining .ons spark plug impossible to remove wo. cutting a hole in fender pan.

[@Intrepid175a]

Is that a factory setup or an aftermarket conversion? I don't think I've seen that before on the T-Bird? Pretty cool either way.

[@larryhutchinson126]

You're JOKING, right? ~~

[@Intrepid175a]

@@larryhutchinson126 - Do I sound like I'm joking? I simply asked a question. I've seen convertible T-Birds but I've never seen one in operation and didn't know they were that complicated. I always thought they were more conventional. Can you actually answer the question?

[@larryhutchinson126]

It's factory ~~

[@Intrepid175a]

@@larryhutchinson126 - Thanks!

[@lars591]

I would not take a dime less than 60 grand for it.

[@talalshaheen8414]

Hi please I want to buy your without

[@talalshaheen8414]

I want to buy your car please reply me your prise to transfer the money 00961065353dr shaheen

[@mtoscano343]

As pretty as a girl can be!

[@benjaminwilliams3568]

What video? There's nothing to watch

[@davidstoyanoff]

If that ain't worth 40 Grand nothing is.

[@victorjohnson7512]

Too bad they don't make "cool cars" anymore. It doesn't matter how much ridiculous horsepower these modern cars have, they're all just plastic appliances.

[@dj33036]

Why, why, why do people put those stupid looking wide white wall tires on these cars?

[@craigjorgensen4637]

No, it wasn't the style! The are totally out of place on a 1963. Spoil the looks!

[@starxlr7863]

Its just a different style that was popular during this era. Personally I like a thinner whitewall on these cars but we were trying to use up these tires before buying another set. This was a few years back and it now has thinner whitewalls now.

[@fonziebulldog5786]

Looked nice.

[@andresferrari5859]

@@fonziebulldog5786 Wide whitewalls were not uncommon back then. My Dad bought a 62 T-Bird brand new ,.. and it had wide whitewalls from the factory. Not as wide as this car has, but I believe they were about 2" wide.

[@fonziebulldog5786]

@@andresferrari5859 👍😊

[@vitothepizzaguy7475]

Americans..