1965 Ford Thunderbird - BEST YEAR OF THE SQUARE BIRDS! RIDICULOUSLY LOW RESERVE

1965 Ford Thunderbird Coupe Description

1965

Ford Thunderbird

Believed 96,400 Original Miles

VIN 5Y83Z119786

There’s an old saying in the collector car world: Any vehicle can be restored, given enough time and money, but it can only be factory-original once! If you follow our auctions, you’ll notice we’re able to offer some of the nicest, local low-mileage vehicles anywhere and this T-Bird Coupe is a perfect example! The car has had only two owners, been driven very sparingly over the past five decades, was sold new and has always lived here in the Seattle area. It came brokered to us from the second caretaker. We believe from the owner's presentation (and the car’s condition) that the less-than 96,400 miles registering on the odometer are accurate. Isn't this just the perfect thing to spend that Christmas money your granddad (or your grandkids, if you're my age) sent you for the holiday?

I’ve spent the last few days driving this solid boulevard cruiser on my rounds and really enjoy the way it runs and drives out. Take it anywhere and you'll get a thumbs-up at every traffic light!

For potential bidders, here’s how the VIN Code breaks down:

6 = 1965 Model Year

Y = Wixom, Michigan Assembly Plant

83 =2 Door Hardtop

Z = 390 V8 with 300 HP & 10.1 Compression Ratio

The door data plate spells out the following:

Body: 63A = 2 Door Hardtop with a conventional roof

Color: E = Silver Mink Metallic (still in the original color)

Trim: 26 = Textured black vinyl interior

Date: 30K = October 30, 1965 Build Date

DSO: 74 = Seattle Sales Area

Axle: 1 = 3.00 Gears

Trans: 4 = 3 Speed “Cruise-O-Matic” Dual Range Automatic

The MSRP was $4,486

If you have questions or would like to discuss a sale before the end of the eBay listing, feel free to contact me. My name is Mark Thompson and my number is 206/914-1173. What you see in my photos is not the result of a detail, this car came to us in this superior, original condition!

CONDITION:

The photos really do tell the Thunderbird’s story. I’m always happy when we come across these well-preserved, original vehicles and are then able to offer them here to you!

I’m not a body or paint professional, but I don’t find evidence of exterior repair having been done. Because the car has always been garaged and driven sparingly, we’ve found NO body rust. Feel free to climb over, under and around this rig - I absolutely know you’ll come up smiling! The "Silver Mink" paint appears to have had one quality respray to the original factory color and is in excellent condition. Absolutely no rock chips, scratches or dings! The factory steel wheels are all straight and true with their original wheel covers and wrapped with old, but decent tires. Remaining tread is at least 70% on each. Yes, the sequential tail light feature is here, too!

Please take another good look at the interior photos. Settle into the driver’s seat and you’ll quickly recognize that about everything is clean and factory original right down to the door handles. Both front buckets show little wear or underlayment foam breakdown and are very comfortable. Same goes for the rear warp-around bench. It appears to have almost never been sat in at all! I’m pretty sure new carpets have been added sometime in the past. They are in almost-new condition. Like me, you’ll be impressed with the dash gauges. This ‘Bird has the "swing-away" steering column that slides to the right (when the tranny is in park) to allow easy access getting in or out. In the dash, just above the radio, you'll find the fairly rare “Safety Convenience Control Panel”. This original $58 option package has switches for the vacuum control to lock/unlock the doors, four-way flashers and low-fuel and door ajar warning lights. They’re still as clear and bright as the day the car drove off the Wixom assembly line. Same goes for all the interior chrome and other metal parts! The original transistorized AM radio is present but doesn’t switch on. All glass is chip and crack-free. We refreshed the trunk with a new factory-style vinyl board kit this past week (there was NO rust found there). About the only negatives to report are: an older repair to the driver's door pull handle cup, some of the power window switches stick and there are holes in the factory headliner (it's ok for now, I’d just plan on replacing it sometime down the road).

Mechanically, I feel the T-bird is in great shape. Even after sitting in our storage warehouse for a few days at a time it starts right up with the first few cranks – you just can’t beat the bulletproof Z-code 390 V-8’s that came standard in these years. Our mechanic went over the car at my shop and was very impressed with the condition and proper preservation it’s quite obviously received over the years. A new Edelbrock four-barrel 600 CFM Performer carburetor was recently added for smooth running by the previous owner. We did an oil change and minor tune-up, just to set a benchmark. I can report that it freeway accelerates and cruises smoothly through all the gears to 65 MPH just as it should and that the brakes feel fine.

If you’re in the market for a low-mileage, nearly original, great driving Thunderbird, please give this car your kind attention. I seriously doubt you can find another in this overall great shape, with these milesAND with a ridiculously low reserve! As a decade-long Ebay seller with many satisfied online buyers, I want you to bid with confidence knowing that this Thunderbird looks, runs and drives as it should and that it is being properly represented to you.

We’ve helped arrange long-distance shipping for many of our customers, but I've also had many buyers from as far away as Alaska, Chicago, Arizona, Eastern Canada, Florida and even the Mexican Baja fly in here to Seattle (We’ll pick you up at Sea-Tac International eight miles away) and then drive home cross-country the same day. While I have no qualms with the mechanicals on this vintage 'Bird, you've gotta agree it's earned the right to be transported along to its next caretaker rather than undergo a wintertime road trip. Nobody wants to be changing a flat tire during a Midwest snowstorm!

Overseas buyers are always welcome, too! We’ve shipped more than a few vehicles to England, Scandinavia, Europe, Asia, South America, Australia and New Zealand over the past fifteen years.

TERMS OF SALE:

You’re encouraged to check the photos over closely and call me with any questions BEFORE placing a bid! Come by, inspect and drive the car during business hours if you’re in the area. I always suggest buyers hire an inspection service if distance is an issue and I will make time to meet their rep at my warehouse. DEALERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO BID AS WELL! Additionally, I reserve the right to end the auction early if the car is no longer for sale or an acceptable offer has been agreed upon. A nonrefundable $500 deposit is due within 24 hours of the auction’s end if you’re the winning bidder. The remaining balance is due by cash, card payment or other certified funds within seven days unless prior arrangements have been made with me. Please remember, you are bidding to buy and I fully expect the winning bidder to fulfill their Ebay contract! You are not bidding to hold, inspect or then come test-drive the vehicle later. You’re more than welcome to do this before the auction ends.

If you do decide to have theT-bird shipped home, there are numerous vehicle transportcompanies to choose from. We ship vehicles regularly and I can place the car up on the national transport network board for quick delivery anywhere in the USA or Canada at a very reasonable rate.

For overseas transport, I always recommend CFR Rinkens. We work with several international brokers on both the west and east coast and can help with overseas arrangements as needed.

The costs of shipping the vehicle and company chosen are the responsibility of the BUYER. Thecar can be stored free of charge at our location for up to two weeks after the auction ends and full payment has been made. We’ll charge $15 per day beginning the 15th day.

Because the Thunderbird is advertised locally, we reserve the right to notify bidders and cancel this auction early if the car is no longer available for sale online. It is being sold as-is, where-is, with a clean Washington State Title. All information described above is based on the observed condition when I placed thelisting and have done my very best to describe the car as accurately as possible.