1962 Ford Thunderbird

Coupe

390 V8

Automatic

2Y83Z111972

Clear

This 62 Thunderbird belongs to my neighbor, and he inherited it from his father.  The car was purchased new at Holmes Tuttle Broadway Ford in Tucson, AZ on November 14, 1961.  The original owner was Luella Don, who was my neighbor's stepmother.  She drove the car until her death in 1982, and it has been parked in the dry desert air ever since.  In 20 years, she drove the car a total of 73,204 miles, which is the current mileage.  To my knowledge, the car was running and driving when she died, and simply not used afterwards. Recently, we have been selling off several vintage cars from this property, and had this car moved to my home shop for cleaning and evaluation.  I purchased and installed four new tires, so the car is a roller and can easily be loaded onto a flatbed car trailer or commercial transport truck.  Also, the emergency brake is still functional, which makes moving the car around that much easier. I have had the car at my shop for the last month, and have thoroughly cleaned the exterior, interior, and engine compartment.  Considering the long storage term, this Thunderbird is in remarkable condition, and would make a great start to a restoration project.  I drained the oil from the crankcase, added fresh oil and a filter, and was able to turn the engine over by hand.  The compression feels good, and there was no evidence of water in the old oil.  The transmission fluid is full and red, and has not leaked out during storage. I replaced the battery cables and tested some of the electrical systems.  The headlights, tail lights, and turn signals all work well.  All four power windows attempt to move when the switches are pushed, but they will need lubrication and cleaning.  The solenoid  would not engage, so I have not tried to start the car.  I know most people have their preferred way of waking up an engine, so I will leave this to the new owner.  The battery in the picture was for testing only, and is not included with the car. This car is equipped with factory air, and the system is totally complete, down to the belt. The Thunderbird has spent it's entire life in Tucson, Arizona, so it is remarkably rust free.  The floors, trunk floor, rockers, shock towers, and underside are all solid and clean, with only minimal surface rust.  The battery tray area does have some rust damage from the old, leaky battery, but it should be a simple repair.  I also spotted a very small spot of perforation in the upper cowl area, near the windshield wiper posts. The upper cowl is detachable, so this should also be an easy area to repair.  In addition, the rear bumper has some peeling chrome on the lower corners. The only parts to have gone missing are the radio, side view mirror, and windshield wiper arms.  Everything else is intact.  The car did not originally come equipped with fender skirts. We also have the original dealer invoice, with all of the correct VIN and ownership information, along with the original warranty certificate, and a copy of the original title.  The car has a clear and open Arizona title, so you will not have any paperwork issues when it returns to the road. The interior is typical of most Arizona cars, and has dry, cracked upholstery.  The door panels are in decent condition, with cracking limited to the upper section.  The headliner, carpet, dash, seat covers, and seat foam will all need to be replaced. All of the glass is intact and in good condition.  The chrome and stainless are quite nice as well.  The front bumper has a ding towards the center, and the rear bumper has peeling chrome on the lower ends. Dual exhaust appears to be original. This car was originally pink with a black interior, and the exterior has been re-spayed once in a lighter shade of pink.  The original paint is still intact in the door jambs, trunk, and engine compartment. Please call or message me with any questions.  My name is Alex, and my phone # is 520-465-2539. This is a no reserve auction, so the car will sell to the highest bidder!   The Thunderbird is located in Tucson, AZ, just five miles from Interstate 10.  Buyer responsible for all shipping charges and arrangements.