Mystery Bonus! 1960 Ford Thunderbird
Ford introduced a 2-seat personal luxury car in 1955, the Thunderbird. It sold reasonably well, but the bean counters thought it could do better with a back seat added. So, the auto was redesigned to seat four passengers, and buyers for the 1958-1960 models responded enthusiastically. This ’60 T-Bird appears to have been sitting for a long time, with cosmetic issues and likely mechanical ones, too. The successful buyer will get treated to a bonus – whatever is in the trunk because the keys are MIA. Located in Forest Lake, Minnesota, this Ford is available here on craigslist for $2,750 cash or trade.
Purists weren’t fans of the decision to upgrade the Ford Thunderbird from two to four passengers. But it made sense economically. After selling 53,000 T-Birds in 1955-57, Ford sold just shy of 200,000 of them in 1958-60. This change in strategy would help keep the car in production through 2005. And one could speculate that this approach also created a greater market for personal luxury cars that most of the U.S. automakers were happy to accommodate.
We don’t know the history of this Thunderbird and it may simply be another case of passing from one set of hands to another. These cars came standard were a 352 cubic inch V8, which appears to be the case here, though buyers could also upgrade to a 430 8-cylinder engine. This is not a complete Ford, as the seats are missing, and the keys do not come with the car. That means whatever is in the trunk is a bonus. It could be nothing at all, a body, or maybe part of the contents of Al Capone’s vault – or somewhere in between.
The body is rough and there is ample rust in the rocker panels and other lower extremities of the vehicle. We’re told the odometer has rolled over, so the actual mileage on this 64-year-old automobile is unknown. Cash is preferred, but the seller is not opposed to doing a trade, so let him or her know what you’ve got.
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Comments
To get the keys 🔑 one needs to pull the door panel and tske out the door lock. A good locksmith will look at the number on the lock and create one for you quickly and cheaply. I believe early Tbirds are all one key only.
This car brings back memories of stopping through the years attempting to buy a big block 60 vert. The farmer wouldn’t budge and usual lines going to restore. The last stop was after multiple yearly stops was 15 years later as a tree 🌲 grew thru the floor.
Ironically the first stop in 1978 I had offered to help push into the empty barn 30 feet away. We all have then stories…of ruined cars by owners.
Always loved this generation of Thunderbird. In movie Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, she drove a customized 58 🤔 black convert. Who knows what lurks in that trunk? Maybe it’s Barnabas Collins or just a Dark Shadow! 🧛♂️ 🏰. 😅 🤣 😂
Late 70s Thunderbird had an option with leather straps on trunk. Frequently called the BONDAGE ⛓BIRD.
Such a study in contrasts. The interior bright work looks good as does the headliner, but the dash board pad is roached as is the roof on the outside. I sourced replacement pads and sheet metal, rocker panels and quarter panels, and it looks doable. Just not for me. And no pictures of the underside? I mean I think you can get replacement floors but if the frame is crunchy… And no word on the health of the engine.
This used to be my favorite TBird, now I’m more drawn to the mid to late sixties Style Bird.
From the other pictures, I say the only thing you’re gonna find in the trunk is more rust!
No hard to find out what’s in the trunk if that’s such a big deal, just pull the back seat out. Probably an old set of bald snow tires and mouse crap.
Or have the local locksmith make a key…
Love the write up on this 1960 Thunderbird: “MYSTERY BONUS”
This must be the one that the crusher missed!
Being a frameless unit-body car, with structural support beams running thru the rocker panels, you can’t just pop-rivet some patch panels in and squirt it. The body has to be squared, supported, and inner beams welded in if you ever expect the doors to work.
Having restored many ’58-60 Thunderbirds, all you’ll find in the trunk of a car in this condition is misery.
Money pit parts car at best.
Look elsewhere
I was brought one of these by a friend back in 1970. Red with the black painted top and black interior. Excellent condition except for the blown engine courtesy of said friend who thought it was a dragster. He wanted it repaired. I tore down the engine to discover the remains of a piston in the pan and the connecting rod had punched a hole in the block. He didn’t have the money for a junk yard engine and sold it to the junk yard instead. I should have matched the offer but my money was tied up in the 56 BelAir I had at the time.