1963 Ford Thunderbird

Considered by many Ford aficionados as the “Rocket” Thunderbird, the 1963 epitomized America’s love-affair with futuristic, space-age design. However, unlike some luxury cars of the era that sported enormous fins and massive chrome bumpers, the ’63 T-Bird offered sleek and sexy automotive styling.

Of course, Space-Race influences abound in this car just the same. Check out the giant “afterburner” taillights, the bullet profile, and the wrap-around dashboard in the cockpit. It’s not hard to imagine this car whisking swinging jet-setters off to a martini lounge or tiki party at Don the Beachcomber’s!

Thunderbirds have held a special place in my family’s history before I was even born: my parents’ first date was in a borrowed 1955, my mom performed as a magician’s assistant in a “Magic of Thunderbird” promotional tour, and we always had a T-Bird in the family until the late ‘70s. In 1985, my dad bought this ‘63 for dirt-cheap out in Palm Springs with the intent of having a fun car for open-air driving. Going for a Sports Roadster look, he chopped off the top, removed the rear fender skirts and went for a white-on-white motif. After he got bored with it and gave the car to me, I added the turquoise exterior and interior accents, the wire-basket wheels and various tweaks here and there. The car is far from perfect, has virtually no collector value, but it sure is a blast to drive around on a hot summer day!

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