The Thunderbird’s interior follows the ongoing theme with this classic of being tidy without being startling. It sounds as clean and crisp as you could ever hope for, with no smoke or odd noises. You don’t see the car driving, but you do get to hear that glorious V8 running. He does supply a walk-around video that I have included at the bottom of this article. The engine bay of this Thunderbird presents nicely, but the owner provides no information about how well it drives. They may have been aimed at different buyers, but the entry-level cars offered similar performance levels. If you ordered the Corvette with the entry-level engine, that performance gap closes to a mere 0.4-seconds. That is noticeably faster, but it’s also worth noting that the Ford weighs a not inconsiderable 1,370 lbs more than the Chevy.

The ‘Vette will cover the ¼ mile in 15.7 seconds. However, comparing the ’62 Thunderbird’s performance figures against a ’62 Corvette that is equipped with the 300hp version of the 327 and a Powerglide transmission is interesting. The Corvette was marketed as a hard-edged 2-seater sports car, while the Thunderbird was considered a Personal Luxury Car. Many people have looked at the Thunderbird and the Corvette as direct competitors, but this is an unfair comparison. This combination should be capable of launching the Thunderbird down the ¼ mile in around 16.6 seconds. In keeping with Ford’s luxury theme for the Thunderbird, it also comes equipped with power steering and power brakes. This motor punches out 300hp, which finds its way to the rear wheels via a 3-speed automatic transmission. Powering the T-Bird is the entry-level Z-Code 390ci V8. Ford and Kelsey Hayes addressed these problems, and any that have survived to this day have to be good ones.

When they were first released, the wire wheels were prone to failure. Sourcing a badge shouldn’t be a problem, and unless the buyer is seeking perfection, the trim would probably be okay. The “Thunderbird” badge is missing off one fender, and a couple of the chrome trim pieces have minor dings. Most of the trim is acceptable for a driver-quality car, but there are a few issues. The fiberglass tonneau is in excellent condition, and the same appears to be true of the glass. There is no evidence of rips or stains, and the rear window is crystal clear. There is a Cream soft-top which looks to be in excellent order.

The owner makes no mention of any rust problems, and there are none visible in the photos. The paint holds a respectable shine, and there are no significant dings or dents. It is finished in Corinthian White, and while it isn’t perfect, it still presents well. It wears the fiberglass tonneau and the Kelsey Hayes wire wheels that were a feature of the Roadster, but it lacks the unique badges on the front fenders and the grab handle on the dashboard’s passenger side. It is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the bidding has reached $27,100 in what is a No Reserve auction.Īt first glance, I thought that this Thunderbird was a Sports Roadster, but after carefully examining the supplied photos, I believe that it is a regular Convertible. As such, the owner has listed it for sale here on eBay. It is a clean and tidy survivor that is looking for a new home. There are many factors to consider before you hand over your hard-earned cash, and this 1962 Ford Thunderbird Convertible graphically demonstrates this. One of the most important lessons that I’ve learned through decades of dealing with classic cars is the importance of doing some research on the vehicle that strikes the right chord with you.

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