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1965 Ford Thunderbird 390 – Todays Tempter

Inch for inch, this fourth-gen Thunderbird is a lot of car for the money

The fourth generation Thunderbird was largely a cosmetic evolution of the third-gen’s distinctive arrow shaped nose.

With a more conventional face and squared-off, more pronounced body and swage lines; the fourth-gen T-Bird debuted in 1964 as a more mature, grown-up version of its hugely successful predecessor.

The same 390ci V8 was retained as standard in the range, capable of 224kW. Despite its sporty image of the time, the Thunderbird was always a softly-sprung cruiser that took almost 11 seconds to reach triple digits on the speedo. Cogs were swapped solely by a Cruise-O-Matic three-speed auto.

The second year of production, 1965, saw the T-Bird gain front disc brakes and quirky sequential turn signals which is seeing itself returning as a popular trend today, championed by contemporary Audis and Lexus’.

This ‘65 T-Bird has purportedly undergone a ground up restoration in South Australia.

Housing a rebuilt original-spec 390 V8 and automatic transmission, the car presents beautifully in metallic blue with bright chromework and restored interior in original blue.

It appears to be a two-door hardtop with a vinyl Landau roof added as the interior and doorcards are absent of the Landau’s woodgrain trim.

Hubcaps are from a ‘66 deluxe, and the valve covers embossed and from an earlier ‘61-‘63 third-generation.

New parts include power windows, brakes, remote central locking, stainless steels exhaust, white wall tyres; as well as all new suspension and bushes.

The car is reportedly rust free, having spent much of its life in sunny California.

There are many detailed photos in the ad, including the underside of the car.

This left-hand drive Thunderbird is on sale in Adelaide for $31,990, you can check out the full listing here!

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