2005 Ford Thunderbird Convertible 50th Anniversary Cashmere Edition #517 of 1500 with Hardtop and Stand

This is a 2005 Ford Thunderbird Convertible which, in itself, makes the car unique – being that it is a 50th Anniversary edition.  T-birds began in the 1955 model year, partly as a Ford response to Chevrolet’s success with the earliest Corvette – but this one is even more so give that it is one of 1500 Cashmere Editions, number 517 as indicated on a plaque inside the glove box.  As with all Cashmere Editions, this is a US-market car and it was imported to Canada from Florida in 2010, when it came into the owner’s hands.  It was registered with the Registrar of Imported Vehicles on importation; a decal appears on the inside of the driver’s door and the owner has retained related documentation – signifying street legality in Canada.

The two-place roadster is finished in Cashmere and carries unique appointments signifying it as a Cashmere Edition 2005 Thunderbird.  The fenders are accented with a 50th Anniversary emblem while the third brake lamp and Thunderbird emblems are accented in teal; soft top in place is medium grey.  The separate hardtop is finished in matching Cashmere paint; a rolling hardtop storage stand is included.  Interior Cashmere Edition appointments include two-tone grey and dark grey colour scheme, Cashmere leather seating with “50th Anniversary” embossing, colour-keyed cluster with turquoise gauge needles and Ford Thunderbird-branded door sill plates.

This Thunderbird is powered by a 3.9 litre V8 with variable valve timing powering the rear wheels through a 5-speed automatic transmission.  The engine was rated at 280 horsepower (6600 RPM) when it left the factory, with 286 lb.-ft. of torque at the ready (4000 RPM).  The DOHC 32-valve powerplant has proplelled the 50^th Anniversary T-bird just under 69,800 miles, with approximately 10,000 of these miles in the 13 years of current ownership.  A Ford Motorcraft battery is in place, mounted adjacent to the spare tire in the trunk.

This Thunderbird remains equipped with its polished OEM 16-spoke 17 x 7-1/2-inch rims with satin wheel centre caps.  A pair of spare caps are included with the car, dealer price for these is in excess of $100 apiece.  Cooper CSS Ultra tires are fitted, measuring P235/50 at all four corners.  Tires are V-speed rated and date codes of 2016 are marked.

With the hardtop in place, the T-bird’s appearance is accented by porthole windows and an eggcrate grille in tribute to the original 1955 model.  Emblems show turquoise accenting indicative of the Cashmere Edition, while the 50th Anniversary badging on both fenders is conspicuously tasteful.  A soft snap-on boot is easily mounted over the folded-down soft top and provides an elegant appearance during top-down motoring.  The polished windshield surround shows some signs of deterioration in one spot underneath.

Inside, the car is well-appointed.  Both heated leather buckets with embossed 50th Anniversary logo are power-adjustable and exhibit wear.  Dual-zone automatic climate control is equipped, complementing power group including tilt/telescopic wheel, cruise control and power top.  The volume button of the AM/FM/in-dash 6 CD head unit is non-operational and the volume can be controlled on the steering wheel.   The glove box is topped with 50th Anniversary insignia, inside which is found the plaque commemorating this example as number 517 among the 1500 Cashmere Edition cars.

New matching floor mats are in place, the seller will include the worn OEM mats.  A 160 MPH/250 km/h speedometer is most prominently displayed in instrumentation, a 7000 RPM tachometer and water temperature gauge show on its left, the fuel gauge to its right.  The hinge of the console storage compartment is loose while there are marks on the steering wheel, as photographed, beneath the steering wheel cover in place.

Since coming to Canada, this Cashmere Edition car has been enjoyed in fair weather only.  The body and underside exhibit this.  Recent work on the vehicle has included a new thermostat and housing installation in Spring 2023, with replacement of related gaskets and pipe below the intake manifold, as well as replacement of the fuel regulator and ignition coil.  In 2020, under 3,000 miles back, extensive maintenance was done:  oil service, air filters, serpentine belt and cleaning HVAC assemblies.  The owner reports that under current ownership, mechanicals and the skin of the soft top have also been replaced.  For Ontario buyers, owner reports an expectation that it will pass Ontario safety check in its current condition.

This 2005 Ford Thunderbird Convertible 50th Anniversary Cashmere Edition #517 of 1500 with Hardtop and Stand is available with owner’s manual, service records, importation documentation, original Ford brochures, “Thunderbird Fifty Years” – a book by Alan Fast, two spare centre caps, wheel lock key, Wiring Documents book by Ford, Workshop Manual by Ford and clean Carfax from the 13-year owner in Ottawa, Ontario.

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