This 1962 Ford Thunderbird Hardtop Coupe was refinished in Sikkens Acrylic Urethane white during a comprehensive restoration completed in the late 1990s. Power is supplied by a 390 cubic inch (6.4-litre) FE-series V8 paired with a three-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission sending power to the rear wheels. The engine was rebuilt in 2022, and the car has since had its radiator and tires replaced. Equipment includes power steering and brakes, dual exhaust, bucket seats, electric windows, and a Swivel-Away steering wheel. Factory air conditioning was equipped though the drive belt has been removed, all parts otherwise are included. The car is offered with two sets of keys, a spare tire, an Owner’s Manual, a Shop Manual, and accessories described below in Ottawa, Ontario, by the three-year owner, who believes it will pass an Ontario safety inspection as it sits. Documentation relating to recent maintenance and the ‘90s restoration appears in our gallery.

This generation of Thunderbird, often referred to by enthusiasts as the “Bullet Bird,” is characterized by its sleek, elongated body, rounded front grille, and aerodynamic lines emblematic of Ford’s early-1960s jet-age design. Circular “afterburner” taillights are a defining feature inspired by period aircraft exhaust ports and highlight the rear styling, while the car’s inverted wipers retract neatly into the cowl when parked. This example is finished in a Sikkens Acrylic Urethane white, resprayed as part of a late ‘90s restoration. Minor imperfections noted are a dime-sized hole in the right-rear headliner, “falsie” wide-whitewall inserts that are not perfectly fitted, and a scratch on the driver’s side rear fender skirt.

Tires were mounted during the current owner’s tenure, with the front converted to 15-inch wheels to accommodate upgraded front disc brakes supported by a dual master cylinder system. The front tires are Firestone 215/40R15 all-season radials, while the rears are BFGoodrich Radial T/A 215/70R14s on original-style rims. Rear wheels display the original covers while the fronts show a period-correct look – both complete sets of covers come with the car, with the complete set of 15” rims and tires. The rear retains factory drum brakes, and the suspension follows the model’s original coil-spring and leaf-spring configuration.

Inside, the cabin is upholstered in beige leather with matching door panels and carpeting. Twin bucket seats flank a full-length centre console with a sculpted rear bench extending the theme of luxury design. Brushed-aluminium appliqués accent the door cards and console surfaces, consistent with Thunderbird interiors of the early 1960s. The three-spoke steering wheel features polished-metal spokes, and it mounts on a swivel column that aids driver ingress and egress. Instrumentation includes a 120 MPH speedometer, fuel and temperature gauges, and an inoperative analog clock. Additional fittings include a period push button AM radio (supported by an antenna on the passenger’s side front fender), four lap-belts with aircraft-style buckles, and floormats with Thunderbird branding. This Thunderbird is equipped with four electric windows while the vent windows are manually operated. There is a factory air-conditioner whose parts are in place though not connected. The odometer displays under 11,000 miles, with total mileage unknown (TMU).

Power is supplied by the 390 cubic-inch (6.4-litre) V8 (Ford Code Z), factory rated at 300 horsepower and a generous 427 lb-ft of torque when new. The engine features a four-barrel Holley carburetor exhaling through a dual-exhaust system, and was rebuilt in 2022 including replacements of pistons, bearings, seals, and gaskets. Power is delivered to the rear wheels through the Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission (Ford Transmission Code 4). Final drive is through a 3.00:1 rear differential (Ford Code 1), the standard gear ratio paired with automatic-equipped Thunderbirds.

The combination of long wheelbase and low centre of gravity contribute to Ford’s positioning of the Thunderbird as a “personal luxury coupe”. Recent service work has restored reliability in critical systems, including engine, cooling and braking, and the seller reports smooth operation following the engine rebuild.

Thunderbirds of this third Bullet Bird generation embodied the American ideal of early-1960s automotive design—space-age inspiration, chrome accents, and mechanical refinement. The seller estimates that tens of thousands of dollars have been invested over the vehicle’s lifetime, beyond what he has invested.

This 1962 Ford Thunderbird Hardtop Coupe is offered with two sets of keys, an Owner’s Manual, a Shop Manual, a wooden “Vehicle of Choice” show winner plaque from soon after the restoration, and a matching wooden sandwich-board display for future shows, by the three-year owner in Ottawa, Ontario.