1962 Ford Thunderbird 2-Door Convertible
2022.0052.0001, Savoy Collection
Engine: 406 cu. in. (6.6L) Cast-iron block, OHV, V-8
Output: 399 HP @ 4,800
Transmission: 3-Speed Automatic Cruise-O-Matic
Wheelbase: 113 in.
Overall Length: 205 in.
Weight: 4,563 lbs.
Top Speed: 125 MPH
No. Produced: 1,427
Original Price: $5,439
Manufacturer: Ford
The 1962 Thunderbird Sports Roadster is the grown-up version of the “Baby Birds” produced from 1955 to 1957. Nicknamed the “Bullet Bird,” the car’s aerodynamic styling mimics the fighter jets of the era. In addition, the Sports Roadster is a convertible in two senses. Not only does it feature a traditional convertible top, but it also has a twin metal tonneau that morphs the four-seater into a two-seater. Fifty Thunderbirds participated in President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural parade in an impressive showing.
When the wire wheel on Elvis Presley’s Sports Roadster collapsed, it made the national news. Additionally, the Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels did not retain air, and the tires would go flat. The interim solution was to add tubes. The T-Bird’s “shoes had holes in them.” Thousands of tiny holes were punctured into the sidewalls to reduce heat buildup. Ford fixed the problem, but then quietly let the T-bird disappear. No reason for despair; the Mustang was already on the drawing board.