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purchasing 63 TBird this week

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  • jonecin
    Newbie
    • Sep 29 2009
    • 4

    purchasing 63 TBird this week

    Hello!
    New to the thread! Looks like a lot of good info on here. Hope someone can give me some insight on these sweet cars.

    I've always loved the 61-63 TBirds and I think I found one locally. Just a few questions to make sure I'm getting a decent deal.
    The Good:
    The 63 TBird has a rebuilt engine with about 500 miles on it, runs excellent when I test drove it. Idles great. Interior in great shape. Body is straight, no rust that I could see.
    The not so good:
    The paint is black but seems to have a lot of cracking underneath the clear coat. Suspension squeaks a bit when front end is pushed down. Small leak from transmission. A little smoke coming from the engine when we started it but it went away after the drive. Tires are old, little dry rot. Car has been sitting for 6 months in this guys garage.

    He wants 7k for it, should I go for it? It would be my daily driver. I have only owned old muscle cars in the past 67 stang, 73 gto but I think I want a cruiser. How are these as daily commuters? I heard the transmissions are problematic, is this true?

    Thanks in advance!
    John
  • texastomeh
    Apprentice
    • Aug 28 2007
    • 43

    #2
    John,

    To paraphase an old saying; "The two happiest days in a T'Bird owner's life is the day he buys a T'Bird and the day he sells it!".

    Only funning you!! Welcome to The Brotherhood.

    Your description of your "treasure" sounds VERY familiar to a LOT of us. That is EXACTLY the way we started off. A '63 'Bird as a "cruiser" is (in my opinion) the BEST choice you could have made. I say that because I made the exact same choice.

    ENJOY!!!

    texastomeh

    Comment

    • ozbird
      Apprentice
      • Sep 21 2009
      • 38

      #3
      Hi John,

      sounds good, after you factor in new tyres, front end might just need greasing but may need new bushes etc.

      Engine smoke may be valve seals, possible to fix in car.

      I purchased a 62 with original transmission - still worked ok. I've not heard bad things about the transmission but had mine rebuilt anyway.

      Daily commute sounds like fun but not if you are stuck in traffic jams; water temp goes up, fuel goes down!!

      Put a link to images if you end up making the purchase!!

      cheers Graeme

      Comment

      • simplyconnected
        Administrator
        • May 26 2009
        • 8778

        #4
        Originally posted by jonecin
        ...I've always loved the 61-63 TBirds...
        John, if you are serious and passionate about this car, it's a steal. Plan on spending more on the car as you upgrade. This holds true for EVERY classic car.

        IMHO, the sweetest car is one you personally worked on, and put yourself into. I hope you have many years of great pleasure out of your new Thunderbird. There's nothing like it. - Dave Dare
        Member, Sons of the American Revolution

        CLICK HERE to see my custom hydraulic roller 390 FE build.

        "We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need?"
        --Lee Iacocca

        From: Royal Oak, Michigan

        Comment

        • jonecin
          Newbie
          • Sep 29 2009
          • 4

          #5
          Thanks! Yeah it really is all about putting some of your soul into your own classic. I sold my classic last week and I spent the last 4 years of my life driving and working on it. I'm excited about the Bird, hopefully tomorrow I'll have my new ride. I'll post some pics!

          Comment

          • my61brd
            Apprentice
            • Jun 4 2009
            • 36

            #6
            7k sounds really high for what you've described.
            Can you post pics of the '63?


            I paid 6k for my '61 2 years ago and we all know prices haven't gone up....

            my '61...

            Comment

            • jonecin
              Newbie
              • Sep 29 2009
              • 4

              #7
              Picked up the car today. Got him down to 6500, I tried 6k but he wouldn't budge. He bought the car a few years ago for 7500 and spent 2500 rebuilding the engine with receipts which runs like new. Get this...his original FOR SALE sign in the backseat says 12k firm!! I guess he realized how much these cars are actually going for and put it back up for 7k.
              I have an issue with the neutral safety switch, it only starts in neutral and I think the transmission pan gasket needs to be replaced.

              my61bird I really like the way your car sits. Did you put airshocks in the back to raise the back up a little bit?




              Last edited by jonecin; October 2, 2009, 04:14 AM. Reason: bad image address

              Comment

              • Guest

                #8
                Hey John,
                You got yourself a sweet ride! What a steal!!!
                Richard D. Hord

                Comment

                • Dan Leavens
                  Moderator / Administrator


                  • Oct 4 2006
                  • 6366

                  #9
                  John agreed that $6500.00 was money well spent and good luck with the neutral switch.
                  Dano Calgary,Alberta Canada
                  Thunderbird Registry
                  58HT #33317
                  60 HT (Sold )

                  Comment

                  • Itsadriver
                    Newbie
                    • May 10 2009
                    • 9

                    #10
                    Nice Ride and an Air conditioned car too, sweet.
                    Best be putting that drivers side engine bay brace back on ASAP as the whole front clip is just bolted on and buy not having that balance of that brace might cause problems.
                    The neutral safety switch is quite simple if there are no wire connection problems, just experiment buy loosening the bolt and adjusting it back and forth till it starts in park and neutral, one way park starting only, the other way neutral start only, find the happy medium.
                    Again nice find.

                    Comment

                    • jonecin
                      Newbie
                      • Sep 29 2009
                      • 4

                      #11
                      I did not notice that until now. Looks like it was cut off for some reason, maybe when they took the engine out. I'll have to find another one asap.
                      Thanks for the good eye!

                      Comment

                      • YellowRose
                        Super-Experienced


                        • Jan 21 2008
                        • 17188

                        #12
                        purchasing 63 TBird this week

                        Call Don at Bird Nest in Oregon. He probably has one or can find one for you. Their phone number is on the home page under Links. Try John Draxler at Thunderbird Ranch or any of the Tbird parts houses on our home page. Someone will probably have one, if someone here does not.

                        Ray Clark - Squarebirds Administrator
                        The Terminator..... VTCI #11178 ITC #6000 Yellow Mustang Registry (YMR) #12188
                        Contact me via Private Message for my email address, or Call (Cell) 210-875-1411

                        https://www.squarebirds.org/picture_gallery/TechnicalResourceLibrary/trl.htm
                        Faye's Ovarian Cancer Memorial Website.
                        https://faye.rayclark.info/index.html

                        Comment

                        • scumdog
                          Super-Experienced

                          • May 12 2006
                          • 1528

                          #13
                          Originally posted by jonecin
                          I did not notice that until now. Looks like it was cut off for some reason, maybe when they took the engine out. I'll have to find another one asap.
                          Thanks for the good eye!
                          You're in luck - they haven't been cut off, just unbolted!

                          So the guy you bought it from may still have them.
                          A Thunderbirder from the Land of the Long White Cloud.

                          Comment

                          • my61brd
                            Apprentice
                            • Jun 4 2009
                            • 36

                            #14
                            Originally posted by jonecin
                            my61bird I really like the way your car sits. Did you put airshocks in the back to raise the back up a little bit?
                            I get asked that question sometimes.....
                            The rear had new leaf springs installed before I bought it.
                            I cut 1 1/4 coils off of a new set of front springs.
                            I just haven't had the time(or extra money for the car) to drop the rear with lowering blocks.

                            Comment

                            • tbirder
                              Newbie
                              • Feb 25 2009
                              • 18

                              #15
                              Hey there jonecin,
                              Did you ever find a brace?? If not, let me know. I built my own and I have the original set off my 63 that I don't need.
                              You can catch me at 618-624-4091.
                              Clinr

                              Comment

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