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1964 Ford Thunderbird

$19,997

1964 Ford Thunderbird

Vehicle Details

Make

Ford

Model

Thunderbird

Year

1964

Mileage

6,081 miles

VIN

4Y83Z121284

Body Type

Coupe

Transmission

Automatic

Engine

390ci 2V V8

Description

1964 Ford Thunderbird — Caspian Blue Hardtop with 390 V8, Factory Air, and Solid Undercarriage Why This Car Is Special The 1964 Ford Thunderbird sits at an interesting crossroads in the nameplate's history. It was the final year of the fourth-generation body style that Ford introduced for 1961 — a design that moved the Thunderbird decisively away from the two-seat sports car roots of the original 1955-57 cars and toward a four-seat personal luxury formula that Ford had pioneered with the 1958 model. By 1964, Ford had refined that formula to its highest point before a completely new fifth-generation body arrived for 1966.

That makes the 1964 model year a mature, sorted-out expression of the design rather than an early experiment with it. The 1964 Thunderbird was offered in three body styles: the Hardtop, the Convertible, and the Landau, which featured a vinyl-covered roof and a decorative S-bar on the C-pillar. Ford built approximately 60,552 Thunderbirds for the 1964 model year across all three body styles, with the Hardtop accounting for the largest share of that production.

These cars were positioned as American personal luxury at its most complete — loaded with comfort and convenience equipment as standard or near-standard fare at a time when power windows and air conditioning were still genuinely premium items on most other vehicles. This particular 1964 Ford Thunderbird is finished in Caspian Blue, a deep, cool medium-dark blue that pairs naturally with the all-blue vinyl interior. The color combination is cohesive and period-correct, and the car presents as an honest original rather than a freshened-up driver.

The undercarriage photos tell an important part of this car's story — the floor pans are solid, the framing is intact, and there is no evidence of the kind of structural corrosion that disqualifies so many cars from this era before the conversation even starts. Features List - 390ci 2-barrel V8 engine - 3-speed SelectShift Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission - Factory air conditioning - Power steering - Power brakes - Power windows - Chrome wire wheels - Whitewall tires - Front bucket seats - Rear bench seat - Center console - AM radio - Dual exhaust - Chrome front and rear bumpers - Solid undercarriage Mechanical Power comes from Ford's 390 cubic inch FE-series V8, fitted here with a 2-barrel carburetor. In 1964 Thunderbird trim, the 390 2V was rated at 300 horsepower.

This was the standard engine for the 1964 Thunderbird — Ford also offered a 390 4V at 330 horsepower and a higher-output 390 as part of the M-code package, but the 2V configuration in this car is the correct base specification and, for a personal luxury car designed around smooth highway cruising, it is entirely appropriate. The 390 FE is a physically large, torque-rich engine that moves a car like the Thunderbird with authority and without strain. The transmission is Ford's 3-speed SelectShift Cruise-O-Matic, which was the standard automatic pairing for the 390 in 1964.

The SelectShift designation indicated that the driver could manually hold individual gears if desired, though the overwhelming majority of owners simply left it in Drive. The combination of the 390 and the Cruise-O-Matic was well-matched to the Thunderbird's character — relaxed, smooth, and capable of effortless highway travel. Looking at the undercarriage photos, the floor pans show consistent surface patina without any rot, holes, or structural compromise.

The framing is intact on all four corners. The dual exhaust runs the full length of the car and exits cleanly at the rear. The front suspension — a conventional upper and lower control arm setup with coil springs — appears complete and unmolested.

The rear axle and leaf spring arrangement look correct and original. This is not a car that has been hiding problems under fresh undercoating. What you see is honest metal with age on it. Interior The 1964 Thunderbird interior was one of the most driver-focused cockpi

Classic Ford Thunderbird Buyer's Guide

Full guide
M
Mike Sullivan
Muscle Cars
1955–1979
~5 min read
Updated Apr 2026
Definitive buyer's guide for classic Ford Thunderbird 1955-1979. Two-seat Baby Bird era, Square Bird, Bullet Bird, and personal luxury generations, rust hotspots, current market pricing.
This guide covers
✓ 10-point inspection checklist
✓ Common issues & what to avoid
✓ In-person inspection guide
✓ Market pricing by year & condition
✓ 5 FAQs answered
✓ History & fun facts

Ford Thunderbird Market Overview

Based on 141 Ford Thunderbird listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

141
Listed Now
$32,015
Avg. Asking Price
1955–1994
Year Range
Price Position on Our Site - Average Range
This car: $19,997
Low: $2,200 High: $164,995
Transmission Distribution
Automatic 62% ◄
Manual 10%
Condition Distribution
Excellent 16%
Good 11%
Fair 3%
Poor 1%
Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 141 listings →
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Classic Ford Thunderbird Buyer's Guide

The Ford Thunderbird launched in 1955 as Ford's answer to the Chevrolet Corvette, a two-seat personal luxury convertible meant to position Ford as a maker of stylish, sporting cars. By 1958, Ford had pivoted the entire concept toward four-seat personal luxury, and the Thunderbird became the template for an entire genre of American automobiles. Across eight platform generations and 25 years of classic-era production (1955-1979), the Thunderbird represents one of the most varied collector markets in the American hobby, from the iconic two-seat "Baby Birds" to the personal-luxury "Square Birds," "Bullet Birds," and beyond. This guide covers what every buyer should verify before purchase across each major era.

What to Check Before Buying

✓
Order Marti Report for any 1967+ car over $25K , Marti Auto Works $25. Confirms original engine, transmission, axle, paint, options.
✓
Verify original removable hardtop on Baby Birds , 1955-1957 cars without original hardtop = 15-25% value reduction. Porthole hardtops add premium.
✓
Cross-reference VIN engine code with block casting , Y-block 292/312, FE-series 352/390/406/427/428, 351C, 460. Each has specific casting numbers.
✓
Inspect body-on-frame structure (Baby Birds) , X-member and body mount points. Probe with flashlight and screwdriver. Frame rust = $8,000-$15,000 repair.
✓
Examine unibody (1958+) at rocker panels , Rocker panels, floor pans, firewall, rear bulkhead. Universal rust points on personal-luxury era cars.
✓
For convertibles, inspect rear corners , Top mechanism mounts here. Structural rust compromises top operation and convertible value.
✓
Test all power options (1967+) , Power windows, locks, seats, climate control, AM/FM stereo. Failed systems = $2,000-$6,000 repair.
✓
For F-Code claims, demand specialist authentication , McCulloch supercharger setup commonly forged. Y-block specialist verification mandatory.
✓
Verify Sports Roadster tonneau cover (1962-1963) , Original fiberglass tonneau cover adds significant value. Reproductions reduce value vs original.
✓
Compression test all eight cylinders , Should read 145-180 PSI uniformly. Variance >15% = head gasket or worn rings.

Common Issues

Thunderbird rust patterns vary significantly by generation. Two-seat Baby Birds (1955-1957) rust at the rear quarter panels, the rocker panels, the floor pans, the trunk pan, the rear bumper supports, and at the cowl seam. The body-on-frame construction means frame rust at the front X-member and the rear cross-member is also a structural concern. Square Birds (1958-1960) and Bullet Birds (1961-1963) use unibody construction. Critical rust zones include the rocker panels, the lower quarters, the floor pans, the front and rear bulkheads, and the firewall. Convertible bodies on these generations add structural concerns at the rear corners where the top mechanism mounts. Mechanically, the Y-block 292/312 V8 (1955-1957) is bulletproof when maintained. The FE-series 352, 390, 406, 427, and 428 V8s (1958-1976) are similarly durable. Common issues include worn timing chain on Y-blocks, leaky valve covers and oil pan gaskets across all engines, and tired Holley or Autolite carburetors. The Ford-O-Matic and Cruise-O-Matic automatics are robust; the C6 (1966+) is essentially indestructible. Personal luxury era cars (1972-1979) shift to Ford 351 Cleveland and Cleveland-Modified V8s, plus the 460 big-block on selected models. Common issues from this era include vacuum-actuated headlight failures, climate control system failures, and worn door hinges on the heavy doors.

What to Look For

Marti Auto Works build sheets are mandatory for any 1967-and-later Thunderbird priced over $25,000. The build sheet ($25 basic, more for elite reports) confirms original engine, transmission, axle ratio, paint, options, and dealer destination. For 1955-1957 Baby Birds, verify the data plate on the firewall. Cross-reference the body color, trim color, axle ratio, and accessory codes against the original equipment. The original removable hardtop is critical to Baby Bird value, cars missing the hardtop are 15-25% less desirable. Original porthole hardtops (1956-1957) carry premium pricing. Body and unibody inspection is the second non-negotiable. For 1955-1957 cars, inspect the body-on-frame structure at the body mount points and the X-member. For 1958-1976 cars, inspect the unibody at the rocker panels, the firewall, and the rear bulkhead. Convertible bodies require additional attention at the rear corners. Engine verification by casting numbers is essential across all generations. The Y-block 292/312 (1955-1957), FE-series 352/390/406/427/428 (1958-1976), and 351C/460 V8s all have specific casting numbers that verify originality. Cross-reference the VIN engine code against the actual block casting. Interior inspection on personal-luxury era cars (1967-1979) requires close attention. Power options were extensive, power windows, power locks, power seats, climate control, and AM/FM stereo were common. Verify all functions work; failed systems on these heavily-optioned cars are expensive to repair properly.

Price Guide

1955-1957 Baby Bird Thunderbirds remain the most collectible Thunderbird generation. Driver-quality 1955 cars run $32,000-$55,000. 1956 cars (with the optional Continental kit and porthole hardtop): $40,000-$70,000. 1957 cars (the most desirable, with the larger 312 V8 and refined trim): $45,000-$85,000. Documented original-paint, low-mileage Baby Birds: $75,000-$140,000+. 1958-1960 Square Birds: driver-quality cars run $25,000-$45,000. Convertibles add $10,000-$15,000 to equivalent hardtop pricing. 1961-1963 Bullet Birds: driver-quality cars run $22,000-$42,000. Convertibles: $32,000-$55,000. The rare 1962-1963 Sports Roadster (with tonneau cover): $40,000-$75,000+ for documented originals. 1964-1966 Flair Birds: driver-quality cars run $18,000-$35,000. Convertibles: $28,000-$48,000. 1967-1971 Glamour Birds: $15,000-$32,000 for driver-quality coupes. 1972-1976 Big Birds (the largest Thunderbirds ever): $12,000-$28,000 for driver-quality cars. 1977-1979 Personal Luxury era Thunderbirds (downsized) are the bargain entry: $8,000-$22,000 for clean drivers. The 1977-1979 cars share platform with the LTD II and represent the end of the classic Thunderbird era, the 1980+ Fox-platform cars are different vehicles entirely. Project Baby Birds: $15,000-$28,000. Project later cars: $5,000-$15,000. Rust restoration on a Baby Bird typically runs $30,000-$70,000 in body and frame work alone.

Did You Know?

The 1955 Thunderbird was developed in just 18 months as Ford's response to the 1953 Chevrolet Corvette launch. Ford's product planners deliberately positioned the Thunderbird as a "personal car" rather than a sports car, with creature comforts the spartan Corvette lacked: roll-up windows, a comfortable bench seat, and an optional removable hardtop. The strategy worked, the Thunderbird outsold the Corvette by more than 20-to-1 in 1955 (16,155 Thunderbirds versus roughly 700 Corvettes). The 1958 redesign (the "Square Bird") added rear seats and pivoted the Thunderbird from two-seat sports car to four-seat personal luxury. Ford's product planners had data showing many Thunderbird buyers wanted to bring family along, the four-seat configuration sold three times as many units in 1958 as the two-seat car had in 1957. The strategy created the entire "personal luxury" automotive segment that came to dominate American premium car sales through the 1970s. The rare 1962-1963 Sports Roadster featured a removable fiberglass tonneau cover that converted the four-seat convertible into a two-seat roadster appearance. Only 1,427 Sports Roadsters were built in 1962 and 455 in 1963. Documented examples now command significant premium pricing, $50,000-$95,000+ for 1962 cars and $60,000-$120,000+ for the rarer 1963 cars.

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