Inside the Ford Thunderbird convertible is awash in radiant red. The car includes rear wheel well fender skirts. The wires are shod in wide whitewall Coker bias ply tires. Kelsey Hayes chrome stainless wheels are brilliant, with no signs of corrosion or patina present. Stainless and other brightwork is well polished. Chrome bumpers and trim appear to have been refinished or replaced. This T-Bird is resplendent in Monte Carlo Red over a red interior with a new white vinyl convertible top. This South Carolina drop top has been owned by a single family since 1976.

Our feature 1961 Ford Thunderbird convertible is one of only 10,516 convertibles built in 1961. The T-Bird also served as the Indianapolis 500 Pace Car for 1961. The newly-designed model sold well, with just over 73,000 examples sold. The model gained a new engine, Ford’s 390 cubic-inch FE V8, rated at 300 horsepower, that was backed by a three-speed automatic transmission. For the 1961 model year, the Ford Thunderbird received a clean-sheet restyling, changing it from the boxy look of the previous year, to what would become known at the Bullet Bird.

Red thunder bird