This magnificent Thunderbird oozes with the glamour of mid-60s success. It’s a great-looking and remarkably original example that’s been used regularly all summer.

The Thunderbird model quickly transformed in the 50s from a Corvette competing sports car to a four seat, personal luxury coupé and cabrio. This hit the spot with the increasingly affluent buying public, hitting a peak in 1964 with the newly styled long, low and sleek ‘Flairbirds’ as they became known.

This is a 1965, which, bar some badging, grill and taillight changes look almost identical to ‘64s, but importantly with the first year for disc brakes on the front, replacing the notoriously weak drums. It was also the first year for the sequential taillights that strobed just like modern Audis, just 60 years ago.

This ’65 is finished in its original Arcadian Blue with blue vinyl interior. It’s a standard model, so doesn’t have the vinyl roof, roof bars or wood grain trim the Landau models got (which depending on your taste is a blessing), but highly optioned with air conditioning, radio, power antenna, power driver’s seat, power windows and power vent windows. The engine is the only engine available that year – the big block 390ci (6.4-litre) V8 driven through Ford’s Cruise-O-Matic 3-speed transmission.

We don’t know much of its early life other than it was delivered new to LA and imported to the UK in 2023, but we can see that it’s a very original car that received a light restoration about 25 years ago and has seen sparing use since. The body has not been welded underneath and the spot welds along the sills are evidently original, the paintwork and the chrome as the photos show presents really well, but there are some blemishes of age up close. The interior retains much of its interior trim. The front seat bases have been retrimmed. The head liner is perfect and the dash top, which are usually cracked is perfect too.

Mechanically, the car has evidently had a new short block, probably when it was restored. Recent work has included a service, replacement Holley carburettor, new shock absorbers x4, new brake pads, shoes, wheel cylinders and flexis. All five tyres are new, the driver’s seat switch has been replaced and the steering column bushings. The window switch pack has just been replaced with a brand new parts.

The car has been used all summer almost daily with regular cross-country trips to shows/events. Of course, with any car that’s over 60 years old there are jobs to do and improvements that could be made, but that’s part of the fun of ownership. It starts first time, sounds amazing and never fails to put a smile on your face. Classic American cars like this are tremendous value for money.