1963 Ford Thunderbird Custom Roadster Heading To Auction

While first-generation Ford Thunderbird models tend to get most of the attention at collector car auctions, there are plenty of folks out there that have an affinity with later models, too. Whether or not they’ll ever eclipse the original two-seat drop top in terms of popularity, well, that remains to be seen, but we still see our fair share of later T-Birds sell for solid money at various auctions on a regular basis. The latest could be this 1963 Ford Thunderbird, which is far from stock in pretty much every department.

This custom 1963 Ford Thunderbird is slated to cross the block at Mecum’s upcoming Larry’s Legacy auction in September, joining a host of other rides and memorabilia from the same museum collection.

It was built over the course of three years by Don Russo, who treated the T-Bird to exterior modifications including custom side skirts, a five-inch stretched hood, a unique front end and grille, vented fenders, a custom windshield lacking a top frame, custom side mirrors, a two-bubble fiberglass roadster-style tonneau cover, and a Carson removable top.

The T-Bird was then covered in custom Pearlescent Green paint, and it rides on a suspension setup that lowers it by four inches, when combined with a chop job. Inside, one will find a beige leather interior with bucket seats, a full-length console, a yoke-style steering wheel, vintage-style gauges with arrow needles and a cream finish, custom door panels, beige window cranks, and another nifty touch – a sketch that was done on the top portion of the dash by legendary car designer Chip Foose.

Power comes from an unspecified V8 engine, mated to an automatic gearbox. This custom Ford Thunderbird has certainly racked up its fair share of awards, including more than one “best of show,” and it’s easy to see why – the builder left no stone unturned when it came time to conjure up custom touches in every department.