#'S MATCHING 390CI, VERY NICELY RESTORED, R134a A/C, TILT AWAY STEERING COLUMN

Cars like this gorgeous 1966 Ford Thunderbird are a great study in the way the old car hobby works. For years, these 'Birds were also-rans and little more than used cars. Then a few years ago, people woke up and realized that they were more like baby Lincolns than simple Fords and values started inching up. Now, because of their affordability, people rarely put high-end restorations on these cars, but once in a while you come up with a gem like this that defies all logic and financial explanations. There just aren't many 1966 Thunderbirds nicer than this. OK, so that's not a Ford-sanctioned color, but isn't it stunning? If nothing else, it emphasizes the thin line between Ford's top-of-the-line personal/luxury car and the Lincolns above it. With all the attention it's sure to receive, it's a good thing that the sheetmetal is super straight, the panel alignment is tight, and the two-stage urethane paint looks like a million bucks. Despite a trend towards luxury, the use of chrome is restrained and there's no padded roof, and little details like the stylized Thunderbird logo on the sail panels, the bullet-shaped turn signal indicators on the front fenders, and the egg crate grille make a big impact. As you'd expect, the chrome is just as nice as the paint, presenting a car that's been not only loved, but cherished as something truly special. Where the mid-60s Thunderbird really excelled was inside, where power options and lots of room for four made it a fantastic cruiser. This one offers an all-new black leather bucket seat interior that's as slick and stylish as the set of "Mad Men." A wonderful combination of patterns and textures make up the seats, separated by a wide center console covered in stainless steel and wood veneers. The instrument panel owes its existence to the aircraft industry, with separate little binnacles for each of the auxiliary gauges. Sleek is the word, from the narrow steering wheel to the almost delicate shifter, this 'Bird oozes class. Factory A/C, power windows, and a later AM/FM/cassette stereo with a CD changer in the trunk make long-distance hauls effortless, and anywhere you go you'll arrive feeling fresh. With a massive trunk, you can also take all your gear with you without a second thought. A big, torquey V8 means that everything this Thunderbird does is effortless. With 390 cubic inches pushing it around, it makes incredible musclecar sounds out back, but moves with serene quite inside. Lots of fresh Ford Blue paint gives it a period-correct look and sharp-eyed viewers will note that the A/C has been upgraded to R134a refrigerant and the hoses wear correct FoMoCo stampings. It starts easily and thanks to the Cruise-O-Matic transmission and 3.00 gears out back, it just loafs along on the highway. Disc brakes were added in 1965, erasing the Thunderbird's biggest liability, and with a lifetime down south, this one is as solid underneath as Mount Rushmore. Original 15-inch steel wheels (special for disc brake cars) wear correct hubcaps and 215/75/15 whitewall radials. This is one of those cases where someone spent money all out of proportion to the car's value, but that's your opportunity to cash in. Compare this stunner to all the garden-variety mid-60s T-Birds out there and you'll see that it's definitely the cream of the crop. Call today!