#Air vent controls 1963 ford thunderbird driver#

It should keep boys of all ages occupied.' Ford ads repeated the slogan, 'Flight plan cleared - proceed to Thunderbird.'Ĭontinue reading to find out more about eventual design and performance changes to the Ford Thunderbird. It was an experience Car Life described as 'begadgeted and bedazzling.

#Air vent controls 1963 ford thunderbird driver#

Nestled in a big vinyl bucket, restrained by a seatbelt extending from a retractable reel built into the seat edge, and surrounded by levers, buttons, dials and wheels, the driver was confronted with all the gimmicks at Dearborn's command. The typical Thunderbirder was a front-seat dweller. Flow-through ventilation had been introduced by Mercedes on its 1954 300SL gullwing coupe, and Mercury had used the meat-ax approach to create it with its retractable backlights in 1957, but the Thunderbird's was an elegant, functional design, and was soon widely imitated.ĭesigners had created more room in the 1964 Thunderbird, but it probably didn't matter. This helped blast fresh air through the car. With a console lever, the driver could actuate a vacuum servo that opened a vent under the rear window. The 1964 roofline retained the formal air of the past, but, taking advantage of a low-pressure area behind the backlight, now featured Silent-Flo, the first windows-closed, flow-through ventilation system on an American car. Under it was a new 'deep well' trunk, which gave much more luggage space, carrying the spare tire well forward. The decklid retained the 'twin-pontoon' theme of earlier models. A lower pan, painted body color, contained the backup lights. Manufacturer’s literature and three keys are also included in the sale.The rear end was the best design element, set off by two oblong taillights surrounded by protective bumpers. The window sticker lists initial delivery to Bentley Providence of Warwick, Rhode Island, along with factory equipment, options, and a total suggested retail price of $352,425. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed ZF automatic transmission featuring sequential shift control. The twin-turbocharged 6.75-liter V8 was factory rated at 450 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque.

The digital odometer indicates less than 10k miles, approximately 2k of which have been added under current ownership. Instrumentation consists of a central digital display flanked by a 190-mph speedometer and a tachometer, while an analog clock and supplementary gauges are mounted in the center stack. The right front seat switch was replaced in January 2019, and there is a tear in the leather dashboard panel above the instrumentation.ĭrilled alloy pedals and a wood-and-leather-trimmed steering wheel are presented to the driver, while driving aids include Park Distance Control and a reversing camera. A remote is located in the right front footwell. The heated and massaging front seats have position memory settings, and passengers are also provided with multi-zone climate control, a period carphone, a pop-up navigation screen, and an Alpine sound system linked with a trunk-mounted CD changer. The Azure rides on an electronically controlled adaptive suspension, and stopping power is provided by ventilated disc brakes.īeluga leather trims the seats and extends to the dashboard, armrests, and door panel inserts while burl walnut wood veneers adorn the cabin.

Optional chromed 19″ alloy wheels feature Bentley center caps and were mounted with 255/45 Pirelli P Zero tires in February 2019. The seller notes that a door ding has been touched up, and two areas of paint inconsistencies are shown in the image gallery below. An accident with another motor vehicle is indicated in a November 2011 Carfax report entry, although no further information is provided. Lower front wing vents were optioned, and the Beluga-finished exterior is also complemented by a retractable Bentley “Flying B” hood ornament, a stainless-steel front grille, xenon headlights, and a color-coordinated power-operated soft top with a heated rear glass window. This Azure is now offered with three keys, manufacturer’s literature, a window sticker, a Carfax report, and a clean Louisiana title in the name of the seller’s LLC. The convertible is powered by a twin-turbocharged 6.75-liter V8 paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and it was specified from the factory with lower front wing vents, chromed 19″ alloy wheels, an electronically controlled adaptive suspension, multi-zone climate control, heated and massaging front seats, Park Distance Control, a reversing camera, and a pop-up navigation screen. This 2008 Bentley Azure is a Beluga-over-Beluga example that has just under 10k miles following the seller’s acquisition in February 2019.