1963 Ford Thunderbird Landau--SOLD (Massachusetts) - $0
1963 Ford Thunderbird Limited Edition Landau-For Sale or Trade
In 1963 Ford Motor Company presented the first of these Limited Edition Thunderbird Landaus to Prince Rainier & Princess Grace of the Principality of Monaco as part of a lavish mid-model year product introduction organized around the participation of three Holman & Moody prepared V-8 Falcons in the Monte Carlo Rally in January. Just 2,000 were built (out of over 63,000 Thunderbirds made that year), each with Corinthian White paint, Dark Rose Beige vinyl roof, padded dash and carpet, white leather seats, simulated Rosewood interior trim, deluxe wheel covers, rear fender shields, white steering wheel with unique center insert and an individually numbered model nameplate on the center console. The Prince Rainier car was featured in special advertisements pictured at the entrance to the Monte Carlo Opera House. It is powered by the 300hp/390cid Interceptor V8 and is loaded with nearly every available option including swing-away steering wheel. It is a particularly attractive Thunderbird and has a presence which immediately identifies it as different from its counterparts. This car is #1703, as you can see on a special, individually numbered plaque mounted in the center console. Fully equipped with bucket seats/console, A/C, Automatic Cruise-O-Matic transmission, original radio system, remote rear view mirror, emergency brake flasher unit, power steering, power brakes, and power windows & seat. Landaus added simulated wood grain trim to go along with the landau top. Mechanically sound, this car has been repainted. New door panels installed December 2018.
For more details on the origins of this limited edition landau: "Ford's involvement in the 1963 Monte Carlo Rally was announced along with the Command Performance models at a grand party on January 3, 1963. To cover the festivities, 175 journalists were flown from Detroit to Monaco on the evening of January 2nd in two chartered planes. The festivities began on January 3rd with a 10:00 a.m. audience with Princess Grace, and were hosted by Benson Ford. Lee Iacocca was in attendance, and the cost of the event was said to have been about $75,000. The International Premiere took place at the Monte Carlo Casino, and during the day all of the cars shipped to Monaco were on display there. Prince Rainier drove his new Thunderbird from the Grimaldi Family Palace to the Casino for the unveiling. On this same day, back home in Wixom, Michigan production began on Limited Edition Landau cars number 2 to 2,000 and would continue until production of the 1963 Thunderbirds ended on July 17th. Before leaving Monaco, Ford's Marketing people saw to it that 900,000 special brochures announcing the Command Performance Fords were mailed out to potential customers in the United States. The brochures were printed with the red and white diamond theme designed for the Limited Edition Landau, and were enclosed along with a letter signed by Lee Iacocca in a red and white mailing envelope that repeated the diamond design in a crest. The envelope was designed to resemble Monaco's flag, which is red on top and white on the bottom, divided horizontally. Photos of the other Thunderbird models shipped over for the event and photographed in advance were also included in the Limited Edition Landau brochure.
