File:1962 Ford Thunderbird Hardtop (44771247515).jpg

The third generation Thunderbirds were built from 1961-63, nicknamed the 'Bullet Bird', styling inspiration from rocket ships, with a pointed nose, recessed headlamps, twin round taillights shaped like a jet engine. Available as a Hardtop or Convertible, the Hardtop had softer roof lines than its 'Square Bird' predecessor. On the convertible models, the trunk lid was still rear-hinged, which raised and lowered through hydraulic cylinders. With the top down and trunk lid lowered, there was no sight of the soft-top. The dashboard curved at both ends, blending into the door panels. The traditional glove-box was gone and a center-console glove-box took its place. The 1962 model got a very mild facelift, a new grille with mesh look rather than the horizontal bars. Two new models were available, The Landau Hardtop, with a vinyl roof and simulated S-bars on the rear pillars and also the 'Sports Roadster' with fibreglass tonneau over the rear seats to give it that 2 seater look. Standard for 1962 was the swing away steering wheel, power steering, power brakes, back up lights and bucket seats