1963 Ford Thunderbird ‘M-Code’ Sports Roadster
By 1963, the Sports Roadster had entered its second and final season, production dropping from 1,427 units in 1962 to just 455. Of those, 37 left the factory fitted with the M-Code engine, placing the full combination among the scarcest configurations in the full-size American market that year.
The Sports Roadster package had emerged from buyer demand for the original two-seat Thunderbird’s character. A removable fiberglass tonneau covered the rear seat and incorporated headrests for the front occupants, giving the four-passenger convertible a convincing two-seat appearance without surrendering rear seating when needed.
Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels with knock-off centers, a passenger grab bar, and the deletion of the rear fender skirts completed the specification.
Three Holley two-barrel carburetors fed the 390 CI V8, which ran a 10.5:1 compression ratio and was rated at 340 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 430 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm. The Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automatic was the standard gearbox pairing.
Available options across the Thunderbird convertible range included factory air conditioning, power accessories, and the Thunderbird’s distinctive Swing-Away steering wheel, which pivoted to the right to ease entry and exit.
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