1965 Ford Thunderbird

1965 Thunderbird Special Limited Edition Landau With the only available option offered, Interior code XD, Reclining Passenger Seat. All original throughout with one external refinish. $18,900 History of these uniquely amazing vehicles 1965 Thunderbird Special Landau Unique among the unique only 4,500 Special Landau models were built for 1965... UNIQUE AMONG THE UNIQUE The Thunderbird Special Landau was introduced in the Spring of 1965, and differed from the regular Landau due to its unique combination of interior and exterior colors, as well as differences in trim. All Special Landau models were equipped with a Special Parchment-colored vinyl roof, and a matching interior. Special touches included Ember-Glo accents on interior instrument panel, bucket seat backs, and carpeting. Emberglo was used on unique Special Landau deluxe wheel covers, (Ford part number C5SZ 1130-C), which were standard on this model and not available on other models, in place of the traditional black-painted vanes. The center medallion of the wheel cover, normally decorated with red, white and blue accents surrounding a chrome Thunderbird emblem on a black background, was instead Emberglo, white and blue. The three "THUNDERBIRD" stamped lettering areas on the wheel cover retained their usual "dull black" color. (Dull black is shinier than flat black, but not as shiny as satin black.) The roof rear exterior quarter mouldings had a nameplate mounted on them with a gold-colored Thunderbird emblem, and "Special Landau" engraved on it. The interior simulated woodgrain trim was of "burled walnut," a different pattern not used on the standard Landau models, and Special Landau nameplates mounted on the front door trim panels reminded occupants they were in something special. A few of these cars were delivered from the factory with Wimbledon White paint adorning the bodies, instead of the more usual Emberglo metallic. Ember-Glo was an exclusive color to this model in 1965. THUNDERBIRD SPECIAL LANDAU INTERIOR DISTINCTIONS Special Landau interior shown at right in Parchment Vinyl (interior code 7D). Interior code XD was identical in appearance, but identifies the trim used with the optional Reclining Passenger Seat. Other than that, there were no other interior options available, as genuine leather or a cloth/vinyl combination for the seats were not made available as a part of the Special Landau option. Note that the floor console is Parchment-colored, a departure from the normal interior two-tone configuration used on other Thunderbirds. The console was usually fitted in the darker color, with the exception of the Pearl White interiors. The steering wheel on this model is also Parchment, instead of the more familiar simulated woodgrain found on the standard Landau models. This one incorporates a metallic ring inset in the full inner edge of the steering wheel, differing from the standard non-woodgrain wheels, which normally include this ring below the spokes of the wheel only. Also note the "Special Landau" plates mounted on the door panels. In 1966, a Parchment-colored interior with Emberglo appointments in all vinyl, a cloth and vinyl combination, or optional leather was made available on all Thunderbird models, but these cars are not Special Landaus, even though the exterior Ember-Glo Metallic paint and a Parchment-colored vinyl roof were also available. The prototype Special Landau car featured contrasting Ember-Glo colored vinyl inserts in the emblems used on the front bucket seats and rear package tray, but this was not carried over to production units, which used matching Parchment-colored pieces instead. It is reported that during the design stage, the prototype car was fitted at one point with woodgrain inserts similar to those used on the 1963 Thunderbird Landau seats, matching the woodgrain pattern used on other parts of the interior. A woodgrain insert for the roof quarter S-bars was also considered, and would eventually app