1961 thunderbird white bird nest thunderbirds

1961–63
Thunderbirds

IDENTIFYING YOUR BULLET BIRD

1958 thunderbird red tail lights bird nest thunderbirds

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1965 thunderbird dash blue bird nest thunderbird

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Identifying your 1961–63 Thunderbird
Bullet Bird: 1961–63 Thunderbirds
1961 white convertible thunderbird bird nest thunderbirds

1961

1962 black hardtop thunderbird bird nest thunderbirds

1962

1963 blue convertible thunderbird bird nest thunderbirds

1963

GRILLES
1961 white hardtop thunderbird bird nest thunderbirds

The 1961 grilles have a horizontal line pattern.

1962 thunderbird grille bird nest thunderbirds

Horizontal bars and squares are unique to the 1962 grille.

1963 thunderbird grille and hood bird ornament bird nest thunderbirds

Vertical bars make up the 1963 grille.

HOOD ORNAMENTS
1963 thunderbird grille and hood bird ornament bird nest thunderbirds

For a 1961, the nose bird and the hood scoop “V” are the two ornaments on the hood.

1963 thunderbird grille and hood bird ornament bird nest thunderbirds

The 1962 Thunderbird has the same ornaments as the 1961 and 1963: a hood scoop “V” and a nose bird.

1963 thunderbird grille and hood bird ornament bird nest thunderbirds

A nose bird and hood scoop “V” ornament the 1963 Thunderbird hood.

FRONT FENDER ORNAMENTS
1961-62 thunderbird front panel script ornament bird nest thunderbirds

The “Thunderbird” script is located on the front fender on a 1961.

1961-62 thunderbird front panel script ornament bird nest thunderbirds

The 1962 is another year with the “Thunderbird” script on the front fender.

1963 white thunderbird front panel bird nest thunderbirds

The 1963 Thunderbird does not have any front fender ornaments.

SIDE ORNAMENTS
1961 thunderbird quarter panel ornaments bird nest thunderbirds

On the 1961 quarter panel are four thin horizontal bars.

1962 red thunderbird quarter panel ornaments bird nest thunderbirds

Located on the quarter panel of the 1962 are three thick horizontal bars.

1963 thunderbird side ornaments bird nest thunderbirds

The door panel has three angled bars and the “Thunderbird” script is located on the quarter panel of a 1963.

HARDTOP ROOF ORNAMENTS
1961-63 thunderbird hardtop roof bird emblem bird nest thunderbirds

On 1961 hardtops are the bird emblem roof ornaments.

1961-63 thunderbird hardtop roof bird emblem bird nest thunderbirds

The 1962 Thunderbird hardtops have the same bird emblems as the 1961 and 1963 Thunderbirds.

1961-63 thunderbird hardtop roof bird emblem bird nest thunderbirds

1963 hardtops have the bird emblem roof ornaments.

LANDAU ROOF ORNAMENTS
1961 red convertible and white hardtop thunderbirds bird nest thunderbirds

Due to the few models of Thunderbirds, only hardtops and convertibles were available in 1961.

1962-63 thunderbird landau bar bird nest thunderbirds

The 1962 Landau ornaments are Landau bars and emblems inserts.

1962-63 thunderbird landau bar bird nest thunderbirds

The 1963 and 1962 Landaus have the same ornaments: emblem inserts and Landau bars.

TAIL LIGHTS
1961 thunderbird tail light bird nest thunderbirds

The 1961 single tail light retainer has a riveted pattern.

1962 thunderbird tail light bird nest thunderbirds

The 1962 Thunderbird single tail light retainer has a ripple pattern.

1963 thunderbird tail light bird nest thunderbirds

The single tail light retainer has a sun ray pattern on a 1963.

HUBCAPS
1961-62 hubcap bird nest thunderbirds

1961 Thunderbirds have only one style of hubcap.

1961-62 hubcap bird nest thunderbirds

There is only one hubcap style for a 1962 Thunderbird and it is the same as the 1961 T-bird.

1963 thunderbird hubcaps bird nest thunderbirds

The 1963 has two styles, one with three-pronged spinners and the other without.

1961–1963 Thunderbird VINs

The VIN, on a 1961 Thunderbird, is located on the driver’s side door jamb. The year is the first digit in the VIN.

Example: 1Y71Z100001
The first digit is a “1,” signifying a 1961 Thunderbird.

The VIN, on a 1962 Thunderbird, is located on the driver’s side door jamb. The year is the first digit in the VIN.

Example: 2Y83Z100001
The first digit is a “2,” signifying a 1962 Thunderbird.

The VIN, on a 1963 Thunderbird, is located on the driver’s side door. The year is the first digit in the VIN.

Example: 3Y83Z100001
The first digit is a “3,” signifying a 1963 Thunderbird.

VIN Number:

The VIN is the vehicle identification number, sometimes called the serial number or vehicle warranty number depending on the age of the patent plate. This consists of ten digits in a combination of numbers and letters.