1964 · Ford · United States
1964 Ford Thunderbird: A Single Drivetrain, and a Price We Won't Print
The redesigned fourth-generation car offered one drivetrain, a 300-hp 390 with Cruise-O-Matic, and output rose to 92,465.
United States · researched through 2026-09-23
This record's own overview states directly that the fourth-generation Thunderbird arrived for 1964 with a single drivetrain, Old Cars Weekly giving the 300-horsepower 390 V-8 paired only with the three-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic; John Gunnell's own dimensions for the year give a 113.2-inch wheelbase, 205.4-inch length, 52.6-inch height and 77.1-inch width, all four repeated in this record's own specifications section, and this record's own engines and transmissions sections each carry only the single entry, the 390 and the Cruise-O-Matic, with no alternative offered.1
This record's own overview also states that Wikipedia, citing Tast and Newhardt's Thunderbird Fifty Years, gives 92,465 built for 1964, and that Old Cars Weekly counts directly 9,198 convertibles while estimating fewer than 50 of them had the Sports Roadster tonneau cover, a figure this record's own production section carries as an estimated upper bound rather than a count, its own note adding that the estimate's method is not stated.2,1
This record's own production section also carries a body-style breakdown from Automotive Mileposts: 60,552 hardtops and 22,715 Landaus, which together with the 9,198 convertibles add to 92,465, this record's own note calling that sum arithmetic rather than an independent statement from the source, since Automotive Mileposts itself does not state a combined total to check the hardtop and Landau rows against.3
This record's own prices section is entirely empty for 1964, and a separate price-notes field explains why: a J.D. Power live-valuation figure was pulled from every page on the site as of September 24, 2026, because those pages can change without notice and cannot be checked independently, and no replacement source has yet been found; the same note warns that other sites' seemingly precise prices for this car may simply be quoting that same J.D. Power figure without saying so. This record's own unpublished-leads section separately flags a $4,486 hardtop price Wikipedia attributes to the Standard Catalog of American Cars, held back because it was seen only through that single tertiary citation.2
This record's own options section prices the Tonneau Cover at $269, Wire Wheels at $415.20, and the Safety-Convenience Control Panel, new for 1964, at $45.10 with vacuum door locks, a door-ajar warning light, a low-fuel warning light and simultaneous flashing parking and taillights bundled in. This record's own paint table carries 24 colours, each given both a Ford name and, in parentheses, a DuPont paint code and description, several marked as shared with Lincoln or Mercury or as added or discontinued mid-year, including Prairie Tan (discontinued mid-year) and Prairie Bronze and Sunlight Yellow (both added mid-year).3
This record's own interiors section carries a correspondingly large set of trims: all-vinyl, vinyl-with-Pompeii-cloth-insert, and all-leather bolster combinations across nine base colourways, plus separate convertible-top and Landau-vinyl-roof colour lists, the Landau roof colours each tied to specific listed interior and exterior combinations. This record's own identification and conflicts sections are both empty for the year, and its own unpublished-leads section carries only the one held-back price figure, leaving the production, options, paint and interiors sections as this record's own richest sources for 1964, and its own performance section carrying no entries at all.3
Fact sheet · 1964 · United States
The numbers
1964 Ford Thunderbird — The redesigned fourth-generation car offered one drivetrain, a 300-hp 390 with Cruise-O-Matic, and output rose to 92,465.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-23.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Key facts
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderbird, all bodies2,3 Thunderbird · 390 V-8 · Cruise-O-Matic · all production | 92,465 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Convertible1 Thunderbird · convertible · 390 V-8 · Cruise-O-Matic · all production | 9,198 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Hardtop3 Thunderbird · Hardtop · as published | 60,552 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Landau3 Thunderbird · Landau · as published | 22,715 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Convertibles with tonneau (Sports Roadster equipment)1 Thunderbird · convertible · all production An upper-bound estimate ('fewer than 50'), not a count; method not stated. | 50 | built, model-year | Estimate |
Hardtop (60,552) and Landau (22,715) splits come from Automotive Mileposts (amp- rows); with the 9,198 convertibles they add to 92,465, arithmetic only.
Prices when new *
No price is shown here. One was, until 2026-09-24: a figure from J.D. Power's live valuation pages, pulled from every page on this site because those pages can change without our knowing and we have no way to check them independently. We haven't found a source we can stand behind to put in its place yet. A price for this car elsewhere that looks suspiciously exact may be quoting that same J.D. Power figure rather than confirming it — several sites we checked turned out to be doing exactly that, without saying so.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 390 Thunderbird V-81 390 cu in | 300 hp (period advertised gross as reported) | standard; the only engine | Not yet sourced |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Transmissions
| Transmission | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automatic1 | standard; the only transmission | Not yet sourced |
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Heavy Duty Battery3 | $7.60 | Not yet sourced |
|
Rear Fender Shields (Not available with wire wheels)3 | $26.60 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tinted Glass with Banded Windshield3 | $43 | Not yet sourced |
|
Leather Seat Trim3 | $106.20 | Not yet sourced |
|
Two-Tone Paint3 | $25.80 | Not yet sourced |
|
4-Way Power Driver's Seat3 | $92.10 | Not yet sourced |
|
4-Way Power Driver's and Passenger's Seats3 | $184.10 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power Windows3 | $106.20 | Not yet sourced |
|
AM-FM Pushbutton Radio3 | $83.70 | Not yet sourced |
|
Reclining Passenger Seat with Adjustable Headrest New '64 option3 | $38.60 | Not yet sourced |
|
Safety-Convenience Control Panel (Includes Vacuum Door Locks, Door Ajar Warning Light, Low Fuel Warning Light, Simul- taneous Flashing Parking and Taillights New '64 option3 | $45.10 | Not yet sourced |
|
Rear Seat Speaker3 | $15.50 | Not yet sourced |
|
Speed Control System New '64 option3 | $63.40 | Not yet sourced |
|
White Sidewall 8.15 x 15 Rayon Tires (WSW 8.00 x 14 Rayon Standard with Wire Wheels)3 | $42.10 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tonneau Cover (Convertible only)3 | $269 | Not yet sourced |
|
Transistorized Ignition System New '64 option3 | $51.50 | Not yet sourced |
|
Wire Wheels (Includes 8.00 x 14 WSW Rayon Tires)3 | $415.20 | Not yet sourced |
|
Deluxe Wheel Covers with Simulated Knock-Off Hubs3 | $15.60 | Not yet sourced |
|
StudioSonic Sound System (Reverberator)3 | $54.10 | Not yet sourced |
|
Sports Side Trim3 | $34.80 | Not yet sourced |
|
Contoured Vinyl Floor Mats3 | $15.25 | Not yet sourced |
|
Sports Tachometer3 | $43.10 | Not yet sourced |
|
Equa Lock Rear Axle3 | $42.50 | Not yet sourced |
|
Right Exterior Rear View Mirror (Except Early Production)3 | $6.95 | Not yet sourced |
|
Spotlight (Researching Price)3 | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Door Edge Guards3 | $4.40 | Not yet sourced |
|
License Plate Frame3 | $6.10 | Not yet sourced |
|
Fuel Filler Door Edge Guard (Researching Price) New '64 option3 | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Accent Striping (Black/White/Red) New '64 option3 | $13.90 | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
A |
Raven Black (1724 Black)3 | Not yet sourced |
B |
Pagoda Green (1638 Bright Turquoise Metallic)3 | Not yet sourced |
C |
Princeton Gray (Special Order) (1620 Dark Gray Metallic)3 | Not yet sourced |
D |
Dynasty Green (Special Order) (1625 Dark Green Metallic)3 | Not yet sourced |
E |
Silver Mink (Also a Lincoln color) (1446 Light Gray Metallic)3 | Not yet sourced |
F |
Arcadian Blue (Also a Lincoln color) (1226 Light Blue)3 | Not yet sourced |
G |
Prairie Tan (Discontinued mid-year) (1636 Medium Tan)3 | Not yet sourced |
H |
Caspian Blue (Also a Lincoln color) (1544 Dark Blue Metallic)3 | Not yet sourced |
I |
Florentine Green (1635 Medium Green/Gold)3 | Not yet sourced |
J |
Rangoon Red (1515 Red)3 | Not yet sourced |
L |
Samoan Coral (1637 Bittersweet (Pink/Copper))3 | Not yet sourced |
M |
Wimbledon White (1619 White)3 | Not yet sourced |
N |
Diamond Blue (Also a Lincoln color) (921 Platinum)3 | Not yet sourced |
O |
Silver Green (Also a Lincoln color) (1629 Light Gray/Green Metallic)3 | Not yet sourced |
P |
Prairie Bronze (Added mid-year; Lincoln/Mercury color) (1738 Palomino Metallic (Gold))3 | Not yet sourced |
Q |
Brittany Blue (Also a Lincoln color) (1624 Medium Blue Metallic)3 | Not yet sourced |
R |
Phoenician Yellow (1633 Yellow)3 | Not yet sourced |
S |
Cascade Green (Also a Lincoln color) (1453 Dark Green Metallic)3 | Not yet sourced |
T |
Navaho Beige (1631 Light Beige)3 | Not yet sourced |
U |
Patrician Green (Also a Lincoln color) (1070 Medium Turquoise Metallic)3 | Not yet sourced |
V |
Sunlight Yellow (Added mid-year; Lincoln/Mercury color) (1729 Bright Light Yellow)3 | Not yet sourced |
W |
Rose Beige Metallic (Also a Lincoln color) (1555 Pink Metallic (Lavender))3 | Not yet sourced |
X |
Vintage Burgundy (1632 Maroon Metallic)3 | Not yet sourced |
Z |
Chantilly Beige (1630 Medium Beige Metallic)3 | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Interiors
| Code | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
50/50A |
Light Rose Beige Metallic with Dark Rose Beige appointments; ALL-VINYL BOLSTERS AND INSERTS3 | Not yet sourced |
51/51A |
Light Silver Blue Metallic with Black appointments; ALL-VINYL BOLSTERS AND INSERTS3 | Not yet sourced |
52/52A |
Light Blue Metallic with Dark Blue appointments; ALL-VINYL BOLSTERS AND INSERTS3 | Not yet sourced |
53/53A |
White Pearl with Black appointments; ALL-VINYL BOLSTERS AND INSERTS3 | Not yet sourced |
54/54A |
Light Beige Metallic with Medium Beige appointments; ALL-VINYL BOLSTERS AND INSERTS3 | Not yet sourced |
55/55A |
Red with Black appointments; ALL-VINYL BOLSTERS AND INSERTS3 | Not yet sourced |
56/56A |
Black; ALL-VINYL BOLSTERS AND INSERTS3 | Not yet sourced |
57/57A |
Light Turquoise Metallic with Dark Turquoise appointments; ALL-VINYL BOLSTERS AND INSERTS3 | Not yet sourced |
58/58A |
Light Gold Metallic with Dark Gold appointments; ALL-VINYL BOLSTERS AND INSERTS3 | Not yet sourced |
59/59A |
Medium Palomino; ALL-VINYL BOLSTERS AND INSERTS3 | Not yet sourced |
71/71A |
Light Silver Blue (Cloth inserts listed as Medium Silver Blue, but they do match vinyl); VINYL BOLSTERS WITH POMPEII CLOTH INSERTS3 | Not yet sourced |
72/72A |
Light Blue (Cloth inserts listed as Medium Blue, but they do match vinyl); VINYL BOLSTERS WITH POMPEII CLOTH INSERTS3 | Not yet sourced |
74/74A |
Light Beige; VINYL BOLSTERS WITH POMPEII CLOTH INSERTS3 | Not yet sourced |
76/76A |
Black; VINYL BOLSTERS WITH POMPEII CLOTH INSERTS3 | Not yet sourced |
82/82A |
Light Blue Metallic with Dark Blue appointments; ALL-LEATHER BOLSTERS AND INSERTS3 | Not yet sourced |
83/83A |
White Pearl with Black appointments; ALL-LEATHER BOLSTERS AND INSERTS3 | Not yet sourced |
85/85A |
Red with Black appointments; ALL-LEATHER BOLSTERS AND INSERTS3 | Not yet sourced |
86/86A |
Black; ALL-LEATHER BOLSTERS AND INSERTS3 | Not yet sourced |
89/89A |
Medium Palomino; ALL-LEATHER BOLSTERS AND INSERTS3 | Not yet sourced |
1 |
Black (Available with all interior and exterior color combinations); CONVERTIBLE TOP COLORS3 | Not yet sourced |
2 |
White (Available with all interior and exterior color combinations); CONVERTIBLE TOP COLORS3 | Not yet sourced |
4 |
Blue (Available with Light Blue interior only); CONVERTIBLE TOP COLORS3 | Not yet sourced |
A |
Black (Available with all interior and exterior color combinations); LANDAU VINYL ROOF COLORS3 | Not yet sourced |
B |
White (Available with all interior and exterior color combinations); LANDAU VINYL ROOF COLORS3 | Not yet sourced |
C |
Brown (Dark) (Available with Light Beige or Medium Palomino interiors, with Prairie Tan, Wimbledon White, Prairie Bronze, Phoenician Yellow, Navaho Beige, Sunlight Yellow, or Chantilly Beige exteriors); LANDAU VINYL ROOF COLORS3 | Not yet sourced |
D |
Blue (Dark) (Available with Light Blue interiors, with Arcadian Blue, Caspian Blue, Wimbledon White, Diamond Blue, or Brittany Blue exteriors); LANDAU VINYL ROOF COLORS3 | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase1 | 113.2 in | all |
| Overall length1 | 205.4 in | all |
| Height1 | 52.6 in | all |
| Width1 | 77.1 in | all |
Identification
Read a 1964 Ford VIN
The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:
Same model year
Also in 1964
- Buick Riviera The 425 became standard, the dual-quad Super Wildcat 360 arrived as an option, and the Super Turbine 400 replaced the twin-turbine automatic.
- Buick Wildcat The best Wildcat year at 84,245, with a 425 in 340- or 360-hp form and an available four-speed.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The first Chevelle; the Malibu SS was a series, and its strongest released engine was the midyear 300 hp L74 327.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova First V8 (283) year in the source engine table. Enthusiast-compiled production: 191,691 cars; Super Sport 10,576.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS No factory Super Sport El Camino is documented for this year; the record carries the host El Camino production as context.
- Chevrolet Impala SS Super Sport becomes its own series: 185,325 built.
- Chrysler 300 letter series Cheaper by about $1,000, with a single-four-barrel 360 hp 413 standard, leather made optional and the convertible restored, the 300K became the best-selling letter car: 3,022 hardtops and 625 convertibles.
- Dodge Dart 330/440, Polara and Max Wedge The Max Wedge's last year brought the Ramcharger 426-III, a 365 hp street 426 for Polara buyers, and in midyear a competition-only 426 Hemi in lightened 330/440 bodies; Roger Lindamood's Dodge won Top Stock at the Nationals.
- Ford Fairlane The year of the Thunderbolt: a midsize Fairlane with a 427 installed for NHRA Super Stock, which carried Gas Ronda to the national Stock title.
- Ford Falcon Sprint The restyled Falcon kept the Sprint hardtop and convertible with the 164 hp 260 V8 standard; the club counts 18,108 built, many with a bench seat.
- Ford Galaxie Ford sold its 427 in the restyled full-size range in two advertised versions, 410 hp with one four-barrel and 425 hp with two, and the Galaxie 500 XL hardtop was the bucket-seat flagship.
- Mercury Comet and Cyclone The Cyclone name first appeared on a 1964 Comet hardtop; the only production figure found is a single secondary total.
- Mercury Marauder and S-55 Marauder now meant the fastback roof on any full-size Mercury series, two-door or four-door, with the 390 standard and the 427 optional.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds Oldsmobile's first 4-4-2 was a mid-year option package, B09 Police Apprehender Pursuit, with a 310 hp 330, a four-speed and dual exhausts; 2,999 are tabulated.
- Oldsmobile Starfire Production fell to 16,163 as the cheaper Jetstar I took the same body; Motor Trend timed a convertible at 9.7 s to 60.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda Plymouth's glassback Valiant-based fastback launched in a short first season and sold 23,443 cars.
- Plymouth Savoy, Fury and Max Wedge Plymouth's last Max Wedge year offered the Super Stock 426-III beside a 365 hp street 426 Commando, while a competition-only 426 Hemi went into lightened Savoy/Belvedere drag cars and swept the Daytona 500.
- Pontiac Catalina 2+2 and Super Duty The 2+2 arrived as a $291 Catalina option and the 370 hp 421 HO replaced the Super Duty at the top.
- Pontiac GTO A $295 option on the Tempest LeMans that put Pontiac's 389 in the intermediate body; 32,450 were built.
- Pontiac Grand Prix A carryover year: 63,810 built, with the 370 hp 421 HO at the top of the option list.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans The Tempest becomes a 115-inch intermediate with a 326 V8, and the LeMans carries the new GTO option.
- Studebaker Avanti The last Studebaker Avanti, cut short when South Bend stopped building cars on 20 December 1963. It got rectangular headlamp bezels and a level stance, and 809 were built, including the nine production R3s.
- Studebaker Hawk The final Hawk, with a new deck lid and an optional vinyl 'Sports Roof', ended when South Bend closed on 20 December 1963. 1,767 were built, 1,484 of them domestic.
- Studebaker Lark and Super Lark Brooks Stevens restyled the Lark-type line and the Daytona became its top series. Of the V8 Daytonas, 111 got the R1 and 48 the supercharged R2, and one got the only production R4, before South Bend closed in December 1963.