For those of you looking for an early Thunderbird but need space for your family, this pretty 1962 Thunderbird hardtop is definitely a wise choice. A recently serviced car that coddles like a Lincoln but packs serious blasting powder under the hood in the form of a muscular 390, it's an affordable cruiser that is part of a market that's suddenly heating up.Bullet 'Birds like this have long lived in the shadows of their 2-seat siblings, but that seems to be changing and cars like this bright blue 'Bird are the reason why. The styling is a big upgrade over the first "square 'Birds" following the conversion to four-seater, offering a sleek profile and lovely 1960s detailing that's restrained and tasteful. The interesting wasn't on the Ford color charts, but it looks great, with a white top that perfectly complements the sophisticated look. The paint, although not perfect, looks good and shiny over some pretty straight bodywork, particularly those jet-inspired quarter panels that look like they're about a quarter-mile long. The recently restored chrome bumpers have a brilliant shine and Ford designers were hitting on all eight cylinders when they added the lovely strip of trim that stretches from nose to tail and neatly integrates the door handles in its design. The lack of a padded roof is a rare choice on a Thunderbird, but the white hardtop gives this car an added dose of sophistication that fits it quite nicely.Personal luxury was the Thunderbird's primary mission, and the handsome black interior doesn't disappoint in that regard. Buckets seats and a console are the sporty part, but with correct seat covers and firm foam underneath, they coddle rather than grab. Matching black carpets look great and the wood accents warm things up and make it feel luxurious. Check out Ford's trademark "swing-away" steering column, which tilts out of the way by lightly tugging on the shifter lever, and the leather wrap that makes it easy to grip. The three individual pods ahead of the driver hold the primary gauges, with things like the radio (a new digital AM/FM unit) in the center stack, along with a lockable compartment in the center armrest. The trunk is truly massive, and carries a correct reproduction mat as well as a full-sized spare tire assembly.It's likely that the 390 cubic inch V8 under the hood is the original engine, but since Ford wasn't doing "matching numbers" in the traditional sense in 1962, so we can't prove it. It does look quite correct with an oversized air cleaner up top and Ford Blue paint on the block itself. It has been recently serviced with a lot of new equipment, including a full tune up, rebuilt carburetor, fuel pump, starter, alternator, timing chain and gear, oil pump, radiator, water pump, and belts and hoses, all within the last 2000 miles. Power steering and brakes are welcome additions to a heavy cruiser like this, and the dual exhaust system burbles like it has something to hide. The brakes are surprisingly effective, the automatic transmission shifts almost imperceptibly, and the rebuilt front suspension has the ability to float over bumps like a hovercraft. Steel wheels with simple hubcaps are a clean look and they wear 215/75/14 whitewall radials for a period look.This is just a great cruiser whose color combination does a good job of camouflaging the hardware underneath. Bullet 'Birds are definitely heating up, making this an excellent buy for today and for the future. Call today.