1965 Ford Thunderbird Landau Special Edition Nice Car Great Running Condition

The Thunderbird Special Landau was introduced in spring 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 moldings 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.
Another exclusive part of the Special Landau was a personalized limited edition numbered nameplate, upon which the owner's name could be engraved. Facts vary somewhat as to how this plate was engraved with the owner's name and attached to the car. One account is that this plate was delivered with the car in an envelope inside the glove compartment. The dealer would make arrangements for the engraving of the owner's name, if the owner desired. Affixed to the console with a double-sided foam adhesive strip, normal placement was just above the radio. The television advertisement announcing this new model showed the plate attached to the console in the area where the air conditioning vents would be located on cars equipped with Select-Aire. The plate featured a beveled edge with a small cast Thunderbird emblem on its left side. This emblem was a small version of the roof sail panel emblem first introduced on the 1964 Thunderbird Hardtop models. At the bottom of the plate the notation "SPECIAL LANDAU LIMITED EDITION No." was engraved, followed by the production sequence serial number of 1 to 4,500. In reality, the numbers on the plates did not always correspond to the build sequence of the car VIN number. Offset to the center right area of the plate would appear the owner's name in capital letters using the same type font as that on the nameplates available for all of the other Thunderbird models.

This very nice example was a part of a medium sized collection of Thunderbirds here in the area. Since we acquired the car we have recommissioned it mechanically with a brake service including a new booster and master cylinder, carburator service and tuning, new batery, new Radial Whitewalls, and other general maintenance. The car runs and drives well, it shift smoothly, stops with authority, and cruises down the road straight and true. It a well optioned car with PS PB PW AC (not working) Power Antenna and working AM radio, and more. Finished in the Desirable Emberglo over Parchment, this is just a beautiful example. The only flaws noted are windshield is cracked and the rear bumper could use replated at some point, but otherwise this is a very nice car cosmetically with nice paint and no rips or tears in the top or interior. This is a great car you and drive and enjoy and tinker with and improve over time.