Check out the ultra-luxurious 1963 Ford Thunderbird Landau in this original Ford Motor Company promo.

This Ford television spot from 1963 (below) takes the retrospective approach to telling the Thunderbird story. First up on the screen is the original two-seat roadster of 1955-57, then the four-place 1958 T-Bird that launched the personal luxury car category, then the dramatically styled 1961 Bullet Bird, and finally the 1963 Landau Coupe.

And all the while, we can see the Thunderbird steadily marching toward the luxury side of the sport-luxury junction. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Landau Coupe that debuted in 1962, with its optional padded vinyl roof and faux top irons. In just a few more years the four-door 1967 T-Bird would be introduced, the convertible would be dropped, and the transformation was complete. Now the Thunderbird was a full-blown luxury car in every sense, but for buyers who had no need or want for a traditional large sedan.

Back to 1963: This was the final year of the 1961-63 Bullet Bird series, distinguished by its hockey-stick character line shooting through the front fender and door, accented with three hashtag chrome gadgets. Prices ranged from $4500 to $5500, right in Buick Riviera territory and edging into the Cadillac realm. Check out the sales pitch below.